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Descripton at end of newsletter Week of September 11, 2023
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Greetings Dornsife Faculty,
This week's report includes
- Accolade for 1 Dornsife faculty member;
- External funding success obtainted by 3 faculty members;
- Current and diverse external funding opportunities, including 3 limited submissions; and
- An announcement of an upcoming CER workshop — the third of a trio of workshops on writing SBIR / STTR grants — this week's focus is on specific aims.
Best regards,
Renee J. Perez, Vice Dean, Administration & Finance
Cathleen Crayton, Project Specialist
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Accolade
Sonya Lee, Art History, is a Gold Medal recipient of the Independent Publishers award in the Religion (Eastern / Western) category for her book, Temples in the Cliffside (University of Washington Press, 2022)
External Funding Success
Yehuda Ben-Zion, Earth Sciences, Center Operations: The Coupled Evolution of Earthquakes, Faults, and Geohazards of the San Andreas Fault System, National Science Foundation
Lindsey Schier, Human and Evolutionary Biology, Alternative Orosensory Signals Contributing to Sugar Taste, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Nicholas Warner, Physics and Astronomy, Gravity, Geometry and Field Theory in Fundamental Physics, Department of Energy
External Funding Opportunities
***Limited Submission***
(Nominations ccordinated by Divisional Deans)
Frontiers Research Foundation
Program: Frontiers Planet Prize
Synopsis: Awards the best research published in established peer-reviewed scientific journals, with robust peer review and transparent publication procedures. The acceptance date of the article must fall within the 2 years prior to the launch of the competition (date of acceptance: 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2023). Scientific excellence is the default principle to participate in the Frontiers Planet Prize. All research across all disciplines, including social sciences, are welcome, on condition article is focused on planetary boundaries and offers new insights that help to reduce the destabilization of the Earth system.
Award details: Each prize-winning scientist’s institution will receive one million Swiss francs (~$1,121,490), to support their continuing research, as well as worldwide exposure for their research.
Internal Announcement: https://provost.sma.usc.edu/prog/2023_FPP/
Announcement on the website: https://www.frontiersplanetprize.org/
Nominations due date: Nomination due date has been extended to September 22, 2023. Please contact your divisional dean if interested.
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***Limited Submission***
(1 slot)
Brain Research Foundation
Program: 2024 Seed Grants
Synopsis: Supports full-time, tenure-track, or tenured assistant and associate professors conducting new and innovative research in areas of brain function, including molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning in health and disease. PIs that have previously received a BRF Seed Grant may not receive the award for a second time unless the funded project is complete, and all grant requirements from all previous awards are met. Projects that are likely to receive R01 or comparable funding are prioritized. Only one PI may apply per application.
Award details: $80K grant for direct costs over a 2-year funding period.
USC internal announcement: https://rii.usc.edu/limited-submissions/brf-seed-grants/
External announcement: https://www.thebrf.org/seed-grants/
USC internal due date: October 6, 2023.
Letter of Intent due date: November 16, 2023.
External due date: March 15, 2024.
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***Limited Submission***
(3 slots: — Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Life Sciences)
The Blavatnik Family Foundation
Program: 2024 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientist
Synopsis: Supports and honor America’s most innovative young faculty-rank scientists and engineers. Eligible candidates are faculty who are tenure-track or tenured and, with some exceptions, are born in or after 1982.These awards celebrate the past accomplishments and future potential of young faculty members working in the three disciplinary categories of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemistry. Nominating institutions are encouraged to consider candidates across the institution, focusing on the scope of the candidate’s work and its relevance within a given scientific category. For example, an institution can nominate a Chemistry nominee who is not based in the Chemistry Department, but is leading a research program in one of the disciplinary categories covered by the Chemistry section of the Blavatnik Awards. The Blavatnik Awards strongly encourages all those submitting nominations to the Awards — including institutional nominators, Scientific Advisory Council members, and past Blavatnik Awards Laureates—to diversify the population of candidates nominated for this Award.
