Initiative for Sustainable Energy
Date March 27, 2024
All News

ISE Seed Funding Program Call for Proposals (2024-25)

By Michelle Chan

The Initiative for Sustainable Energy (ISE) is pleased to announce the continuation of the Seed Funding Program, and solicits internal seed-project proposals in areas related to the three research thrusts of the ISE: renewable energy, sustainable fuels/materials, and energy efficiency.

Deadline: 
Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 5 pm

About

Proposals that include primary or secondary research foci in the environmental and/or social dimensions of the three ISE research thrusts listed above are also welcome, leveraging funding available through the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES). The main objectives of the ISE Seed Funding Program are to: (i) generate critical preliminary results and cement existing collaborations, which will enhance the likelihood of obtaining external funding in the form of multi-investigator block grants and (ii) develop new expertise and collaborations that will make future external proposals more competitive.

Proposals are requested in two categories: (1) larger projects with 3 or more faculty investigators and (2) smaller projects with 1-2 faculty investigators. Any Brown University faculty member employed by Brown and whose research is administered through Brown is eligible. A faculty investigator may participate as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI in a total of only one proposal in this 2024-25 cycle. Faculty investigators (PIs and co-PIs) who received funding during the previous cycle (2023-24) are not eligible. 


The performance period is one year: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

Proposals


Proposals should summarize the relevant background literature and research that puts the proposed project into the appropriate context and explains how it will significantly extend or contribute to the field. Clearly describe the goals of the research, the approach(es) that will be used, and activities to be carried out to achieve the goals. Describe the framework for collaboration(s) and student and/or postdoc involvement. Provide a timeline for results development, and the strategy for external proposal(s) development. Proposals should identify the programs and agencies to which future proposals will be submitted. 

The page limits are 5 pages and 3 pages for Category (1) and (2) proposals, respectively (minimum 11 pt. Times Roman font, 1” margins on all sides). This includes title of the project; list of all faculty investigators (identify lead PI) and their affiliations; 200-words (max.) abstract; and the main body of the proposals (including display items such as figures and tables). Not part of the page limits are references cited, 1-page budget with justification (required), latest NSF-style  biographical sketch of each faculty investigator (required), and latest NSF-style current & pending support for each faculty investigator (required).


Award funds may be used to support reasonable and necessary research costs, and all expenditures under this Seed Program must be in accordance with University policies and procedures. Some, but not all, allowable expenses include: postdoc salaries; full or partial stipends for advanced Ph.D. students who have completed their coursework; research stipends for undergraduate research assistants; materials and supplies; and core research facilities use fees. Expenditures that are not permitted include: faculty salaries; travel; equipment purchase costs; indirect costs; and graduate student tuition (the Graduate School will cover prorated tuition for supported Ph.D. students). 

Submit proposal as a single pdf file using this Google Form. Proposals are due by 5 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Selections will be announced in June.


Evaluation

Proposals will be reviewed by area experts, and the evaluation will be based on the intrinsic intellectual merit of the research and potential impact on the sustainable-energy field; the extent to which the proposed projects position ISE researchers to compete for new external block-grant funding; and the likelihood of the proposed research to be completed during the award period.


We anticipate multiple awards for each category, up to $100,000 for Category (1) and up to $50,000 for Category (2).


Reporting 

Recipients of the ISE Seed awards are expected to participate in ISE activities, and will be asked to provide periodic feedback (quarterly), including presentation of results at ISE events. Students and postdocs fully or partially supported by ISE Seed grants must be clearly identifiable as performing ISE-related research, and they will be listed on the ISE website.

If you have any questions regarding the ISE Seed Funding Program, please feel free to contact ISE Director, Prof. Nitin Padture (nitin_padture@brown.edu). You can find more information about the ISE and previously funded ISE Seed projects on the ISE website.

Also, the inaugural ISE Seed Mini-Symposium will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, 9 am to 2 pm in Barus & Holley Room 190; further information and the agenda will be available on the ISE website in the coming weeks.