USC Dornsife
USC Dornsife
USC Dornsife Office of Research Advancement
Descripton at end of newsletter                                                                        Week of March 11,  2024          

Greetings Dornsife Faculty,
This week's report includes
  -  Prestigious honor for 1 Dornsife faculty;
  -  External funding success obtained by 1 faculty member;
  -  1 Internal funding opportunity;
  -  Current and diverse external funding opportunities, including 2 limited submissions; 
  -  Announcement of upcoming CER workshop — presented by Dornsife's Chief Grant Strategist, Heidi Parker; and
  -  A friendly reminder of Wednesday office hours offered by Dornsife Research Administration.
Best regards,
Renee J. Perez, Vice Dean, Administration & Finance
Cathleen Crayton, Project Specialist
 
Accolade
Fengzhu Sun, Quantitative and Computational Biology, was elected a Fellow of the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB). Elected Fellows to ISCB is the highest honor in the field of computational biology.

External Funding Successes
Darby Saxbe, Psychology, Prenatal Social Connection and Disruption During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Maternal and Infant Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

USC Internal Funding Opportunity
KSOM / USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Program: American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Seed Money for Pilot Projects in Cancer Research
Synopsis
: Supports junior faculty with “seed” money for the initiation of novel ideas in any area of cancer research — basic, clinical and translational. Allocations are made based upon the recommendations of the ACS-IRG Scientific Review Committee of the Cancer Center after its review of each application. PIs must be a USC junior faculty member who is within the first six years of independent research or faculty appointment at the start date of the proposed IRG allocation, October 1, 2024. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. citizens or scientists with a visa that will allow them to stay in the U.S. to complete the project. While applicants with career K grants that are intended for salary, PIs may not have an active or competitive grant (e.g., NIH K99/R00, R03, R01, R21, DOD, etc.)
Award details: $40K for 1 year.
Announcement on website: ACS Institutional Research Grant
Application due date: July 15, 2024. Only one application per applicant is allowed. Review of proposals takes approximately six to eight weeks.
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External Funding Opportunities
**Limited Submission*** 
(time sensitive - 1 submission allowed)
United States Agency International Development (USAID) / EXpanding Partnerships, Learning, and REsearch (EXPLORE) Annual Program Statement
Program: Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK)
Synopsis: Supports research partnerships between low- and middle-income country (LMIC) research institutions and U.S.-based institutions on topics important to global development. USAID has a long tradition of working with researchers, research institutes, and higher education institutions to harness their intellectual, research, community engagement, and capacity building expertise to address some of the world’s most complex development challenges.  USAID expects that activities under this Addendum will focus on three overarching priorities:
  -  Priority 1: Fund high-quality, locally led research, with a goal to better understand international development challenges and develop and disseminate solutions.
  -  Priority 2: Support U.S.-local research partnerships, which can persist beyond USAID funding and produce long-term benefits for all partners.
  -  Priority 3: Strengthen capacity at local higher education institutions for conducting and disseminating research.
Award details:  $75K in total USAID funding over a 5 year period, obligating up to $2.5M in the initial obligation for Year 1 of this Award, contingent on the availability of funds. This initial obligation is envisioned to cover both core operational costs for Year 1 as well as costs for pilot subawards under the initial Research Call(s) under SPARK.
USC internal announcement: https://rii.usc.edu/limited-submissions/usaid-strategic-partnerships-for-advancing-research-and-knowledge-spark/
Announcement on website: SPARKS 
USC Internal due date: March 20, 2024.
External Concept paper due date: April 8, 2024.
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***Limited Submission***
National Endowment for the Arts
Program: Grants for Arts Projects – Literary Arts: Public Engagement/Professional Development
Synopsis: Supports literary arts centers, festivals, presenters, and other organizations that offer literary arts programming and services designed to promote and develop practitioners of, and audiences for, the literary arts. Programs and services may have a local, regional, and/or national focus.
Award details: Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10K to $100K.
USC internal announcement: https://rii.usc.edu/limited-submissions/nea-grants-for-arts/
External Announcement on website: https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects/literary-arts
USC Internal due date: April 26, 2024.
External Part 1 grants.gov due date: July 11, 2024.