Award details: $250K
USC Internal announcement: https://rii.usc.edu/limited-submissions/blavatnik/
External announcement on website: http://blavatnikawards.org/awards/national-awards/
USC Internal due date: October 13, 2023.
Nomination due date: November 8, 2023. Nominees and nominators please see details for previous Finalists.
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Lighthouse Works
Program: Fellowship
Synopsis: Supports a diverse range of cultural producers (writers, artists, choreographers, and composers) at a critical juncture in their careers working in the vanguard of their creative fields on Fishers Island, New York on Long Island Sound. While in residence, fellows’ primary obligation is to pursue their work, however, Fellows are asked to participate in two events: an Artist Talk and Open Studio which bookend the fellowship. Because of the size and intimacy of the fellowship program, fellows connect with each other across disciplinary lines.
Award details: $1,750 stipend Fellowship is 6 weeks and fellows are provided with housing, food, and working space. All dietary needs are accommodated and meals are prepared by Lighthouse Works staff.
Announcement on website: https://www.lighthouseworks.us/fellowship
Application due date: Accepts proposals in September-October.
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Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment
Program: Consumer Privacy Rights Fund — Request for Proposals 2023
Synopsis: Supports projects that advance privacy protection and privacy education efforts on behalf of individual consumers. This grant cycle will be conducted in accordance with the requirements set by the Google Streetview Litigation consent decree. Examples of relevant projects include (partial):
- Recording or monitoring internet communications without meaningful consent, including illegal recording.
- The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in decisions made by agencies or corporations particularly with respect access to benefits, services, and opportunities.
- Collection or use of people’s personal data without their knowledge or meaningful consent, or in violation of terms of service. Nonprofit colleges, universities, university clinics and graduate programs are eligible to apply
Award details: Maximum award is $150K, tailored to the needs of the project. 5% overhead allowed for college and universities.
Announcement on website: https://rosefdn.org/wp-content/uploads/Consumer-Privacy-2023-RFP.pdf
Application due date: October 13, 2023.
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Herb Block Foundation
Program: Defending Basic Freedoms
Synopsis: Supports projects that help safeguard the basic freedoms guaranteed in our Bill of Rights, to help eliminate all forms of prejudice and discrimination, and to assist government agencies to be more accountable to the public. The Herb Block Foundation will also consider contemporary societal issues that may arise. Grants are available nationwide.
Award details: Grants up to $25K
Announcement on website: https://www.herbblockfoundation.org/grant-programs/defending-basic-freedoms
Letter of Intent due date: October 5, 2023.
Full Proposal due date (invited): December 14, 2023.
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American Educational Research Association and NSF
Program: Research Grants
Synopsis: Supports faculty at institutions of higher education, postdoctoral researchers, and other doctoral level scholars. The aim of the program is to advance fundamental knowledge of relevance to STEM education policy, foster significant science using education data, promote equity in STEM, and build research capacity in education and learning. The program supports highly competitive studies using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data. The Grants Program is open to field-initiated research and welcomes proposals that:
1. Develop or benefit from advanced statistical or innovative quantitative methods or measures;
2. Analyze more than one large-scale national or international federally funded data set, or more than one statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) or incorporate other data enhancements;
3. Integrate, link, or blend multiple large-scale data sources; or
4. Undertake replication research of major findings or major studies using large-scale, federally supported, or enhanced data.
Award details: Range up to $25K for 1year projects, or up to $35K for 2year projects.
Announcement on website: https://www.aera.net/Professional-Opportunities-Funding/AERA-Funding-Opportunities/Grants-Program/Research-Grants
Application due date: November 20, 2023.
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Smith Richardson Foundation
Program: Domestic Public Policy
Synopsis: Supports projects that will help the public and policymakers understand and address critical challenges facing the United States in the areas of education, the economy, and the criminal justice system. To that end, the Foundation supports research on and evaluation of existing public policies and programs, as well as projects that inject new ideas into public debates.
Award details: Recently published past grant awards have ranged from $18K to $250K
Announcement on website: https://www.srf.org/apply-now/
Application due date: Rolling. Applicant submits concept paper and if approved will be invited to submit a full proposal.
