Research Development: Select Funding Opportunities and Announcements Jan 21, 2022

Jan 21, 2022 | Awards & Funding, Research

To: All Divisional Faculty and Researchers
From: Research Development
Subject: Research Development: Select Funding Opportunities and Announcements - January 21, 2022

Research Development is a unit within the Office of Research. Research Development Specialists collaborate with researchers and assist with developing concepts, building strategies and teams, finding relevant funding opportunities, and preparing competitive proposals.

Hardeep Obhi, PhD; hkobhi@ucsc.edu

Transformative Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Innovation and Early Development (R21 Clinical Trial not Allowed) – March 1

Funding to develop the early stages of novel technologies that will enable greater than a one order of magnitude improvement in 1) DNA sequencing, and 2) methods for direct sequencing of the diversity of entire RNA molecules.

Supporting Talented Early Career Researchers in Genomics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) – March 4 

Supports research projects by exceptionally promising Early Stage Investigators with a long-term career interest in pursuing innovative research in genomics.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Capturing Complexity in the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Involved in the Etiology of Alzheimer’s Disease – March 11

Supports innovative research focused on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity and multifactorial nature of AD, with the potential to create new, or to challenge existing, scientific paradigms

Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – June 1

Encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of high-priced, specialized, commercially available instruments or integrated instrumentation system. The minimum award is $50,000.

High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – June 1

Encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of high-end, specialized, commercially available instruments or integrated systems. The minimum award is $600,001.

Heather Bell, PhD; hmbell@ucsc.edu

NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE): Use-Inspired Research Challenges on Climate Change and Clean Energy – Required LOI due February 8; full proposal due March 25

Supports projects with a bold vision for high-impact use-inspired basic research along with a strategy to integrate diverse perspectives from different disciplines, international partners, and stakeholder groups into the research. Projects should show clear potential to scale up, catalyzing center-level activities in the future. Up to $1.5M over 3 years.

NSF Design and Discovery Forum: Climate Science, Children, and the Media – February 11

This meeting will explore the potential for the media industry to collaborate with the scientific community to create content that is scientifically accurate and effectively engages children with climate science.

NSF Understanding the Rules of Life: Emergent Networks (URoL:EN): Predicting Transformation of Living Systems in Evolving Environments – March 1

Proposals submitted to this program should address significant scientific questions in emergent networks of living systems that can be answered by integrating perspectives and approaches from different disciplines relevant to two or more NSF Directorates. Up to $3M over up to 5 years.

Elif Demir-Hilton, PhD; edemirhi@ucsc.edu

NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) – February 22

Phase I applications: open all fields supported by the Division of Chemistry, with potential for transformative impact. Particularly fundamental chemistry including Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Climate Research and Sustainability, and Quantum Information Science. $1.8M for 3 years.

NSF+USDA 2022 Signals in the Soil (SitS) –  April 14

To encourage convergent research that transforms existing capabilities in understanding dynamic soil processes, including soil formation, through advances in sensor systems and modeling. Includes Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Polar Programs directorates amongst others. $600K- $1.2M for 3-5 years.

NSF Pathways into the Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences (GEOPAths)

  • Informal Networks (IN): Collaborative projects will support geoscience learning and experiences in informal settings for teachers, pre-college (e.g., upper level high school) students, and early undergraduates.
  • Undergraduate Preparation (UP): Projects will engage pre-college and undergraduate students in extra-curricular experiences and training in the geosciences.
  • Graduate Opportunities (GO):  Projects will improve research and career-related pathways into the geosciences for undergraduate and graduate students through institutional and employer collaborations.

UCSC may submit only one proposal as the lead within a 12 month period, regardless of track. Please contact edemirhi@ucsc.edu or hmbell@ucsc.edu if you are considering applying. 


Other Opportunities and Announcements

SERDP & ESTCP Webinar Series – Every two weeks beginning January 27, 2022

The webinar series promotes the transfer of innovative, cost-effective and sustainable solutions developed through projects funded in five program areas, including Environmental Restoration, Installation Energy and Water, and Resource Conservation and Resiliency.

NSF Innovations in Graduate Education – Campus deadline February 15; NSF deadline March 25

Provides between $300K and 500K over up to 3 years to generate potentially transformative models for improvements in graduate education and workforce development. UCSC may submit up to two proposals total as a lead, non-lead, or subawardee. Please contact your or RDS or Heather Bell if you are considering submitting and look for the internal competition on InfoReady.

NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions – Campus deadline February 15; NSF deadline March 28 

  • Track 2: Implementation and Evaluation Projects (IEP) supports the implementation of evidence-based unit-, department-, or multi-department-level activities. Up to $500K (single institution) or $800K (multiple institutions) and $200K incentive to partner with community colleges. 3-5 years. 
  • Track 3: Institutional Transformation Projects (ITP) supports institution-wide structural or systemic changes to enhance undergraduate STEM education. Up to $3M over 5 years. UCSC may submit only one Track 3 proposal. Please contact your or RDS or Heather Bell if you are considering submitting and look for the internal competition on InfoReady.

NSF Convergence Accelerator Dear Colleague letter, Request for Information (DCL/RFI) – February 28

This RFI seeks input on potential NSF Convergence Accelerator tracks for the next round of funding, anticipated in fiscal year (FY) 2023. Webinars on the program’s ideation process will be held on January 20 and January 25, 2022. Register here.

ESTCP Broad Agency Announcement – Required Pre-proposal due March 10

ESTCP seeks projects in 17 topic areas that demonstrate and validate promising innovative technologies that target DoD’s most urgent environmental and installation energy needs. Topic areas are described on the ESTCP website. An informational webinar will be held on January 20. Register here.

NSF DCL: Announcement of Upcoming Topics for the 2022 NSF Convergence Accelerator Solicitation

Topics selected to be included in the 2022 solicitation expected to be published in the coming months include Track H: Enhancing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities; Track I: Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges; and Track J: Food & Nutrition Security.

Hanover Grants Calendar: Interdisciplinary Research


Submitting a proposal intake form will help streamline the proposal process. This initiates a proposal in Cayuse, notifies OSP, and enables Research Development Specialists to connect with you. For best support, contact us early and ensure you meet institutional deadlines.  

Feel free to reach out to us with questions; we look forward to working with you!

Hardeep, Heather, and Elif

If you have any questions or comments, please contact hkobhi@ucsc.edu, hmbell@ucsc.edu, or edemirhi@ucsc.edu.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact cfr@ucsc.edu