External Part 2 grants.gov due date: July 16-25, 2024.
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The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress
Program: Kluge Fellowships
Synopsis
: Supports humanistic and social science research that makes use of the Library's large and varied collections. Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research is particularly welcome in the Kluge Fellowship program. The fellowship is open to scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and professional fields such as architecture or law. Eligible applicants have received their Ph.D. within the past 7 years. U.S. citizens as well as foreign nationals are eligible to apply.
Award details: $5K per month for a period of 4 to 11 months for  12 Fellows. Fellows may be given residence at any time during the 18-month window after the fellowship letter is received.
Announcement on website: https://www.loc.gov/programs/john-w-kluge-center/chairs-fellowships/fellowships/kluge-fellowships/
Application due date: September 15, 2024. Applications open on April 15, 2024.
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The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Program: Scholarly Fellowships
Synopsis
: Supports doctoral candidates, college and university faculty at every rank, and independent scholars working in the field of American history with short-term fellowships. International scholars are eligible to apply. This year, special attention will be given to topics on colonial America; the history of slavery and abolition; and the Cold War. Preference will be given to applicants in these fields, although projects on all aspects of American history are welcome.
Award details: $3K. Fellows have 1 year of notification of award to complete their research, submit an essay of 750–1000 words on their topic, including a
separate paragraph documenting the archival collections consulted during the term of the Fellowship.
Announcement on website: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events/scholarly-fellowships
Application due date: Online submission is due October 28, 2024. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application by November 11, 2024.
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Cedars Sinai
Program: Ray Charles Foundation Scholarship
Synopsis
: Supports rising third- or fourth-year undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs and students currently enrolled in, or awaiting acceptance to, medical school or a residency program who have a passion for neuroscience. Specific areas of research opportunities include nanomedicine; Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorder diagnostics and treatment; tumor immunology; blood-brain barrier and drug delivery; and gene therapy and discovery. Scholarship eligibility is based on belonging to an underrepresented group such as BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, persons with disabilities, and more.
Award details: The award includes an annual salary commensurate with the awardee’s education and research experience, up to $6K annually to offset the cost of housing (prorated into an hourly rate added to their base hourly rate), and a sign-on bonus up to $4K to offset the cost of relocating to Los Angeles. Up to 2 awards will be made.
Announcement on website: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/education/professional-training-programs/scholarships-pathways-in-neuroscience/ray-charles-scholars.html
Application due date: April 15, 2024.
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MIT Solve
Program: 2024 Global Economic Prosperity Challenge
Synopsis
: Supports exceptional solutions leveraging technology to increase peace and prosperity. Starting with the belief that peace and stability are baseline conditions for economic prosperity and a thriving society, MIT Solve’s focus for 2024 centers on solutions that
  -  Promote and sustain peace by increasing community dialogue, civic participation, reconciliation, and justice efforts; strengthening cyber security and monitoring or preventing violence, misinformation, and polarization;
  -  Foster financial and digital inclusion by supporting access to credit, digital identity tools, and insurance while securing privacy and personal data;
  -  Generate new economic opportunities and buffer against economic shocks for workers, including good job creation, workforce development, and inclusive attainable asset ownership.
Award details: $10K
Announcement on website: https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/2024-global-economic-prosperity-challenge
Application due date: April 18, 2024.
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Simons Foundation
Program: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Marine Microbial Ecology
Synopsis
: Supports candidates who intend to pursue a career in basic research on fundamental problems in marine microbial ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the role of microorganisms in shaping ocean processes and vice versa. We are interested in applicants with training in different disciplines, including modeling and theory development, as well as applicants already involved in ocean research. Applicants should have received their Ph.D. or equivalent degree within three years of the fellowship’s start date. Preference will be for applicants with no more than one year of postdoctoral experience and mentors may be in U.S. or Canada. This fellowship is intended to support full-time research, and any exceptions (e.g., teaching positions) require advance approval from Simons Foundation staff.
Award details: $70K stipend and up to $25K for an annual allowance that may be spent on health insurance for the fellow and family and other benefits as required by the institution, research supplies, small equipment (including computers), attendance at scientific meetings and other research-related travel.
