FCIDD McNulty Scientist Award

The Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) for neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders requests proposals for $75,000/year for three years in pilot funds to foster interdisciplinary collaborations across more than one UAB Department and subsequent MPI grant applications.

The McNulty Award will fund interdisciplinary Clinical or Fundamental science research aimed at enhancing our understanding of typical and atypical brain development, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental disabilities and malformations, impaired cognitive development, or the effects of environmental toxins on brain development.

Overview

Deadline: May 31, 2026, 5 p.m.
Grant Start Date: October 1, 2026 
Eligible Applicants: Faculty at ANY level
Award Level: $75,000/year for three years
Submit Title Format: Emerging Scholar Application “First Initial. Last Name”
Application Document Type: Single PDF file, using the following naming format: “ContactPILastName_McNulty2026”

Submit Application Opens an external link.

This award may be used for any direct project costs except faculty salary.

Applicants should be UAB FACULTY at ANY LEVEL. Proposals must include a component of interdisciplinary collaboration across at least two UAB Departments in preparation for an MPI grant submission. Among applications of equal scientific merit, slight preference will be given to proposals with non-School of Medicine contact PIs. Although not a requirement, we welcome applications designed to create a patentable/marketable product.

Proposals should consist of a single PDF document containing the following components:

1. Two-page description of the planned research
2. Brief (less than one page) description of how this award will lead to a future MPI application submission, proposed date of submission, and to what funding entity and mechanism such an MPI application will be submitted
3. Proposed budget
4. Brief (less than one page) list of faculty PIs along with their title, primary department, and UAB School/College
5. NIH format bio sketch or CV of the contact PI and collaborating UAB faculty member(s). 

The contact PI should be clearly defined and should submit the application along with a statement from all MPIs/Co-Is indicating their approval of the application and budget proposal (this can be a one-sentence statement/letter). 

The mission of the CIRC is to improve the well-being and the quality of life of individuals and families affected by neurodevelopmental disabilities; to provide interdisciplinary clinical and research training in neurodevelopmental disabilities; to utilize this knowledge to develop and provide high-quality exemplary services and programs; and to exchange information promptly with consumers, practitioners, scientists, and society.

Awardees (all MPIs) will be expected to be present at the Junior Civitan All In Summit Awards Ceremony in ~Feb. of 2026 and to speak to Civitan International members about their research once or twice during the year of the award and the following years.

2025-2026 Awardees

Rachel June Smith, Ph.D.

Electrical & Computer Engineering, Assistant Professor

Scott Cruikshank, Ph.D.

Department of Neurobiology, Assistant Professor

Past Awardees