Greetings Dornsife Faculty,

In this issue we include: 
–  Accolades for two Dornsife Investigators;
–  External funding success for six faculty;
–  An internal funding opportunity;
–  A plethora of external funding opportunities, including one limited submissions;

–  Announcements of interest including an important announcement from Office of Research and Innovation, and a friendly reminder of Office Hours from Dornsife Research Administration.

 

Best regards,

Renee J. Perez, Vice Dean, Administration and Finance
Cathleen Crayton, Project Specialist, Research Administration

Hanna and Antonio Damasio, Brain and Creativity Institute, were honored with the Neuropsychology Global Ambassador Award, at the first Global Neuropsychology Congress in Porto, Portugal. Sponsors of the event included the Federation of European Societies of Neuropsychology (FESN), the International Neuropsychological Society (INS), the Sociedad Latinoamericana de Neuropsicología (SLAN), and the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI).

Aravind Asok, Mathematics, Conference: Motivic homotopy, K-theory, and Modular Representations, National Science Foundation

 

Mark Benthien, Southern California Earthquake Center, Support for Northridge Earthquake 30th Anniversary Educational Campaign, State of California’s Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

 

Julien Emile-Geay, Earth Sciences, Collaborative Research: Connecting seasonal to millennial timescales through strongly coupled data assimilation, National Science Foundation

 

Richard Green, Economics and Public Policy, Rent Relief Resurgence: Impacts of Emergency Rental Assistance on the Rental Housing Market, John and Dora Haynes Foundation

 

Naomi Levine, Marine and Environmental Biology, Ocean Margins Initiative, Woods Hole Oceanography Institution

Marc Vermulst, Molecular and Computational Biology, DNA-damage-induced transcription errors provide a constant stream of amyloid and prion-like proteins in human cells, National Institute on Aging

Internal Funding Opportunity

 

Keck / USCNorris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Program: American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Seed Money for Pilot Projects in Cancer
Synopsis: Supports promising new projects or novel ideas by junior faculty by providing “seed” funding. Support of investigators who have a competitive national research grant or who have received prior support from the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant is not permitted. Projects in any area of cancer research – basic, clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral, etc. - will be considered. Especially encouraged are applications from NIH-defined underrepresented minority faculty. Eligible candidates are those who are within the first six years of independent research or faculty appointment as of October 1, 2024. PIs must not have an active or prior competitive national research grant (e.g., NIH K99/R00, R03, R01, R21, DOD, etc.). Recipients of career development (K) awards intended for salary are eligible. U.S. citizens as well as non-citizens, who hold visas that will allow them to remain in the country for long enough to complete project, are eligible.
Award details: Up to $40K
Announcement: 2024 American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant 
Application due date: July 15, 2024.
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External Funding Opportunities

 

***Limited Submission***

 

NIH / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and collaborating Institutes
Program: NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25 – Education Projects)
NOFO #: PAR-23-178
Synopsis: Supports the development of neuroscience researchers from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented groups, across the specified career stages. This Neuroscience Diversity R25 initiative will focus on factors that have been shown to affect retention of underrepresented postbaccalaureate, graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and junior faculty in neuroscience research, such as mentoring, scientific networks, professional development, and attention to the structural and institutional environment regarding inclusion. This NOFO will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on three types of activities (all three must be included): Mentoring, Research Experiences and Courses for Skills Development.
Award details: $250K for direct costs per year. The maximum project period is 5 years.
USC Internal announcement: https://rii.usc.edu/limited-submissions/par-23-178/
External announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-178.html
USC Internal due date: July 26, 2024.
External due date: September 26, 2024.
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Terra Foundation for American Art
Program: Collection Grants
Synopsis: Supports organizations to reinterpret and re-present their collections through re-installations or temporary exhibitions drawn from their permanent collections. Grants may be used for costs associated with planning and research (including short-term positions, convenings, advisory committees, etc.); interpretation; signage/labels; artist fees (except for commissions); shipping, crating, couriers, insurance, and loan fees for any loaned objects; construction of temporary gallery walls; conservation/framing; rental equipment; programs and events; marketing; evaluation; and dissemination of research, whether digital or print. 