Announcement on website: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-postdoctoral-fellowships-in-marine-microbial-ecology/
Application due date: May 7, 2024.
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American Psychological Foundation
Program: John and Polly Sparks Early Career Grant Investigation Emotional Serious Disturbance (SED)
Synopsis
: Supports early career psychologists (no more than 10 years postdoctoral) conducting research in the area of early intervention and treatment for serious emotional disturbance in children. The John and Polly Sparks Foundation partnered with APF to empower early career psychologists to produce scientifically-based research and programs that could provide models for broad-based applications across the country.
Award details: Up to $22K.
Announcement on website: https://apf.apa.org/funding/sparks/
Application due date: April 24, 2024.
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Angelman Syndrome Foundation
Program: 2024 Call for Research Proposals
Synopsis
: Supports research that advances understanding of Angelman Syndrome (AS), a rare genetic condition that affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities. The Foundation has particular interests in the following areas
  -  Projects studying or correcting the heterozygous effect of non-UBE3A genes in deletion;
  -  Projects studying the potential results of increasing UBE3A after therapies or for some subtypes of AS;
  -  Projects studying the delivery of therapies and potential for improvement;
  -  Symptomatic therapies that impact the daily life of people with Angelman syndrome and their families.
Award details: Up to $100K per year for projects up to 2 years.
Announcement on website: https://www.angelman.org/as-research/call-for-proposals/
Application due dates: 2 times a year: April 15th and October 15th.
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Danmarks Frie Forkinsfond (DFF) / Independent Research Fund Denmark
Program: Arctic research – Climate change and sustainable arctic communities (DFF Research Project 2 – Thematic)
Synopsis: Supports the advancement of knowledge of challenges and solutions to physicochemical conditions, climate feedback mechanisms, ecosystems, and the living conditions of humans and animals. This also includes social and cultural changes in Arctic communities as a result of climate change. DFF emphasizes that the call encompasses the possibility for research within and across all main research disciplines, which may, in different ways, contribute to sustainable development in the Arctic. DFF is interested in the “internationalization” of the research and research that contributes to Danish research. DFF expects that the results of the research will be disseminated continuously throughout the term of the project. This is a global call for proposals so there is no citizenship requirement and applications are welcome from all accredited research institutions. Applicants must possess considerable, independent research experience at a high, international level. Applicants must have obtained their Ph.D. or achieved equivalent qualifications (e.g., a positive assistant professorship evaluation at least 8 years before the expiration of the application deadline.
Award details: ~$322K to ~$630K excluding F&A over 4.5 year period.
Announcement on website: https://dff.dk/en/apply/application/funding-instruments/2024/call_climate_uk_opslag_tematisk_2024.pdf
Application due date (online): June 4, 2024. The earliest possible starting date is 1 February 2025 and the latest possible starting date is 1 December 2025.
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National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Program: NIJ FY24 Research on Multidisciplinary Teams
Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-NIJ-2024-172031
Synopsis: Supports research from accredited research universities (only) that will study the current landscape of multidisciplinary teams working on sexual exploitation crimes against children, including structure, participants, and outcomes, in addition to best practices for multidisciplinary teams to improve effectiveness, outcomes, and victim well-being.. Applicants are encouraged to propose multidisciplinary research teams to build on the complementary strengths of different methods and areas of subject matter expertise. NIJ also seeks proposals that include consideration and measurement of issues of diversity, discrimination, and bias across age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, as applicable.
Award details: NIJ will make 1 award for $1.5M for 5 years.
Announcement on website: https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/O-NIJ-2024-172031.pdf
Step 1: Application Grants.gov due date: May 08, 2024
Step 2: Application JustGrants due date: May 22, 2024
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U.S. Department of Agriculture / Foreign Agricultural Service
Program: FY2024 Cochran Fellowship Program
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-FAS-10962-0700-10.-24-0001
Synopsis: Supports the design and delivery of the training of agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Training opportunities are for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas. Individuals selected for Cochran training come from both the public and private sectors. The program is intended to support applied research, extension, and education collaborations between U.S. researchers and their foreign counterparts from selected emerging market economies. All training occurs in the United States. Training programs are designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, USDA, and other government agencies, agribusinesses, and consultants. The training program will be of 1-2 consecutive weeks duration, to take place in either calendar year 2024 or 2025 depending on the availability of all parties, for Fellows from multiple countries.
