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Descripton at end of newsletter Week of April 15, 2024
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Greetings Dornsife Faculty,
This week our report includes
- An honor for 1 Dornsife faculty member;
- External funding success for 2 faculty memberes;
- Internal prize competion
- Current and diverse external funding opportunities, including 1 limited submission;
- Announcements for CER workshop (lead by Dornsife's Heidi Parker); DCG NewsFlash! on NIH's new preparation and peer review changes effective January 2025; and reminder about Dornsife Research Office's Office Hours.
Best regards,
Renee J. Perez, Vice Dean, Administration & Finance
Cathleen Crayton, Project Specialist
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Accolade
Duncan Williams, Religion and USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture, was honored with an Award of Excellence by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) for his “pioneering work on the Irei project, a monumental initiative that honors Japanese American World War II incarcerates and promotes global peace.”
External Funding Successes
Assal Habibi, Psychology, Music-Based Interventions to Enhance Interpersonal Synchrony for the Caregiver-Care Recipient Relationship in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, National Endowment for the Arts
Geraldine Peters, Physics and Astronomy, Masses of Be+sdO binaries with visual orbits, Space Telescope Science Institute
USC Internal Competition
NEMO PRIZE
What: The NEMO Prize is a highly selective award that will support early-stage research at the intersection of health sciences and engineering
Prize details: $125K. Two prizes awarded and will be named in December 2024.
Letter of Intent: May 17, 2024.
Informational Webinar: April 26, 2024.
More Info: NEMO Prize Flyer
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External Funding Opportunity
**Limited Submission***
(1 application per institution)
NSF / Directorate for STEM Education – Division of Graduate Education
Program: CyperCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS)
Solicitation #: 23-574
Synopsis: Supports institutions of higher education with funding for student scholarships to support education in areas relevant to cybersecurity and cybersecurity-related aspects of other related fields as appropriate, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and aerospace. Each scholarship recipient, as a condition of receiving a scholarship under the SFS Program, enters into an agreement under which the recipient, upon receipt of their academic degree, agrees to work for a period equal to at least the duration of the scholarship in the cybersecurity mission of an executive agency) or, subject to prior approval, in the cybersecurity mission of: Congress, including any agency, entity, office, or commission established in the legislative branch; an interstate agency; a state, local, or tribal government; or a state, local, or tribal government-affiliated non-profit organization that is considered to be critical infrastructure. The program's goal is to place all SFS students in government cybersecurity positions, with at least 70% of scholarship recipients securing placement in the federal government’s executive branch. To be eligible for consideration for an SFS scholarship, a student must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States; demonstrate a commitment to a career in cybersecurity; have demonstrated a high level of competency in relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities; be a full-time student in a coherent formal program that is focused on cybersecurity at an awardee institution (a) with sophomore standing in an associate's degree program; or (b) with junior or senior standing in a bachelor's degree program; or (c) enrolled in a master's degree program; or (d) enrolled in a research-based doctoral program.
Award details:. The scholarships provide 3-year academic year stipends of $27K per year for undergraduate students and $37K per year for graduate students. In addition, SFS scholarships cover expenses normally incurred by full-time students in the institution, including tuition and education-related fees; and a professional allowance of $6K per academic year for SFS Job Fairs and other travel, conferences, research materials, books and supplies including a one-time purchase of a laptop, professional training and certifications, etc.
USC Internal Announcement: https://rii.usc.edu/limited-submissions/nsf-23-574/
External announcement on website: CypberCorps Scholarship for Service
USC Internal due date: May 17, 2024.
External due date: July 15, 2024.
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The Andy Warhol Foundation
Program: 2024 Arts Writers Grant
Synopsis: Supports emerging and established writers who write about contemporary visual art, addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The grant also supports art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. Writers are invited to apply in one of the following categories: articles, short-form writing, and books. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, at least 25 years of age, and are individuals who are art historians, artists, critics, curators, journalists, or writers in another field who are strongly engaged with the contemporary visual arts. Applicants must be a published author.
Award details: Awards range from $15K to $50K. Grants for short-form writers are for 1 year beginning in January 2025. Book and article applicants may extend beyond the year.
Announcement on website: https://www.artswriters.org/
Application due date: May 15, 2024.