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
Program: Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health
Synopsis: Supports projects that are primed to influence health equity in the future. RWJF seeks ideas that address any of RWJF’s Pioneering Ideas for an Equitable Future team’s four current areas of focus: 1) the Future of Evidence; 2) the Future of Social Interaction; 3) the Future of Food; and 4) the Future of Work. Additionally, under Open Exploration, described below, this call for proposals seeks ideas that might fall outside of these four focus areas but offer unique approaches to advancing health equity and our progress toward a Culture of Health. Scientists, anthropologists, artists, urban planners, community leaders—anyone, anywhere who has a new or unconventional idea that could alter the trajectory of health and improve health equity and wellbeing are invited to submit proposals.
Award details: Recent grants have averaged ~$319K over a flexible project range of 1 to 3 years.
Announcement on website: https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/active-funding-opportunities/2020/pioneering-ideas-submission.html
Application due date: Rolling.
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University of Pittsburgh
Program: 2024 Dickson Prize in Medicine
Synopsis: Supports an American biomedical researcher who has made significant, progressive contributions to medicine. The Dickson Prize is for investigators who are at incredibly productive points in their careers and whose research is or will be, so influential that it is worthy of significant and broad attention. The Prize committee encourages nominations that highlight not only the nominee’s scientific contributions but also the nominee’s impact on the broader scientific community, including mentoring, service, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The recipient must be a U.S. citizen.
Award details: $50K along with a medallion and will present the Dickson Prize in Medicine Lecture at the University of Pittsburgh
Announcement on website: https://www.dicksonprize.pitt.edu/nomination/
Nomination due date: October 13, 2023.
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American Association for Cancer Research
Program: Lustgarten Foundation-AACR Career Development Award for Pancreatic Research (in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis)
Synopsis: Supports the development and diversity of talent working in pancreatic cancer research. Eligibility is limited to members of racial or ethnic groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in the cancer-related sciences workforce. This award represents a joint effort to encourage and support early-career scientists engaged in pancreatic cancer research relevant to the goals and mission of the Lustgarten Foundation. Applicants must hold the rank of tenure-track Assistant Professor and have independent laboratory space. Applicants must be AACR Active members. Nonmembers interested in this grant opportunity must submit a satisfactory application for AACR Active membership by the Competitive Letter of Intent.
Award details: $300K over 3 years.
Announcement on website: https://www.aacr.org/grants/lustgarten-foundation-aacr-career-development-award-for-pancreatic-cancer-research-in-honor-of-john-robert-lewis/
Concept Paper due date: October 16, 2023.
Application due date (invited): January 8, 2024. Grant begins July 1, 2024.
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Simons Foundation
Program: Simons Early Career Investigator in Aquatic Microbial Ecology and Evolution Awards (previously called Early Career Investigator in Marine Microbial Ecology and Evolution)
Synopsis: Supports the careers of outstanding investigators in the fields of microbial ecology, microbial biogeochemistry and/or microbial evolution in marine or natural freshwater systems, who will advance our understanding through field work, experiments, modeling or theory. Investigators must currently be active in basic research addressing fundamental questions in these fields and must focus a large fraction of their lab’s effort in this area. Applicants whose research focuses on the microbiomes of animals or plants, symbioses of microbes with animals, paleoceanography, geobiology or aquatic pollution will not be considered. Eligible candidates are tenure-track or tenured, and have carried out research in their position no earlier than November 2018 and no later than January 2023.
Award details: Requires detail budget and budget justification
Announcement on website: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-early-career-investigator-in-aquatic-microbial-ecology-and-evolution-awards/
Letter of Intent due date: November 1, 2023.
Application due date (invited): February 29, 2024.
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Fighting Blindness Foundation
Program: Free Family AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) Research Award
Synopsis: Supports efforts concentrated on determining the strength of pathophysiologic pathways and their interactions with other pathways to cause AMD lesions of early AMD pathobiology. This award will include two PIs who are jointly responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the project, thereby leveraging a team science approach. Multidisciplinary projects are highly encouraged. Individuals from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and gender groups, as well as individuals with disabilities, are always encouraged to apply.