The Foundation encourages proposals from organizations (e.g., museums, art centers, and community-based cultural organizations) of varying sizes and annual budgets and representing the full spectrum of geographic regions, within and outside the United States.

Award details: Grants will range from $25K to $75K. 15% indirect cost of the award amount is allowed.

Announcement on website: https://www.terraamericanart.org/what-we-offer/grant-fellowship-opportunities/collections-grants/
Letter of Inquiry due date: August 1, 2024.
Proposal due date: October 7, 2024.
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Pen America
Program: 2025 PEN / Heim Translation Fund Grants
Synopsis: Supports translators to enter the field, and introduces English-speaking readers to new and exciting voices. All other criteria being equal, preference is given to translators at the beginning of their career, and to works by underrepresented writers working in underrepresented languages. Translators may submit one project per year.

Award details: $2K to $4K.
Announcement on website: https://pen.org/pen-heim-grants/
Submission due date: Online submissions are due August 1, 2024.
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Louisville Institute
Program: Pastoral Study Project
Synopsis: Supports individual or collaborative study projects on Christian life, religious practices and institutions, and possibilities and ideas for the church, our communities, and the wider world. Grants are awarded to skilled and innovative clergy, lay leaders, and staff working in diverse Christian contexts in the United States and Canada.
Award details: Up to $20K

Announcement on website: https://louisville-institute.org/programs-grants-and-fellowships/grants/pastoral-study-project/

Application due date: August 1, 2024. The project timeframe is January 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
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The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
Program: Grants for Private Higher Education and Interfaith Leadership and Religious Literacy
Synopsis: Supports 2 programs currently: (1) Private Higher Education program supports colleges and universities prioritizing undergraduate education and emphasizing the liberal arts. Although the Foundations support various programs in higher education, these grants typically support projects that improve student outcomes or enhance faculty leadership. (2) The Interfaith Leadership & Religious Literacy program area supports a wide range of activities including, improving educational curricula, creating meaningful engagement between religious communities, and enhancing the public understanding of religious beliefs and practices.

Award details: Private Higher Education grants range from $25K to $300K even while higher amounts may be entertained, as well as projects that span multi-years. Interfaith Leadership and Religious Literacy grants typically range from $100K-$300K, although the Foundations will entertain larger requests.

Announcement on website: https://www.avdf.org/programs-overview/
Letter of Intent due date for both programs: August 9, 2024.
Full proposal due date (invited): November 15, 2024.
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John Templeton Foundation
Program: Grants
Synopsis: Supports field-leading research and high impact public engagement programs in these areas: Character Virtue Development; Life Sciences; Individual Freedom & Free Markets; Mathematical & Physical Sciences; Public Engagement; and Religion, Science and Society. Announcement provides details on each area.
Award details: 2024 grants have ranged from $240K to $2M. Period of performance is 3 years.
Announcement on website: https://www.templeton.org/grants/grant-calendar
Online Funding Inquiry: August 16, 2024.
Full proposal due date (invited): January 17, 2025 (or earlier for select proposals)
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Charles Bronfman Prize
Synopsis: Supports a humanitarian who is under 50 years of age, for innovative work fueled by their Jewish values and that has significantly improved the world. The Charles Bronfman Prize accepts nominations in all areas of humanitarian work across a broad spectrum of disciplines. Past recipients have distinguished themselves through their work in the fields of environment, genetics, humanitarian relief, human rights, medical education, public education, the economy, and storytelling to convey values across cultures. Nominees must be individuals or teams who self-identify as Jewish and must not have reached their 50th birthday by October 9, 2024.