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Academy of American Poets
Program: Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize
Synopsis: Supports and recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in the United States in the previous calendar year. The prize honors the memory of Lenore Marshall, a poet, novelist, essayist, and political activist and author of 3 novels, 3 books of poetry, a collection of short stories, and selections from her notebooks.
Award details: $25K and a 10-day residential stay at Glen Hollow in Naples, New York.
Announcement on website: https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/lenore-marshall-poetry-prize
Submission due date: May 15, 2024.
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Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VOCCA)
Program: Residential Fellowships
Synopsis: Goldfarb Family Fellowship: Offers writers of creative nonfiction a fully funded 2-week stay at the VOCCA residency at Mt. Angelo in Virginia.
Richard S. and Julia Louise Reynolds Poetry Fellowship: Offers fully funded 3-week stay at the VOCCA residency at Mt. Angelo in Virginia.
Award details: Residencies include a private bedroom, private bathroom, separate individual studio, and all meals provided in a community of cross-disciplinary artists. Residency is available from January 6, 2025, to April 30, 2025, for the 2 fellowships.
Announcement on website: https://www.vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/
Application due date: May 15, 2024. $30 application may be waived in appropriate circumstances. Notification of awards will be by August 31, 2024.
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Vilcek Foundation
Program: Creative Promise - Curatorial Work
Synopsis: Supports young, immigrant curators who demonstrate early outstanding achievement. Eligible applicants are those who were born outside of the U.S., at most 30 years of age, have 5 years of professional curatorial experience (including having completed 3 implemented curatorial projects), with a strong track record of creative and high-caliber work. Applicants must intend to pursue a career in the U.S.
Award details: $50K
Announcement on website: https://vilcek.org/prizes/vilcek-prizes-for-creative-promise/creative-promise-prizes-arts/
Application due date: June 10, 2024.
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Spencer Foundation
Program: Large Research Grants on Education
Synopsis: Supports education research projects. This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. Spencer Foundation’s goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. PIs and Co-PIs may only hold one active research grant from the Spencer Foundation at a time. (This restriction does not apply to the administering organization; organizations may submit as many proposals as they like as long as they are for different projects and have different research teams.)
Award details: Spencer awards grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers -- $125,K to 250K; $250,001 to $375K and $375,001 to $500,000. Projects are evaluated within each tier. Spencer allows for a 15% indirect rate. The maximum project period is 5 years.
Announcement on website: https://www.spencer.org/grant_types/large-research-grant
Letter of Intent due date: May 22, 2024.
Full proposal due date: June 18, 2024
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German History Institute Washington
Program: Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships
Synopsis: Supports doctoral students as well as postdoctoral scholars to pursue primary American-based research projects that draw upon primary sources principally located in North America. Of particular interest are
- German and European history
- History of German-American relations
- Role of Germany and USA in international relations
- American history and Pan American, including Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Research projects should make use of historical methods and engage with the relevant historiography. Eligible applicants are ABD doctoral candidates and preference is given to postdocs for projects that are designed for the "second book" (Habilitation or pre-tenure equivalent).
Award details: Postdocs: ~$3.6K per month; doctoral candidates: ~$2.1K monthly. Grants are typically 1 to 4 months, with the possibility of an additional month.
Announcement on website: https://www.ghi-dc.org/programs/doctoral-and-postdoctoral-research-fellowships
Application due date: 2 annual due dates. The next due date is October 1, 2024.
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The Washington Institute
Program: Soref Fellowship
Synopsis: The fellowship is designed primarily for those who have recently earned a PhD. Exceptionally well-qualified individuals with master’s degrees will be considered, as will those with law or MBA degrees. The Soref Fellow program offers an opportunity to consider pursuing a career in government or journalism rather than in academia. The fellowship is not available as support while working on a dissertation. Applications are welcome from those with some years of experience post-degree, such as university assistant professors. Working knowledge of regional knowledge sufficient for research purposes is much preferred; fluency is even better. Nationals of all countries may apply.
Award details: ~$4.5K per month, plus benefits for up to 1 year.