Award details: Up to $150K.
Announcement on website: Cochran Fellowship Program FY2024
Application due date: May 3, 2024.
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Department of Defense (DoD) / Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Program: Young Investigator Program (YIP)
Funding #
: FOAAFRLAFOSR20240004
Synopsis: Supports early career scientists and engineers who have received a Ph.D., and who demonstrate  exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The program objective is to foster creative basic research in science and engineering; enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators; and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force and Space Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering. Eligible YIP PIs must have obtained their Ph.D. AFTER April 1, 2017. PIs must hold a full-time, noncontractor permanent, tenure-track position (or must submit an institutional letter stating you may be considered for a permanent non-contractor appointment, if your current appointment is for the short-term). Applicants MUST contact the appropriate Program Officer who is the point of contact for a specific technical area to discuss their research ideas before submitting a proposal. Jim Murday, USC  has provided a document with a list of Program Officers embedded: Program Officers for 2025 AFOSR YIP
Award details: Award amounts are up to $150K per year for 3 years (total $450K).
Announcement on website 2025 AFOSR YIP
White Paper Submissions due date (required): April 22, 2024.
Proposals due date (invited): June 21, 2024.
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NSF / Directorate for Geosciences – Division of Research, Innovation, Synergies and Education (GEO / RISE)
Program: Confronting Hazards, Impacts, and Risks for a Resilient Planet (CHIRRP)
Solicitation #: PD 24-297Y
Synopsis: Supports projects focusing on innovative and transformative research that advances Earth system hazard knowledge and risk mitigation in partnership with affected communities. Hazards compounded by changing climates, rising populations, expanding demands for resources, aging infrastructure, and increasing reliance on technology are putting our economy, well-being, and national security at risk. CHIRRP projects will demonstrate convergence of three essential elements: (1) Equitable Community Partnerships; (2) an Earth System Science approach to advance knowledge of hazards, impacts, and risks and (3) Actionable Solutions that increase resilience. The initiative seeks solutions to existing as well as next-generation Earth system hazards.
Award details: No specific dollar amount cited. CHIRRP currently supports planning, conference, RCNs, EAGER, and RAISE proposals that support the development of community partnerships, provide training for effective community engagement, catalyze ideas, and / or support the initial conceptualization, planning and collaboration activities aimed at formulating new and sound plans for future large-scale projects.
Announcement on website: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/confronting-hazards-impacts-risks-resilient-planet
Proposal target date: June 6, 2024.
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NSF / Multiple Directorates; National Endowment for the Humanities; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; Innovation Funding Agency Business Finland; Research Council of Finland; Japan Science and Technology Agency; National Research Foundation of Japan; Republic of Korea – Ministry of Science and ICT; and United Kingdom Research and Innovation
Program: Global Centers
Solicitation #: 24-566
Synopsis: Supports research collaborations that foster team science and community-engaged research, and use knowledge-to-action frameworks whose rationale, conceptualization, and research directions are driven by the potential use of the results as illustrated by “Pasteur's Quadrant”. The topic for the 2024 competition of the Global Centers program is Addressing Global Challenges through the Bioeconomy and may include research from any combination of research disciplines supported by NSF. This solicitation offers a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary teams of scientists, educators, and practitioners to use knowledge of the bioeconomy to co-develop and execute a research plan for an international center that will address a global challenge facing humanity. Under this topic, there are 2 topics of which either or both must be addressed: (1) Leveraging Biodiversity Across the Tree of Life to Power the Bioeconomy; and (2) Biofoundries, using the Design-Build-Test-Learn process in biology. The Global Centers program is meant to support multidisciplinary research that can only be achieved through international partnerships uniting complementary areas of expertise, and / or facilitating access to unique expertise or resources of the participating countries.
Award details: NSF awards will be up to $5M in total over a 4-5 year project period. Please consult the solicitation for international partner agency award information and requirements.
Announcement on website:
https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf24556.pdf
Proposal due date: June 11, 2024.
