Category: Funding Opportunities

Opportunities for funding graduate education.

Grassroots Development Fellowships

The Inter-American Foundation, a United States government agency that funds grassroots development in Latin America and the Caribbean, announces its 2010-2011 Fellowship cycle.

IAF Fellowships support dissertation research in Latin America and the Caribbean undertaken by students who have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy in a university in the United States.  Fellows must be U.S. citizens or citizens of the independent Latin American countries.  Proficiency in the language(s) appropriate to the research proposal is required.

Awards are based on both development and scholarly criteria.  Proposals should offer a practical orientation to field-based information on the following topics:
•     Organizations promoting grassroots development among the poor;
•     the financial sustainability and independence of such organizations;
•     trends affecting historically excluded groups,i.e., African descendants, indigenous peoples, women, and others;
•     transnational development;
•     the role of corporate social responsibility in grassroots development;
•     the impact of globalization on grassroots development;
•     the impact of grassroots development activities on the quality of life of the poor.

The Fellowship includes:
•     round-trip international transportation to the research site;
•     a research allowance of $3,000;
•     a monthly stipend of $1,500 for up to 12 months;
•     health insurance;
•     expenses related to required attendance at a mid-year conference.

For more information on this exceptional grant opportunity, including application instructions and additional information on the deadline, visit www.iie.org/iaf .

Proposals in Progress

Tech Today

Simon Carn and William Rose (GMES/RSI), “CDI-Type II Proposal: VHub: Collaborative Research: Cyberinfrastructure for Volcano Eruption and Hazards Modeling and Simulation,” NSF, Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI) Program

Eugene Levin (School of Technology/RSI) and William Helton (Cognitive and Learning Sciences), “CDI-Type I: Multidisciplinary Research: From Geospatial Data to Knowledge,” NSF, CDI

Andrew J. Storer (SFRES/ESC), “Evaluation of Sugar Maple Dieback in Upper Michigan,” GMO Renewable Resources

Judith Perlinger, Noel Urban (CEE/RSI) and Shiliang Wu (GMES/RSI), “Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Atmospheric Loading of Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicants to the Great Lakes,” Great Lakes Commission

Ulrich H. E. Hansmann (Physics/IEM), “Probing Folding and Assembly of Proteins through High-Performance Computing,” DOE

Elizabeth J. Hager (Biological Sciences), “Role(s) of the Mevalonate Pathway in Embryogenesis,” NIH

David Reed (VPR Office), James Heikinnen (Facilities), Bradley Baltensperger and J. Christopher Brill (Cognitive and Learning Sciences), “Complex Human Systems Research Center,” NIH

Germain Rivard, Joanne Polzien (VPR Office) and Greg Richards (Facilities), “Green Vivarium Expansion at Michigan Tech,” NIH

Patrick Martin (Social Sciences), “Archaeological Monitoring, Wastewater System Improvements, Franklin Township, Quincy Hill Area,” Franklin Township

Claudio Mazzoleni (Physics/RSI), “Analysis of Aerosol Optical Property from Data Collected during ISDAC (Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign), Fairbanks, Alaska, April 2008,” Los Alamos National Laboratory

S. K. Kawatra (Chemical Engineering), “State of the Art Modeling of Steelmaking Raw Materials Production,” American Iron and Steel Institute

Carl Anderson, Leonard Bohmann (College of Engineering), Jeffrey Naber, John Beard and Chris Passerello (ME-EM/APSRC), “An Interdisciplinary Program for Education and Outreach in Transportation Electrification,” DOE

Michele H. Miller, John K. Gershenson, Ibrahim Miskioglu, Gordon G. Parker and Charles H. Margraves (ME-EM), “Fundamental Manner in Which Students Solve Problems,” NSF

J. Y. Hwang and J. W. Drelich (MSE/IMP), “Design and Evaluation of a Novel Process Strategy for Water and Energy Conservation in the Oilsand Processing Industry,” Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development (CONRAD)

Dana Johnson (SBE/SFI), William Endres (ME-EM), James Pickens (SFRES), David Shonnard (Chemical Engineering/SFI) and John Sutherland (ME-EM/SFI), “Development of Supply Systems to Handle and Deliver High Tonnage Biomass Feedstocks for Cellulosic Biofuels Production,” DOE

Terry McNinch (LTAP/TDG MTTI), “City of East Tawas–Sign Data Collection Project,” City of East Tawas, Mich.