Award details: Maximum budget is $200K per year for a maximum project period of 3 years. No indirects.
Announcement on website: https://www.fightingblindness.org/free-family-amd-research-award
Application due date: January 5, 2024.
Earliest Anticipated Award date: April 2024.
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Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
Program: ARPA-H Biomedical Data Fabric (BDF) Toolbox
Funding Opportunity #: ARPA-H-MAI-24-01-01
Synopsis: Supports research and development in data integration and usability technologies. Proposed projects should investigate innovative software approaches that enable revolutionary advances in the collection and usability of biomedical datasets that originate from thousands of different research labs, clinical care centers, and other sources of data in order to accelerate technical innovation across the health ecosystem. Specifically excluded are submissions that will primarily result in limited or only evolutionary improvements to the existing state of software capabilities to link datasets. Also excluded are approaches that artificially restrict data availability beyond what is necessary at a given level of data sensitivity. The program will solicit proposals in 4 Technical Areas (TAs):
- TA1: Automated Data Capture: Lowering barriers to high-fidelity, timely data collection in computer-readable forms
- TA2: AI-Assisted Preparation for multi-source data analysis at scale
- TA3: Intuitive Exploration: Advanced and intuitive data exploration
- TA4: User Testing: Evaluating data usability by community members across disciplines and biomedical literacy levels
Award details: Multiple awards are anticipated under this announcement; however, the number of proposals selected for an award will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. Proposals selected for award negotiations will result in an award for a Other Transaction (OT) or Cooperative Agreement.
Announcement on website: Biomedical Data Fabric (BDF) Toolbox
FAQ due date: September 20, 2023
Optional abstract due date: October 3, 2023
Proposal due date: November 14, 2023.
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Department of Energy (DoE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
Program: University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR) Funding Opportunity
FOA #: DE-FOA-0003016
Synopsis: Supports university-based Research and Development (R&D) projects that address and resolve fundamental scientific challenges and applied engineering technology issues associated with thermal management of combustors and hot gas path components for gas turbines. Specifically, R&D projects will conduct fundamental and applied research to develop advanced materials and advanced hot gas path components that utilize these advanced materials, advanced cooling architectures, and advanced manufacturing methods. Supports laboratory / bench-scale R&D in the following areas of interest (AOI):
- Fundamental Materials Development for Hot Gas Path Hydrogen Turbine Components
- Applied Materials Development for Hot Gas Path Hydrogen Turbine Components
- Fundamental Materials Development for Hydrogen Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs).
Award details: $200K with 20% cost share. Anticipate making 4 awards in each topic area of interest. Project periods are anticipated to be 36 months. Consult solicitation for details.
Announcement on website: University Turbine Systems Research
Application due date: November 7, 2023.
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Department of Energy (DoE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
Program: Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics
Funding Opportunity Announcement #: DE-FOA-0003058
Synopsis: Supports projects that focus on accelerating the capabilities of two thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies: metal-halide perovskite PV and cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV. Specifically, funds innovative industrial research and development (R&D) projects for perovskite PV and industrial research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects for CdTe PV. “Industrial” R&D and RD&D refers to projects that are led by industry with the primary intent of improving commercial viability and/or market share of the technologies being studied. This FOA promotes American leadership in thin-film PV technology in both the domestic manufacturing of thin-film PV modules and the deployment of these technologies at the gigawatt (GW) scale.
Although the primary target of this FOA are private, for-profit entities, these entities are encouraged to partner with academia and national labs to become part of the ecosystem of funded research.
Award details: EERE expects to make approximately $36M of federal funding available for 2-15 new awards under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Announcement on website: Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics
Concept paper due date: November 7, 2023.
Full application due date: December 12, 2023.