Announcement on website: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/about/employment-opportunities#soref-fellow
Application due date: Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
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American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Program: Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in partnership with Pelotonia & AACR
Synopsis: Supports research projects in breast and gynecologic cancers and invests in the next generation of female early-stage scientists domestically and globally. This award aims to foster innovation in the understanding, prevention, interception, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers to eliminate cancer health disparities and improve patient outcomes. Proposed research may be basic, translational, clinical, or population sciences. Proposals focused on research into the causes of cancer health disparities and approaches to achieve equity in outcomes as well as applicants belonging to racial or ethnic groups shown to be underrepresented in the cancer-related sciences workforces are especially discouraged. Eligible applicants are assistant professors (including appointments of a research assistant professor or adjunct assistant professors). Associate professors upward are not eligible. Applicants must have begun their independent research position within the last 6 years and must have independent lab space.
Award details: $206K over 2 years for expenses related to the research, including, perhaps, salary and benefits. Awardees must devote 75% of total professional effort to research in breast and gynecologic cancers. Applicants must be AACR members (nonmembers may apply online).
Announcement on website: https://www.aacr.org/grants/victorias-secret-global-fund-for-womens-cancers-career-development-award-in-partnership-with-pelotonia-and-aacr/
Application due date: May 15, 2024.
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National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Program: NIJ 2023 Research and Evaluation on Hate Crimes
Grants.gov Opportunity #: O-NIJ-2023-171949
Synopsis: Supports rigorous research and evaluation projects
that inform efforts to prevent and combat hate crimes and their effects. Specifically, NIJ is particularly interested in funding: (1) evaluations of federal, state, or locally funded efforts to combat hate crimes; (2) research that informs strategies to prevent hate crimes; (3) research and evaluations of strategies to improve the reporting, identification, and response to hate crimes; and (4) research and evaluations of strategies to improve outcomes for survivors and their communities. While encouraging multidisciplinary teams, NIJ will give special consideration to proposals with methods that include meaningful engagement with the people with lived experience of the subject of study, including, but not limited to, justice practitioners, community members, crime victims, service providers, and individuals who have experienced justice system involvement. NIJ is also interested in supporting researchers who are early in their careers, specifically non-tenured assistant professors, and may give special consideration in award decisions as appropriate.
Award details: $2M program funds. The project begins January 1, 2025, and will span up to 5 years duration.
Announcement on website: https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/O-NIJ-2024-171949.pdf
Application Grants.gov due date: April 29, 2024.
Application Justgrants due date: May 6, 2024.
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) / Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Program: Bringing the outside in: Using transcriptomics to develop novel nearshore marine monitoring tools
Funding #: G24AS00340
Synopsis: Supports a project that will expand upon earlier research of genomic responses of razor clams to environmental stimuli — to develop an enhanced gene expression panel with the ability to differentiate among several unique stressors that can potentially affect population and ecosystem health. The result of this research will be a new tool that could help inform management decisions to mitigate the impacts of environmental and anthropogenic changes and allow agencies to educate and manage visitors that utilize coastal areas for harvesting marine invertebrates. Objectives of the proposed research are
- Perform a controlled stress exposure experiment with razor clams (Siliqua patula). Stressors include pH, temperature, nutrition, parasite / pathogen;
- Isolate RNA from tissues of experimental and control clams;
- Perform RNAseq transcriptome analysis on clam tissues;
- Identify highly differentiated target genes between exposed and non-exposed clams.
Award details: $13,576 available for 2024-2025. The project is for 2 years and 2 renewable years. Additional funding is based on satisfactory progress.
Announcement on website: Bringing the outside in
Application due date: May 13, 2024.
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NASA / Earth Science Division (ESD)
Program: Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science
Funding #: NNH24ZDA001N-RRNES
Synopsis: Supports the goals and objectives of NASA's Earth Science Division by conducting unique research to investigate 1) unforeseen or unpredictable Earth system events and opportunities that require a rapid response, and 2) novel ideas of potential high merit and relevance for ESD science to advance Earth remote sensing that have not otherwise been solicited by NASA in the past three years. The research activities proposed must require rapid, near-term data acquisition, fieldwork, and / or other such research activities. Given the significance of these events, rapid sharing of data and results are expected. Potential proposers are required to contact the relevant NASA program officer.
Award details: No specific budget is identified; selected proposals will be funded by the relevant program(s).
Announcement on website: Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science
Proposal due date: Proposals may be submitted anytime.
