Transcript 2016/2017 PSIEE Seed Grant

2016/2017 PSIEE Seed Grant
Information Session October 13, 2016
PSIEE themes
Please Note: Proposals in the Health and Environment theme will not be
accepted in this call for proposals.
Proposals covering that theme will be deferred to a separate multi-institute
seed grant competition covering Health and Environment which will be
announced later this fall
2016/2017 Seed grant priority topics
• Water Energy Nexus
• Climate Change
• Future of the Electric Grid
Preferred activities for funding
• Development of new interdisciplinary research teams to
position them for substantial external funding success
• Novel and collaborative research in theme areas,
especially high-risk proof of concept projects
• New collaborations between junior and senior faculty for
research development and mentorship
Goals of the Seed Grant
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Foster basic and applied research focused on strategic
themes
Seed grants are intended to foster:
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Development of new research teams to position them for
substantial external funding success
Collaborative interdisciplinary research in theme areas,
especially high-risk proof of concept
New collaborations between junior and senior faculty for
research development and mentorship
Particular consideration given to proposals addressing
priorities of:
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Water Energy Nexus
Climate Change
Future of the Electric Grid
Seed Grant eligibility
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All faculty members holding an appointment of half-time or more
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Tenured
Tenure track
Fixed Term
New investigators will be given preference
Funding availability
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Approximately $300,000 is available through this solicitation
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Funding levels
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$25,000 – innovative partnerships of investigators from multiple colleges and/or
campuses
$10,000 -two or more faculty from the same college (University Park) or
Commonwealth Campus
$5,000 – single investigator proposals
Award period: April 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018
Allowable expenses
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Graduate and undergraduate student support
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Instrumentation fees and sample analysis to collect
preliminary data
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Equipment, supplies, and/or participant payments
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Travel associated with the conduct or reporting of seed
grant research
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Hosting a research planning meeting for an
interdisciplinary team
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Planning and hosting conferences and symposia
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Funding for data conversion technology and wages to
support data conversion
Unallowable expenses
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Summer or supplemental salary support for faculty
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Postdoc salary
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Travel support to attend conferences
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**Please note: single college funding, even with several departments, is not
allowed at the $25,000 level.
Key dates
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Nov. 2, 2016: Pre-proposals due no later than 5:00 pm
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Dec. 2, 2016: PIs notified of pre-proposal results; full proposals
requested
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Jan. 25, 2017: Full proposals due no later than 5:00 pm
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Beginning of March 2017: Seed Grant funding decisions
announced
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Grant funds will be available by April 1, 2017 to be expended by
June 30, 2018
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Sept 30, 2018: Final report due
Review criteria
PSIEE 2015/2016 Seed Grant Evaluations - PRE-PROPOSAL
Relevance to strategic
priorities
Significance of Goals and
Creativity and Innovation Results
Soundness of
Research Plan
Evidence of new or expanding
collaborations
Multi-investigator proposals
3 Highly relevant
3 Highly creative and
innovative
2 Highly significant; could
revolutionize the field
2 Moderately relevant
2 Moderately innovative
1 Positive and incremental
advance
1 Slightly relevant
1 Sound but standard
approach
0 Not relevant
0 Approach seems like unlikely
to work
2 Well thought out and
detailed research plan
5 Includes Senior and Junior faculty
mentorship opportunity with
collaborations across 2 or more colleges
or campuses
1 Research plan
3 Complementary interdisciplinary team
included, but more detail
across 2 or more colleges or campuses
needed
0 Some but limited potential for
0 Limited research plan
impact
0 Team members have similar expertise
and from same college/campus
Summary Evaluation: “Request Full Proposal” or “Do not pursue this year”
Contact information
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Questions regarding the program should be submitted to:
[email protected]
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More information and the full RFP can be found at
http://psiee.psu.edu/seedgrant