This seed grant program is sponsored by the Global Change and Sustainability Center in collaboration with the Society Water and Climate Research Group and Nexus: Interdisciplinary Exchange for Utah Science to incentivize new or expanded interdisciplinary collaborations between two or more U of U faculty researchers from different disciplines or departments. These grants are intended to help foster new interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary sustainability and global / environmental change research. (See research themes.)
Applications due: March 1, 2019
Award Categories
- Interdisciplinary Research Extensions
Up to $10,000 to one U of U faculty researcher to facilitate a new collaboration within an existing (funded) project with another U of U faculty member or team from a different discipline. Expectation of collaborative publication of work within 1-2 years of award. - Transdisciplinary Solutions
Up $30,000 to a multidisciplinary team of 2-3 U of U faculty researchers to catalyze new research that brings together diverse disciplinary excellence in a new way to contribute towards solving a sustainability challenge. Expectation that this will lead to a grant submission in the coming year.
Funds may be used for research expenses, student support, faculty summer salary, and must be spent within one year of the award.
Eligibility
All U of U tenure- and career-line faculty are eligible for funding. Each individual may request funds for only one proposal and/or be a team member on one proposal.
Application
Award Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary committee of faculty researchers and will be evaluated based on the impact of projected outcomes and potential to catalyze important future research. The proposals will also be evaluated based on how the research informs or results in educational opportunities for University of Utah students and/or more sustainably based University operations. The sponsors encourage projects that leverage recent Transformative Excellence Program hires and/or include utilization of campus and field station resources (e.g., Wasatch Environmental Observatory, Bonderman Rio Mesa).
Reporting
Awardees will be required to submit a written report on the progress of their projects six months and again one year after the award is made. Students engaged in research linked to the projects are expected to present at the annual Environment and Sustainability Research Symposium. Any changes in the research plan will require written approval from the GCSC.
Questions? Contact Laurie Mecham or Brenda Bowen.