Award details: $100K to be used at the recipient’s sole discretion.
Announcement on website: https://thecharlesbronfmanprize.org/
Nominations due date: October 9, 2024.
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Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) at Princeton / School of Social Science
Program: 2025-2026 Fellowships
Synopsis: Supports junior and senior scholars across a wide range of the social sciences and related disciplines for a residential fellowship at IAS. Though the theme for 2025-2026 is “Digital (In)Equality”, applications are not required to relate their projects to the theme. Half of the scholars who are invited to study at the IAS work on projects other than the theme of a particular year. Fellows (also known as Members) are expected to 1) be present on campus from mid-September through mid-May, excluding the break between the fall and spring terms (mid-December to mid-January); 2) participate in a weekly, all-School seminar, which includes presenting one's own research to the group; 3) participate in the bi-monthly Theme Seminar if selected for the theme group.
Award details: The School seeks to provide 50% of the base salary, with the expectation that the Member's home institution, sabbatical funding, and / or other grants will cover the remainder. The maximum stipend is $80K. Factors affecting stipend calculation include base salary, availability of leave pay and other institutional support, and/or other grants/awards.
Announcement on website: https://www.ias.edu/sss/sss-fellowships
Application due date: October 15, 2024. The application portal opens July 15, 2024.
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Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
Synopsis: Supports and recognizes individuals who have focused worldwide attention on environmental problems by their discoveries and the solutions that resulted. While administered by USC, the Tyler Prize is the premier award for environmental science, environmental health and energy conferring great benefit upon mankind and is an open, worldwide competition. Nominations are now being accepted. A webinar on how to submit a nomination will be held next Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Award details: $250K
Announcement: https://tylerprize.cmail20.com/t/y-e-mjyjhhd-dyidhruhii-n/
Nominations due date: August 9, 2024.
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Los Angeles Center for Urban Natural Resources Sustainability
Program: 2024 Science Fellowship Program
Synopsis: Supports graduate students from diverse academic disciplines and sociodemographic backgrounds with research and science-delivery opportunities. The LA Urban Center’s mission is to serve as a “Research and Information Destination Hub” where environmental, urban ecosystem and urban natural resource studies will enhance urban forests, urban wildlife, and lives throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The LA Urban Center is a physical place to focus research activities and communication as well as a hub in the network of relationships among a growing community of scholars, policymakers, cooperators, and their facilities focused on urban natural resources sustainability. The two priority areas are (1) Community Forest Management, and (2) Nursery Management. Selected Fellows will have the option to conduct a one- or two-year project that contributes to the core mission and vision of the LA Urban Center.
Award details: Fellows will receive $12.5K for one-year fellowships and $25K for two-year fellowships. Both fellowships begin in September 2024.

Announcement on website: LA Urban Center 2024 Science Fellowship Program 

Application due date: July 26, 2024.
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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
Program: Harvest for Health Breakthrough Crop Challenge
Synopsis: Supports projects to develop a predictive model that can screen underutilized crops to determine a crop’s usefulness as a source of functional ingredients or nutrients. The Breakthrough Challenge is in two phases. Phase 1 focuses on a concept note for building a predictive model to identify underutilized crops with properties of interest to food and ingredient companies; Phase 2 focuses on developing and validating predictive models that effectively identify underutilized crops with properties of interest to food and ingredient companies.

Award details: One award for $1M will be awarded to an individual or a research team.

