Executive Summary:

Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University announced a funding opportunity of $900,000 for a maximum period of three years for full-time faculty in the above-listed URC institutions, focused on new research leading to revolutionary but feasible outcomes in alternative energy. Funded projects to be considered will include research in materials (including nanomaterials), clean energy sources, transmission and storage that is environmentally safe, cost-effective, and secure, and energy policy. Preference will be given to projects with excellent potential for innovation and feasibility that span two or more URC institutions and are multi-disciplinary in nature.

Background:

The importance of producing and conserving clean energy to the economy, the quality of life, and the environment in the State of Michigan can hardly be overstated. This presents an unusual opportunity to focus some of the best university research talent on a rich set of problems: finding better ways ot generate, distribute and use energy sources that are environmentally friendly, cost-effective and secure. A broad array of know-how - chemical, biological, environmental, electrical, mechanical, materials, nanotechnology, policy and economics - must be tapped and integrated to make rapid progress to meet these overwhelming challenges. The URC is undertaking seed sponsorship of energy research among faculties of the three partner universities to better postion our researchers for national competitiveness, as well as to help influence the outcomes of both state and national enegy policy decisions. Research in, for example, novel energy sources, biofuels, energy storage and power systems, the use of nanotechnology, and systems may form the bases of future energy advances. Thus, a multi-disciplinary, multi-university initiative in energy science, technology, and policy is of critical importance.

Key Dates:

The proposal and other required documentation is due by Monday, April 14, 2008.

Proposal review will take place in May, 2008.

The anticipated start date for funding is June 1, 2008.

Funding Amount, Funding Period, and Approved Uses of Funding:

The URC will provide $900,000 in research funding to one or more projects to allow URC faculty to develop innovative alternative energy projects.

Funding Period: 18 months to 3 years, starting on or around June 1, 2008.

Grants can be used for any purpose except faculty salary.

Personnel salaries (except consultants) must stay within URC institutions.

No indirect costs will be allowed.

Facility/Fabrication fees at non-URC institutions are allowed if the necessary technology does not already exist within one of the three participating universites.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are full-time (9 or 12 month) faculty at a URC institution.

Special Considerations:

The review committee will give preference to proposals that are multi-institutional. Therefore, proposals with multiple PIs and/or co-PIs are encouraged.

Proposal Components: The grant application should include:

I. The Proposal (maximum of 5 pages) should include the following: Title of Proposal, PI (and any co-PIs or co-Investigators), Abstract, Introduction/Overview/Background, Preliminary Results and Proposed Research (goals, specific aims, methods, anticipated outcomes). Within the Preliminary Results and Proposed Research section, describe how this proposal fits in with your overall research program and how it addresses novel questions or approaches. It is also important to include a plan for sustaining the research activity beyond the URC funding term. References are not included in the page count.

II. A one-page budget, broken down for each year of funds requested, categorized by personnel, equipment, materials and supplies, fees (facility/fabrication/computer licensing, etc.) and travel, along with justification for expenses.

III. A copy of the current bio sketches of each PI and co-Investigator cannot exceed a total of 4 pages.

Reporting: A summary of research results will be reported at the end of each program year to the Vice Presidents for Research of the participating faculty. PIs are expected to submit a proposal to a national funding agency related to the project funded through this program.

Applications should be submitted electronically to Sarah James (sjames@wayne.edu) in a single PDF file by Monday, April 14, 2008.

Please direct any questions to Freda Giblin (fgiblin@med.wayne.edu; (313) 577-3448).

A multi-university committee will review the applications, and award announcements will be made on or around May 5, 2008.