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Research Working Groups

In Spring 2022, the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI) conducted faculty interviews to gain insights and increase faculty engagement. One of the main takeaways was an interest in exploring collaborations that could lead to new areas of interdisciplinary research. 

In order to catalyze these potential collaborations, ND-ECI is offering funding to facilitate idea generation and extend our research vision.

Eligibility

To foster vertically-integrated collaboration across disciplines, each working group will include:

  • At least 3 participants in total
  • At least 1 graduate student or postdoc
  • At least 1 faculty participant who is affiliated with ND-ECI
  • Faculty in at least 2 ND colleges represented

Working groups led by a graduate student or postdoctoral scholar are encouraged.

Funding

We will make multiple awards (up to $5,000) and funds will be available until the end of Summer 2023. Funding can be used for a variety of expenses, including but not limited to:

  • Personnel - Graduate or undergraduate research assistants
  • Food -  Receptions/convenings, meals, snacks
  • Other - Poster printing, publication costs, professional meeting/workshop attendance, working group materials, etc.  

In addition, meeting facilitation is available upon request.

Deadline

The 2022 application process is closed. Please check back for a call in Fall 2023.

Application Process

Applications should be no more than two pages (11pt font; 1 inch margins) and include a:

  • List of participants that meet the above eligibility requirements (with titles and college and departmental affiliations in parentheses)
  • Detailed description of the activities that clearly identifies the:
    1. Focus of the working group as it relates to ND-ECI and ND’s mission
    2. Group’s intended outcome
    3. Nature of planned activities to attain the outcome
    4. Expected tangible accomplishments during the funding period
  • Brief budget including a narrative justification that provides a short rationale for the requested funds.

Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Synergy with ND-ECI’s and ND’s mission
  • Potential to stimulate intellectual activity within the ND-ECI community
  • Anticipated outcome (e.g., white paper, publication, blog, podcast, website, op-ed, foundation for pilot project, dissertation chapter, extramural proposal)
  • Reasonable budget description

Evaluation Process

The evaluation committee will be made up of the ND-ECI Leadership Team. Ad-hoc members will be added as needed depending on content areas.

If successfully funded, the following Terms of Award will be required:

  • Submission of lay abstract suitable for use on the ND-ECI website
  • Submission of one-page final report
  • Resulting proposal or publications will be affiliated with ND-ECI

Questions

Please contact Alex Hardy (alexhardy@nd.edu) with any questions.