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NIH / Across All Institutes
Program: NIH Support for Conferences and Meetings (Parent R13— Conferences and Scientific Meetings
NOFO #: PA-24-141
Synopsis: Supports high-quality scientific conferences that are relevant to the NIH's mission and public health. A conference is defined as a symposium, seminar, workshop, or any other organized and formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face or via the Internet, where individuals assemble (or meet virtually) for the primary purpose of exchanging technical information and views or explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge, whether or not a published report results from such meeting. The NIH recognizes the value to members of the research community and all other interested parties in supporting such forums. NIH is also committed to changing the culture of science to sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, including harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex/gender, disability, and age in NIH-funded activities, and anticipates organizers of NIH-supported conferences will employ strategies that seek to prevent or mitigate the effects of discrimination and harassment, sexual and otherwise.
Award details: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. Most Institutes and Centers will accept applications for up to 5 years of support when a series of annual or biannual conferences are proposed by a permanently sponsoring organization. Support for conferences held on a less frequent schedule must be applied for individually.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-24-141.html
Application due dates: Due dates for new, renewal, resubmissions, and revised applications are 3 times a year through 2026. The next due date is April 12, 2024. Due dates for AIDS applications are 3 times a year through 2027. The next due date for AIDS applications is May 7, 2024.
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NIH / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Program: NINDS Advanced Institutional Research Training Program (T32 — Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA))
NOFO #: PAR-24-126
Synopsis: Supports outstanding training with the breadth and depth to prepare advanced predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to become successful scientists in a rapidly evolving research enterprise that is increasingly complex and multidisciplinary. Neuroscience research requires investigators who can draw on knowledge and approaches from multiple disciplines and levels of analysis and apply this broad knowledge in novel ways to yield discoveries about the nervous system. Moreover, impactful neuroscience research requires investigators with strong foundational skills in experimental design, statistical methodology, and quantitative reasoning. T32 programs are not intended to simply support trainees in conducting research. Education in career skills (e.g. grant-writing, oral presentation) although a critical component of all programs, is not sufficient to constitute a T32-funded training program. The activities that constitute the program should be specifically designed to achieve the stated thematic purpose of the training program, and not simply be cobbled together from existing activities that the institution or department offers.
Award details: The grant intends to offset the cost of stipends, tuition and fees, and training-related expenses, including health insurance, for the appointed trainees by the approved NIH support levels. Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed maximum 5-year project.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-126.html
Application due dates: Annual due dates through 2026. The next due date is May 25, 2024.
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NIH / Multiple Institutes
Program: Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41-R42 — Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant - Phase I, Phase II, and Fast-Track)
NOFO #: RFA-MD-24-007
Synopsis: Supports the development of a product, process, or service for commercialization to improve minority health and / or reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in one or more NIH-defined populations that experience health disparities. Appropriate technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable.
Award details: With exceptions noted in the NOFO, total funding support (direct costs, indirect costs, fee) normally may be at most $306,872 for Phase I awards and $2,045,816 for Phase II awards.
Announcement on website: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-24-007.html
Application due date: Multiple due dates for new, resubmissions, renewal, and revised applications through 2026. The next due date is June 10, 2024.
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Announcement of Interest for Dornsife Investigators
 USC Office of Research and Innovation / Research Initiatives and Infrastructure
Center for Excellence in Research
Upcoming Workshop
Navigating the Grant Proposal  Landscape for Junior Faculty Members
Now that you have arrived at USC, where do you start applying, and how many proposals should you plan to send out? This workshop will offer advice to early faculty members on applications, creating a grant application 5-year plan, and balancing time between getting started as a researcher and finding funding.
Date:  March 26, 2024                             Time: 10:00 a.m.
Zoom Registration
Presenter: Heidi Smith Parker, Chief of Grant Strategy, Dornsife
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Dornsife Research Administration
Dornsife Research Office is offering weekly online office hours on Wednesday afternoons from 3 pm-4 pm via  Zoom. You are invited to drop in with a question and connect with Dornsife research staff. 
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Book Cover: The Science of Last Things — Essays on deep time and the boundaries of the self (Milkweed Editions, forthcoming October 2024) Ellen Wayland-Smith, Writing Program




University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences | Los Angeles, CA 90089 US
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