Brad King (ME-EM), “Hall Thruster Plume Studies,” Aerophysics Inc.

Victor Busov and Yordan Yordanov (SFRES/BRC), “Role of LOB Domain Transcription Factors in Regulation Wood Formation in Populus,” USDA

Chandrashekhar P. Joshi (SFRES/BRC), “Wood Cell Wall Analysis of Transgenic Poplars Altered in Cellulose Synthesis Genes,” USDA-AFRI: Plant Growth and Development

Abdulnasser Alaraje and Aleksandr Sergeyev (School of Technology), “Developing an Industry-Driven Digital Logic Design Curriculum for Electrical Engineering Technologists” and “Promoting Robotics Education: Curriculum and the State-of-Art Robotics Laboratory Development,” NSF

Jean Mayo and Steven Carr (Computer Science), “Exploring Access Control,” NSF

Ching-Kuang Shene (Computer Science), “The Design of Course Materials and Visualization and Programming Environment for an Undergraduate Cryptography Course,” NSF

Zhanping You, Shu Wei Goh (CEE/MTTI) and Qingli Dai (CEE/ME-EM/MTTI), “Development Guidelines for Warm Mix Asphalt Construction and Maintenance,” MDOT

Devin K. Harris, Jacob Hiller and Yue Li (CEE/MTTI), “Development and Validation of Deterioration Models for Concrete Bridge Decks,” MDOT

Devin K. Harris and Theresa M. Ahlborn (CEE/MTTI), “Evaluation of Constructed, Cast-in-Place (CIP) Piling Properties,” Wisconsin DOT

Rudy L. Luck, Sarah Green, Shiyue Fang and Dario Stacchiola (Chemistry), “Implementing Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction throughout the Chemistry Undergraduate Curricula at Michigan Tech,” NSF

Zhanping You (CEE/MTTI) and Qingli Dai (CEE/ME-EM/MTTI), “Alternative Materials for Sustainable Transportation” and “Cost Effective and Sustainable Recycled Asphalt Mixtures in Michigan,” MDOT

Amlan Mukherjee, Yogini Deshpande and Jacob Hiller (CEE/MTTI), “Sustainable Recycled Materials for Concrete Pavements,” MDOT

Timothy Colling (LTAP/TDG MTTI), “Impact of Non-Freeway Rumble Strips–Phase 1,” Texas Transportation Institute; and “Cost Effectiveness of the MDOT Preventative Maintenance Program,” Applied Pavement Technology Inc.

Zhanping You, Shu Wei Goh, Julian Mills-Beale and Baron Colbert (CEE/MTTI), “Extending Life of Asphalt Pavements,” MDOT

David Watkins and Veronica Griffis (CEE/MTTI), “Snowmelt Intensity-Duration-Frequency Analysis for Highway Drainage Design,” MDOT

Jacob Hiller (CEE/MTTI), “Extending Life of Concrete Pavements,” MDOT

Timothy Colling (LTAP/TDG MTTI), “Educating the Public to Negotiate Michigan Roundabouts,” MDOT

Nikola Subotic (MTRI), “Comprehensive Infrastructure Reconnaissance (CIR),” Foster-Miller

Andrew J. Storer (SFRES/ESC), “Project Coordinator for the Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) Project”; “Phloem Reduction in Support of the Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) Project”; and “Ash Inventory, Trapping and Treatment in Support of the Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) Project,” USDA Forest Service

Michigan Tech Partners With IBM in Global Rail Innovation Center

Tech Today

by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director

When IBM set its sights on becoming an international rail transportation leader, one of the first university partners they turned to was Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program is an emerging player educating future leaders for the rail industry.

Today, as IBM unveils plans for its Global Rail Innovation Center in Beijing, Pasi Lautala, director of the Rail Transportation Program, and graduate student Shane Ferrell will represent Michigan Tech.

“Countries worldwide are recognizing the importance of rail transportation and are accelerating their efforts to develop 21st-century rail systems,” said Lautala. “With its Global Rail Innovation Center, IBM is modeling a new way of thinking, one that is not bound by national borders. Michigan Tech is honored that IBM has recognized our leadership in rail-related research and education and has invited us to participate in such a groundbreaking effort.”

Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program, established in fall 2007 as part of the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute, has attracted strong support from the railroad industry. Its corporate sponsors include CSX, Union Pacific and CN. CN gave Michigan Tech $250,000 this spring to establish the Rail Transportation Education Center, a physical home for the Rail Transportation Program.