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NSF / Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Program: Focused Research Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (FRGMS)
Solicitation #: 23-621
Synopsis: Supports collaborative groups employing innovative methods to solve specific, major research challenges in the mathematical sciences. A major challenge is an outstanding problem of significant importance that requires the focused and synergistic efforts of a collaborative group to solve, and whose solution will have wide impacts in the mathematical sciences and potentially in other areas. Groups may include, in addition to statisticians and mathematicians, researchers from other science and engineering disciplines appropriate for the proposed research. Risky projects are welcome. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome. Projects should be timely, limited in duration to up to three years, and substantial in their scope and impact for the mathematical sciences. Funded projects that show substantial progress in their first two years may be recommended for a creativity extension for up to an additional two years.
Award details: Award size is limited to between $150K, and $500K per year for up to three years duration.
Announcement on website: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2023/nsf23621/nsf23621.pdf
Proposal due dates: December 6, 2023; September 11, 2024.
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NIH / Across All Institutes
Program: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)
NOFO #: PA-23-262
Synopsis: Supports research training of highly promising postdoctoral candidates who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in scientific health-related research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Applications are expected to incorporate exceptional mentorship. The Kirschstein-NRSA F32 fellowship is designed to support research-training experiences in new settings in order to maximize the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. In most cases, therefore, the sponsoring institution should be a site other than where the candidate trained as a graduate student. However, if the candidate is proposing postdoctoral training at his / her doctoral institution, the application must carefully document the opportunities for new research training experiences specifically designed to broaden his / her scientific background and to acquire new knowledge and/or technical skills that will enhance his / her potential to become a productive, independent investigator.
Award details: Provide stipends as a subsistence allowance to help defray living expenses during the research and clinical training experiences. The application should request a Kirschstein-NRSA institutional allowance to help defray the cost of fellowship expenses such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel to scientific meetings, as there is no allowance for F&A costs. Fellowship awards will contribute to the combined cost of tuition and fees at the rate in place at the time of award.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-23-262.html
Application due date: Multiple due dates through 2025. The next due date is December 8, 2023.
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NIH / National Cancer Institute (NCI) & Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office
Program: Improving Care and Outcomes for Cancer Survivors from Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations
NOFO #: PAR-23-292
Synopsis: Supports the rigorous assessment of barriers to quality cancer treatment and follow-up care for sexual and gender minority (SGM) cancer survivors, of which a critical need for improved care delivery and outcomes for SGM survivors is addressed. The NCI solicits proposals for observational and / or interventional studies of SGM survivors designed to understand barriers and / or improve care and outcomes for SGM people with cancer, using interoperable sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection in cancer care settings, where appropriate. Specific research topics include (partial)
- Studies of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals to understand interactions between gender-affirming care (i.e., surgery, hormonal therapy) and cancer treatment such as treatment safety and efficacy, and follow-up care, including surveillance needs for individuals who have had gender-affirming surgery and/or hormonal therapy;
- Studies examining intersections of sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, and / or geography are strongly encouraged; and
- Studies to address survivor /caregiver / provider communication, including the development and implementation of shared care approaches, such as interventions that address unique survivor / caregiver configurations, implementing provider education strategies to support culturally sensitive care, and implementation of sexual orientation and gender identity
(SOGI) data collection across providers, to support care coordination for survivors.
Award details: Requested budgets must reflect the needs of a maximum 5-year project.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-292.html
Application due date: January 5, 2023.
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Announcement of Interest for Dornsife Investigtor
Office of Research and Innovation
Center for Excellence in Research
Upcoming Workshop
Strategizing and Writing the SBIR / STTR Specific Aims
The last of a trio of workshops focusing on SBIR / STTR applications, this workshop will help you focus on writing the two key parts of your application — the Specific Aims and Commercialization Plan. Reviewers often read this section first so the goal is to prepare an exciting Aims page that will be a page-turner for the rest of the application. The session will also review requisite sections of the Commercialization Plan.
Date: September 28, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon
Registration: https://rii.usc.edu/cer/
Presenter: JoAnne Goodnight, an independent consultant who specializes in assisting small technology companies in preparing competitive SBIR/STTR grant applications and 25 years of federal government service, most of which was spent at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) serving as the SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator.
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Book Cover: Seneca Hercules (Oxford University Press, Forthcoming October 2023)
A.J. Boyle Classics
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