Search NIOSH | NIOSH Home | NIOSH Topics | Site Index | Data and Resources | NIOSH Products | Contact NIOSH
What does the Mining Program do?

2.3 Project Planning and Evaluation
Mining Program Home
PDF version 782 KB
 Previous 2.2 Logic Model | 2.4 Research and Development Portfolio Next 

Project Planning

The Mining Research Plan described in Chapter I establishes the general areas of research need. This section summarizes the administrative processes for populating the research portfolio. In December of each year a call is issued for concept papers on possible new projects for the upcoming fiscal year beginning the following October. An example of the call for concepts is shown below:

An example of the call for concepts

The concept papers are evaluated by the laboratory lead team for program needs, likelihood of success, and potential impact. Some concepts are rejected or deferred. The submitters of the most promising concepts are asked to prepare full project proposals for external peer review and possible project initiation in the beginning of the following fiscal year. The process for preparing these full proposals and the external peer review process are described in the document "Procedures for External Peer Review of Intramural Projects" below. Two example proposals are also provided.

A few concepts may appear promising, but the research idea needs a great deal of additional work before a complete proposal can be prepared. Such concepts may be funded as pilot projects for one year to test feasibility or to gather additional information. Full project proposals must be prepared for these projects and receive favorable external peer review before they are fully funded to completion.

The documents listed below are forms and instructions for submitting full research project proposals for new intramural projects in the NIOSH Mining Program. Such proposals are normally evaluated by external peer reviewers to help ensure the quality of the research done in the Program. The format of the proposals is based on the R01 research grant application format used by NIH and CDC, and is similar to the format used for NIOSH NORA proposals.

Peer Review of Intramural Projects and Proposals
  • Procedures for External Peer Review of Intramural Projects (PDF, 41 KB)
    Describes procedures for using external peer review to help evaluate and improve intramural research projects. The procedures apply to the review of new projects within the first year of initiation. Topics include the background of new legal requirements for peer review of internal Federal research, relevant policies of CDC and NIOSH, and the procedures initiated in the Mining Program to implement these policies.
Project Planning Forms and Supporting Documents

Project Evaluation

Once projects are underway, they receive various types of internal and external review. Project plans are prepared and submitted as part of the NIOSH IRIS management information system. In addition, each calendar year work plans are prepared, that also include more detailed schedules of the tasks to be completed on each project. The individual performance plans of the project leaders and other project staff contain deadlines for completion of key research project tasks. Formal and informal reviews are conducted to ensure that projects remain on track. As a result of reviews projects: may be terminated and resources directed elsewhere; may receive additional resources: or may have their scope or milestones significantly altered. Branch chiefs schedule periodic meetings with staff to review progress on individual projects. These project meetings are sometimes also attended by the laboratory managers. All projects are reviewed annually at the "mid-year reviews" at which presentations are made on each project for branch staff and managers from both mining laboratories and the Office of the Associate Director for Mining and Construction.

Some of the more critical and visible on-going projects receive external review as well. The Mine Safety and Health Research Advisory Committee reviews some of the more critical projects and provides advice on progress and future direction. The projects in areas included in partnerships are reviewed at periodic meetings. These partnerships are described in section 2.6 - Partnerships.

Review processes extend to the research results when they are prepared for presentation and publication for the outside world. All research publications are subject to internal and external peer review. Publications for peer-reviewed journals are reviewed internally by branch and laboratory management before they are submitted to the peer-reviewed journal editor. In addition such papers may also be sent for review by MSHA or other NIOSH divisions if they impact MSHA regulations or research in other parts of NIOSH. Papers which are to be submitted for publication in non-peer reviewed journals or conference proceedings are also given at least three technical reviews, one by a reviewer within the laboratory, and two by reviewers external to the laboratory. The process for review of research papers is described in the document "Approval Process for Presentations and Publications" below. Flowcharts illustrating these publication review processes are also included under "Publications Processes Flowcharts".

Approval Process for Publications (covers approval processes for all types of presentations and publications)
Publications Processes Flowcharts