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Department of Defense (DoD) / Army
Program: Disruptive Applications – Broad Agency Announcement
Funding #: W911NF-24-S-0008
Synopsis: Supports innovative research that will deliver the Army of 2030 and design the Army of 2040. The solicitation includes many areas of interest, 3 of which we include here
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) - The Army is interested in AI/ML research in areas that can reduce the cognitive burden on humans and improve overall performance through human-machine teaming.
- Data visualization and synthetic environments – The Army is
interested in research involving concepts that enable improved
situational awareness and the visualization and navigation of large data
sets and to enhance operational activities and training and readiness.
- Computation - – The Army has a growing need for high-performance
computational capabilities to exploit large data sets and to compute
complex AI / ML algorithms for many applications.
Award details: This BAA uses several funding instruments: Grants, Procurement Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, Technology Investment Agreements (TIAs), and Other Transactions (OT)
Announcement on website: Disruptive Applications
Proposal due date (invited): White Papers must be submitted before proposals; proposals are due May 1, 2024.
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Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) / Defense Sciences Office
Program: Broad Agency Announcement —Structures Uniquely Resolved to Guarantee Endurance (SURGE)
Funding #: HR001124S0018
Synopsis: Supports projects to explore the convergence of in-situ sensing technologies, process modeling, and microstructure-based fatigue life methods to predict the life of additively manufactured (AM) metallic parts in real-time. A wide range of sensors are currently implemented in AM to collect thermal signatures, geometric information, acoustic feedback, and other process information to ensure that parts are built according to established conditions. This requires prior knowledge of the acceptable processing window to determine whether parts are inside (good) or outside (bad) of established bounds. In-situ monitoring approaches will continue to evolve and lead to improvements in AM, including closed-loop machine control, but the reliance on extensive prior knowledge is a significant shortcoming. SURGE is exploring an alternative approach by focusing on parts instead of processes. SURGE will use in-situ data to generate a fingerprint of each part that includes details of the underlying microstructure.
Award details: Multiple awards are anticipated
Announcement on website: SURGE
Proposer’s Day: April 18, 2024 (this Thursday) – Surge Proposers Day
Proposal Abstract due date: May 9, 2024
Proposal due date: July 1, 2024
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Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPAH), Health Science Futures Office (HSF)
Program: Personalized Regenerative Immunocompetent Nanotechnology
Tissue (PRINT)
Innovative Solutions Opening Number – ARPA-H-SOL-24-101
Synopsis: Supports the creation of a process to enable biofabrication of the kidney, heart, and liver using advanced cell manufacturing and 3D bioprinting. To fundamentally transform the human organ supply chain and regenerative medicine approaches, PRINT will develop effective cell differentiation and expansion methods for all necessary organ cell types, which can then be transitioned to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing grade. Organ level tissue complexity will be recapitulated using tissue modeling software, bioinks and supporting materials, precision bioprinting hardware, and bioreactors to provide active perfusion and sustain viability prior to transplantation. The combined effort of all teams will develop a biofabrication process that will enable the production of bioprinted organs to work to address the US and global organ shortage. Specifically, this program supports the transformation of organ biofabrication by leveraging recent advances in 3D bioprinting, cell manufacturing, biomaterials, modeling, and tissue engineering. The platform will use patient-matched organ biofabrication to restore normal human organ function for the kidney, heart, or liver. There are 3 Technical Areas:
- TA1: Generation of all necessary organ cell types (Phase I):
- TA2: Large scale manufacturing of organ cell types (Phase I & II)
- TA3: Organ Biofabrication and in vivo testing (Phase I and II)
Award details: ARPA-H intends to negotiate multiple Cooperative Agreements or Other Transaction (OT) Agreements with proposers whose proposals are most advantageous to the Government.
Announcement on website: ARPA-H PRINT
Proposer’s Day: May 7, 2024 (pre-registration required – registration closes April 30, 2024)
Solution Summary Due Date: May 28, 2024
Proposal due date: July 8, 2024.