Announcement on website: https://foundationfar.org/grants-funding/opportunities/harvest-for-health-breakthrough-crop-challenge-2/  and submission criteria (https://foundationfar.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Harvest-for-Health-Breakthrough-Crop-Challenge-Submission-Criteria-updated-10Oct23.pdf)
Step 1 submission due date: August 7, 2024.
Step 2 submission due date (invited): Early 2025. The final winner will be announced in late 2026.
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Novo Nordisk
Program: Global Science Summit Programme 2024
Synopsis: Supports science-based solutions for international interdisciplinary collaborations that address intersectional challenges between at least 2 of the following areas:
  -  climate change
  -  non-communicable disease, particularly cardiometabolic diseases
  -  infectious diseases
  -  related enabling technologies
Proposals must demonstrate interdisciplinary and international engagement by including co-applicants from different fields of expertise and potentially from different nations.
Award details: Up to $1M for projects of 1 to 3 years duration.
Announcement on website: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/global-science-summit-programme-2024/
Application due date: August 8, 2024.
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American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN)
Program: ASPEN Rhoades Research Foundation Annual Grants
Synopsis: Supports exceptional scientific research projects submitted by early-career investigators of clinical nutrition and metabolic support in alignment with its mission to improve patient care by advancing the science and practice of clinical nutrition and metabolism. Eligible candidates are within 10 years of completing a terminal research degree, medical residency, or end of post-graduate clinical training (or the equivalent); are at or below the rank of Assistant Professor or at the rank of Associate Professor for < 2 years at the time of application submission; and intend to commit at least 20% of their time to research in a professional institute that conducts nutrition research.

Award details: Grants are 3-tiered: $25K for one year (renewable); $10K (non-renewable); $5K (non-renewable).

Announcement on website: https://www.nutritioncare.org/Research/ARRF/ASPEN_Rhoads_Research_Foundation_Annual_Grants/
Application due date: August 16, 2024.
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Heising-Simons Foundation
Program: Science Events and Gatherings
Synopsis: Supports meetings, workshops, conferences, summer schools, research collaboration gatherings, and other events related to astronomy, cosmology, fundamental physics, and climate change science, as well as increasing the representation and retention of underrepresented groups within these areas. The Heising-Simons Science program seeks to broaden its reach in the scientific community, and form new partnerships with scientists, institutions, and communities they have not yet worked with.
Award details: Grants will range from $20K to $80K.
Announcement on website: https://www.hsfoundation.org/open-call-for-support-of-science-events-and-gatherings/
Application due date: August 30, 2024.
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American Association for Cancer Research
Program: AACR-Astrazeneca Breast Cancer Research Fellowship for Endocrine Therapy Research
Synopsis: Supports postdoctoral research fellows to conduct breast cancer research and to establish a successful career path in this field. Proposed research projects are restricted to basic, clinical translation, or epidemiological projects that substantially advance the field of endocrine therapy in breast cancer. Applicants must have received their doctorate no earlier than December 1, 2019, must have a mentor, and must be members of AACR, though early career investigators as Associate members are not required to have annual membership dues.
Award details: $130K for two-year grants.
Announcement on website: https://www.aacr.org/grants/aacr-astrazeneca-breast-cancer-research-fellowship-endocrine-therapy-research/ 
Application due date: August 15, 2024. The grant term starts December 1, 2024.
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NASA / Roses
Program: The Science of PACE
Solicitation #: NNH24ZDA001N-PACE

Synopsis: Supports projects that focus on innovative uses of Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) data to answer integrated disciplinary or inter-disciplinary Earth system science research and applied questions. These investigations must focus on pursuing research within and / or across the Earth System (atmospheric, cryospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic environments), quantifying change, characterizing processes, and improving the understanding of the functioning of the Earth System’s components and the interactions among them. All proposals must explain the significant advance in scientific understanding anticipated and its societal relevance.
Award details: ~15-20 new awards will be made from an anticipated program budget of $5M per year. The maximum project period is 5 years.
Announcement on website: PACE   
Notice of Intent due date: October 1, 2024.
Proposal due date: January 22, 2025.
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Department of Defense (DoD) / Defense Health Program
Program: Toxic Exposures Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award
NOFO #: HT942524TERPIIRA
Synopsis: Supports hypothesis-driven research into the causes and outcomes of co-morbidities and pathological mechanisms associated with military-related toxic exposures to facilitate the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of visible and invisible diseases and symptoms. Preliminary data are required.  For FY2024 Topic Areas include
  -  Neurotoxin Exposure
  -  Gulf War illness and its treatment
  -  Airborne hazards and Burn Pits
  -  Other Military Service-Related Toxic Exposures in General, Including Prophylactic Medications, Pesticides, Organophosphates, Toxic Industrial Chemicals, Materials, Metals and Minerals.

