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SEED GRANT PROGRAM – 2012
PROPOSAL DEADLINE – January 20, 2012

Program Objectives: In 1990, the State of Iowa funded and the Board of Regents approved the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research. The Center awards small grants for pilot studies on global change, climate effects, and regional environmental research related to global environmental problems. The primary goal of the Center is to evaluate the effects and interactions of global change on earth surface processes and people at both the global and the regional scale, including Iowa's midwestern agricultural setting. This year, in particular, CGRER is interested in targeting proposals related to water sustainability and sustainable energy systems and their environmental impacts. Seed grant applications that demonstrate innovative approaches to important problems or that foster interdisciplinary graduate training are especially encouraged. Clear promise of developing future funding will receive priority.


Who May Apply: Support for Center funds will be awarded to members of the Center scientific faculty and research staff, to other researchers in collaboration with Center scientists, and to other meritorious research projects. These State funds are restricted to higher education (Colleges and Universities in Iowa) and to projects that are central to the objectives of the Center. PIs who have been funded under this seed grant program during the last three funding cycles (2009, 2010, or 2011) are NOT eligible to apply in the 2012 cycle. We encourage new members and young investigators to apply.


Application Mechanism: Investigators should submit a short proposal (6 pages text maximum, using a font size equivalent to 12 point Times and margins of at least 1”). The proposal should include the following sections:

  1. Cover Sheet - listing - Title of Proposal, PI, Affiliation, e-mail address, amount requested, and list of reviewers (not counted in 6-page limit).
  2. Executive Summary (not to exceed 150 words)
  3. Brief Description of Aims
  4. Perceived value and importance of proposed project and importance of project to the goals of sustainability
  5. Project Description – should clearly state the expected results (products and end points) and how these relate to the larger goals of the investigator’s program
  6. Overview of Methods
  7. Future Funding – concrete plans for obtaining additional support in the future (or matching funds) from regional or national funding agencies or appropriate foundations, etc.
  8. Time Frame to meet the objectives of the proposal and other support requests
  9. References (not counted in 6-page limit)
  10. Budget with Justifications (not counted in 6-page limit)
  11. 2-page resume of principal investigator(s) (not counted in 6-page limit)
  12. Appendix Material – this should only be provided in unique circumstances. Reprints are usually not appropriate.
  13. List of three people at The University of Iowa who are qualified and could provide an independent review of this proposal (listed on cover sheet). Please include reviewer’s name, department and e-mail address.
Funds may be used to support Graduate Research Assistants, other support personnel, and for the purchase of supplies and equipment excluding computing and facilities equipment. No faculty salary financial support will be allowed. Travel necessary to the conduct of the study and for reporting results in national and State meetings will be allowed.


Application Deadline: Deadline for submission of proposals to the Seed Grant Program is January 20, 2012. Submit your proposal electronically by sending a Word document to – jane-frank@uiowa.edu – or by sending a word file on disk to – Jane Frank, CGRER, The University of Iowa, 424 IATL, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Awards will be announced in February/March, 2012.


Funding: Awards up to a maximum of $30,000 will cover a one year period. Direct costs only are allowed. A lump sum award will be made to the appropriate Department within the College or University with whom the Principal Investigator is affiliated. We anticipate making total awards of $150,000.


Peer Review Process: Each submitted proposal will be reviewed by your suggested reviewers and by a member of the CGRER Executive Committee from related fields. The Peer Review Panel will review proposals and assign an overall priority score based on the following criteria (where applicable):

Final decisions will be subject to the advice of the Executive Committee and relevance to the Center's goals.


Reporting Requirements: A final report (not to exceed 5 pages) is required of all funded projects. Final reports should include a description of the study aims, methods, results and a brief discussion of the significance of the study. Copies of any peer-reviewed publications should also be forwarded to the Center. A short discussion of future funding avenues and plans should be included.


Center Recognition: Publications from the Seed Grant Program should recognize the whole or partial support of the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.


Renewal: Seed grants will not be renewed.


Date of Award: July 1, 2012      Project Period: July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013


Additional Information: Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Jane Frank, Administrative Assistant (jane-frank@uiowa.edu), CGRER, 424 Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Phone: (319) 335-3333; FAX: (319) 335-3337.


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The University of Iowa Center for Regional and Environmental Research