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NIH / Multiple Institutes
Program: HEAL Initiative-Early-Stage Discovery of New Pain Targets Within the Understudied Druggable Proteome (R03 — Small Grants Program)
NOFO #: PAR-24-197
Synopsis: Supports pilot projects to identify new druggable targets for pain within the understudied druggable proteome. Awards will support generation of preliminary data and/or tools around eligible understudied protein(s) listed in this NOFO. This NOFO is intended to jumpstart research on understudied proteins within the context of pain and pain management and provide applicants with sufficient funding to perform basic biochemical and/or biological work to further the characterization of understudied proteins to identify new druggable targets for pain. Understudied proteins eligible for study under this NOFO are from well-established druggable protein families with a high potential to impact human health once a disease association is made. Specific proteins are listed in the NOFO.
Award details: Requests may be up to $100K for a one-year project.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-197.html
Application due dates: Multiple due dates for all types of applications. Next due date for new applications is June 16, 2024.
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NIH / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Program: Neuropathological Interactions Between COVID-19 and ADRD (R01)
NOFO #: PAR-24-203
Synopsis: Supports studies in animal, cell culture, and/or human tissue models to elucidate the mechanisms by which COVID-19 interacts with and/or modulates ADRD-relevant phenotypes. The NOFO intends to support studies that are disease-mechanistic in nature and must incorporate ADRD outcomes, risk factors, pathologies, or relevant comorbidities. The use of de-identified human samples and clinical data (such as from one of the RECOVER repositories or other relevant sources) is allowed for this initiative, as long as this is incorporated with a mechanistic component. Proposals ought to center around mechanistic studies that address how COVID-19 (1) impacts CNS pathology and cognitive decline when ADRD pathology is already present; (2) accelerates ADRD pathology in a prodromal model (early phase, pre-symptomatic); (3) predisposes for ADRD and/or interacts with relevant comorbid conditions and ADRD risk factors (cellular mechanisms that could increase the risk for ADRD development, with experimental readouts that are directly relevant to dementia); and how pre-existing ADRD enhances the risk of more severe post-COVID-19 neurological outcomes. Research of interest include (partial)
- How pathological cellular events in the white matter, such as aberrant glial activation, demyelination, and/or impaired neurogenesis and neurotrophic support, are induced and/or potentiated by COVID-19 to promote or exacerbate ADRD-relevant pathology and phenotypes;
- COVID-19-induced chronic neuroinflammation and how this relates to specific mechanisms of neurodegeneration such as synaptic pruning by microglia, prolonged cerebrovascular dysfunction, and/or aberrant neuroimmune activation states;
- Mechanism of COVID-19-associated peripheral to CNS crosstalk that results in neurological sequelae and has the potential to modulate ADRD-relevant pathology
Award details: Maximum award is $500K for direct costs per year for a maximum project period of 5 years.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-203.html
Application due date: October 4, 2024, for all types of applications.
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Announcements of Interest for Dornsife Investigators
USC OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Center for Excellence in Research
Upcoming Workshop
Designing and Writing a Successful NSF Broader Impacts Statement
A great NSF Broader Impacts statement won’t strengthen a proposal with poor science, but a poor one can sink a proposal with good science. In this workshop you will learn you how to develop your statement with examples of creative strategies, a brainstorming session to help you develop your ideas, and an overview of resources at USC.
Date: April 23, 2024 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Zoom Registration: Check with the Center for Excellence in Research (https://rii.usc.edu/cer/)
Presenters: Heidi Smith Parker, Dornsife Chief of Grant Strategy; Dieuwertje Kast, EdD., Director of STEM Education Programs, Joint Educational Project, Dornsife; and Mary Bonaparte-Saller, Ph.D. K-12 STEM Center Associate Directorade Winn, Associate University Librarian/Systematic Review Librarian
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Department of Contracts and Grants
NIH will be implementing multiple changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted to NIH for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. A recent guide notice was distributed that provides an overview of each of the changes to help contextualize them as details are released over the next few months. See DCG NewsFlash! for more information.
DORNSIFE RESEARCH OFFICE
USC Dornsife Research Administrtion
Office Hours on Wednesdays for help with Research Administration
Dornsife Research Office is offering weekly online office hours on Wednesday afternoon from 3pm-4pm via Zoom. Feel free to drop in with a question and connect with Dornsife research staff.
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Book Cover:Carceral Apartheid: How Lies and White Supremacists Run Our Prisons (Justice Power and Politics) (University of North Carolina Press, forthcoming December 2024)
Brittany Friedman, Sociology
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