Award details: $500K for direct expenses for the entirety of a maximum 3-year project
Announcement on website: Toxic Exposures IIRA. (CAC)
Pre-Application due date: August 13, 2024.
Application due date (invited): November 13, 2024.
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NSF / Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships - Innovation and Technology Ecosystems; Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering - Division of Computer and Network Systems; U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration; National Institute of Standards and Technology; INTEL; and VMare LLC

Program: Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing in Practice (PDaSP)
Solicitation #: NSF-24-585
Synopsis: Supports use-inspired and translational research to mature and scale existing models, methodologies, or constructs at the intersection of privacy goals and socio-economic or policy challenges. Of particular interest is innovation and translation of technologies that empowers data subjects, owners / curators, and other stakeholders to control how privacy-sensitive data is shared and used in order to maximize the utility of data while minimizing potential harms. There are 3 tracks for this solicitation: Track 1: Focuses on maturing an individual PPDSA technology, or a combination of technologies, driven by a specific use-case or application area; Track 2: Focuses on advancing integrated and comprehensive privacy management to enable trustworthy data sharing through the development of holistic system architectures that support end-to-end privacy protection and establish verifiable chain of trust while considering the deployment context (e.g., meeting requirements for regulatory compliance, and use by diverse user base). Track 3: Emphasizes and recognizes the urgent need to develop tools and testbeds to support and accelerate adoption of PPDSA technologies.

Award details: NSF anticipates a total of $23M program funding, of which NSF expects to make up to 12 Track 1 awards; up to 7 Track 2 awards; and up to 7 Track 3 awards, depending on the quality of submissions and the availability of funds.
Announcement on website: https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf24585.pdf
Full proposal due date: September 27, 2024.
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NSF / Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences - National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES S&T)
Program: Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Indicators, Statistics and Methods
Solicitation #: NSF-24-587
Synopsis: Supports projects for research, conferences, and studies to advance the understanding of the Science and Technology (S&T) enterprise and encourage the development of methods that will improve the quality of data. Research could include improved approaches to indicator construction and presentation, new S&T indicator development, strengthening of data collection methodologies and privacy protection to improve surveys that collect S&T data, investigations of alternate data sources to study S&T topics, analyses to inform STEM education and workforce policy, and innovations in the communication of S&T statistics. NCSES encourages proposals that analyze NCSES data or NCSES data in conjunction with those from other sources but does not limit the work to the analysis of the data it collects. Some examples of areas of interest include
  -  Improving analytical techniques to produce better indicators of issues related to (1) the education and retention of scientists and engineers including minorities, women, or persons with disabilities.
  -  Developing new and/or improved methods of measuring the inputs, outputs, interactions, and social or economic impacts of S&T activities, utilizing, for example, administrative records, social media, or novel data extraction methods.

  -  Improving data collection methodologies for S&T surveys and censuses, including those conducted by NCSES.

Award details: ~$1.5M in program funding. NSF expects to make 5 to 10 awards annually.
Announcement on website: https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf24587.pdf
Proposal due dates. Multiple due dates. The next due dates are January 21, 2025, and June 17, 2025.
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NIH / National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Program: National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program (R25 — Education Projects)
NOFO #: RFA-CA-24-026
Synopsis: Support efforts to create and maintain an institutional program to engage grades 6-12 and / or undergraduate students in cutting-edge cancer research experiences. The proposed institutional programs may also provide research experiences for the grade 6-12 teachers and undergraduate faculty members. The goals are to inspire interest in biomedical sciences, help envision research as a career path, and strengthen practical research and career skills. In alignment with these goals, institutions may develop unique programs that capitalize on their research strengths and are responsive to their target populations.
Award details: $400K for direct costs per year for a maximum 5-year project period.

Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-24-026.html
Application due dates: Annual due dates for new and resubmissions, renewals and revised applications through 2026. The next due date is September 27, 2024.
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Dornsife Corporate and Foundation Relations
(if interested in any of the following funding opportunities, please contact
Kerri Bennett at <Kerriben@usc.edu>)

 

Amcor
Program: A model for predicting and minimizing impact of a post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins on injection molding cycle time
Synopsis: Supports projects to develop a model that can predict the impact on cycle time based on PCR attributes and the percentage of PCR incorporated into the PET resin. The developed model should take into account different preform designs and machines with varying capacities and functionalities, and (with collaboration with Amcor) should ultimately possess a cycle time prediction accuracy of 95%. Projects of interest include
  -  Mathematical modeling and artificial intelligence to predict and optimize cycle times.

  -  Material science-based models able to predict changes in flow and thermal properties due to the presence of impurities in resin blends.
  -  Machine learning algorithms that analyze historical data to forecast the impact of PCR attributes on cycle times.
Award details: Funding for model development. Final funding amounts are to be discussed at the appropriate stage of engagement.
Announcement on website: Post-consumer recycled resins 
Application due date: July 31, 2024.
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Bayer Crop Science
Program: Advancing health and enhancing nutrition via gene editing
Synopsis: Supports projects to develop new fruit and vegetable products that have increased nutritional content, enhanced consumer appeal, or positive impact on the environment by harnessing the speed and precision of gene editing/new breeding techniques. Seeks to partner with academic researchers for anything from a product concept around a gene edit in a fruit or vegetable crop to an existing and characterized edit.
Award / Benefits details: Depending on the maturity of the concept, Bayer can offer a range of partnership opportunities from small grants for early ideas to commercial co-development and licensing, all supported by Bayer technical and business experts with the ultimate goal of commercialization.
Announcement on website:  Bayer Crop Science -Advancing health and enhancing nutrition
Application due date: July 31, 2024.
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Zymo Research
Program: Omics Discovery Grant
Synopsis: Supports scientists with innovative and accessible tools to propel their research. With their unique universal rRNA depletion technology at its core, this grant enables researchers to explore the transcriptome of any organism through Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based RNA analysis.
Award details: This prize includes a Zymo-Seq RiboFree Total RNA Library Kit, sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis, along with an additional $2,000 credit that can be applied toward any of the RNA-Seq sample prep technologies as part of a complete workflow.

Announcement on website: https://www.zymoresearch.com/pages/omics-discovery-grant
Application due date: August 30, 2024.
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From Office of Research and Innovation / Research Initiatives and Infrastructure

 

USC enterprise Grant Forward license to be discontinued: Please note, as of July 31, 2024, USC's enterprise license for the database Grant Forward will be discontinued. Importantly, your Grant Forward reference library will no longer be available as of July 31. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

USC enterprise licenses to be discontinued: Please note, as of July 15, 2024, USC's enterprise license for the reference manager Citavi will be discontinued. Importantly, your Citavi reference library will no longer be available as of July 15th. In addition, the enterprise license for the qualitative software N-VIVO and Atlas.ti will not be renewed. Users will have until July 30, 2024, and July 19, 2024, to download their data from N-VIVO and Atlas.ti, respectively. 

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Office Hours for Help with Research Administration Questions

Every Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m. via Zoom: USC Dornsife Research Administration continues to offer weekly office hours via Zoom. Feel free to join to ask questions and connect with research administration staff.

Zoom: https://usc.zoom.us/j/94648152007?pwd=M1ZPQU81QmtWc3VZaHp6QnhnK0RSdz09
Meeting ID: 946 4815 2007
Passcode:  989008

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