UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE) announced its 2021–22 Seed Grant Program. The funding is intended to foster basic and applied interdisciplinary energy and environmental research that leverages faculty expertise across the University. The deadline to submit proposals is 5 p.m. on Nov. 19.
An informational webinar will be held at 9 a.m. on Sept. 15. Registration is required.
Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate interdisciplinary innovations in IEE’s research themes: climate and ecosystem change; health and the environment; integrated energy systems; urban systems; and water and biogeochemical cycles. In addition to areas of focus under many of the themes, particular consideration will be given to proposals that focus on or encompass elements of policy and law, ethics and social justice, economics, finance and actuarial science and other social sciences.
All Penn State faculty members — tenured, tenure-track and fixed-term — who hold an appointment of half-time or more at any Penn State campus, are eligible to submit a seed grant proposal as a principal investigator. To encourage establishment of new collaborations and enhancement of networks, larger grants will require innovative partnerships of investigators from multiple colleges and/or campus locations.
The seed grant program strives to support researchers as they develop new interdisciplinary research teams and position them for substantial external funding success; pursue novel research in IEE’s research theme areas, especially high-risk proof-of-concept projects; and promote research development and mentorship between junior and senior faculty.
The full request for proposals (RFP) is available on the IEE website.
This RFP is sponsored by IEE, which works to build teams of researchers from different disciplines to see how new partnerships and new ways of thinking can solve some of the world’s most difficult energy and environmental challenges.