The program’s innovative Summer in Finland has already integrated an international component as part of an interdisciplinary approach to rail education, and an initiative to establish a multidisciplinary certificate in rail transportation and engineering is currently in progress.

Michigan Tech joins Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Joseph M. Sussman; Judge Quentin L. Kopp, chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority; the German railroad Deutsche Bahn; Motorola; Railinc Corporation (a subsidiary of the American Association of Railroads) and Sabre (a travel network) as initial members of the new center’s advisory board.

Based at IBM’s China Business Innovation Center, the Global Rail Innovation Center will focus on developing technologies that can increase railroad capacity, efficiency, speed and safety while improving customer service.

“The global demand for rail is outpacing capacity, and today’s aging infrastructure and technology won’t support the transportation needs of the future,” said Keith Dierkx, director of the new center. “Through the Global Rail Innovation Center, IBM is committed to working with our partners to develop and implement smarter rail systems around the world. Railroads are energy efficient and can help cities manage traffic congestion, improve environmental conditions and increase economic competitiveness.”

The rise of high-speed passenger rail and smarter freight rail systems presents an enormous challenge and an opportunity for the information technology and rail industries. IBM already has researchers and consultants working on high-speed rail projects around the world, including Australia, China, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

IBM chose Beijing as its rail innovation hub because of China’s rapid advances in rail. In China, investment in railway transportation has tripled over the last year and is expected to reach 600 billion yuan (approximately $88 billion) by 2012.

Research Associateship Programs Application Period Now Open

The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for graduate, postdoctoral and senior researchers at federal laboratories. These awards provide generous stipends ($42,000 – $74,000 per year for recent Ph.D. recipients and higher for additional experience), and the opportunity to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the U.S. Research opportunities are open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and for some of the laboratories, foreign nationals.

Applications now available. Submission deadline is August 1.  Support Document deadline is August 15th.

For more information visit Research Associate Programs

National Science Foundation Proposal Writing Series, #1

Are you or do you know of a student who would be a competitive applicant for a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship?

The Graduate School is sponsoring a series of seminars to help students apply for a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.  The first is June 18, 11am and will discuss:

  • Why apply for to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
  • Who is eligible
  • What is a reasonable proposal writing time-line

Once you register, you will receive a confirmation with the location and a reminder of the date and time.  Space is limited, so register early!  The presentation will be available online for those unable to join us at this time.

How to Write a Competitive, Fundable Proposal

Join the Graduate School and Research and Sponsored Programs for a seminar on “How to Write a Competitive, Fundable Proposal”  June 16, 11 am.

Seniors and current graduate students interested in applying for external funding or a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship will gain:

  • 6 proposal writer tips
  • 7 proposal writing guidelines
  • 4 effective proposal package strategies

Once you register, you will receive a confirmation with the location and a reminder of the date and time.  Space is limited, so register early!  The presentation will be available online for those unable to join us at this time.

NSF Proposal Submission Change

Tech Today

submitted by Sponsored Programs

Due to an expected increase in Grants.gov submissions relating to the processing of Recovery Act proposals, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has authorized agencies to use alternative methods for proposal submission and acceptance.

Effective immediately, new funding opportunities issued by NSF will require the use of FastLane to prepare and submit proposals. NSF plans to revise existing funding opportunity documents to reflect this change and to remove all active application packages from Grants.gov APPLY. Updated NSF information about available funding opportunities will be posted to Grants.gov FIND.

Once you have identified a grant opportunity, be sure to carefully read the instructions to ensure you are following proper submission procedures for that application, even if you have applied before. Grants.gov will still be the website to find all available federal grant opportunities, and all opportunities will include specific application instructions, including instructions for submitting applications outside of Grants.gov.

The following agencies will accept applications outside of Grants.gov: Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Education (DOED), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Treasury, Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Air and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Science Foundation (NSF). Pay close attention to the grant announcements and application instructions for these agencies.

Detailed instructions regarding the technical aspects of proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at www.fastlane.nsf.gov/ .

If you have any questions, contact the Sponsored Programs Office at 487-2226.

SMART Scholarship

SMART Scholarship

Department of Defense

Very competitive, but a super opportunity.

Applications open in August, deadline in December

The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

SMART Scholars Receive:
• Cash award paid at a rate of $25,000 – $41,000 per
year depending on prior educational experience
• Full tuition and related education expenses
• Health Insurance
• Book allowance
• Summer Internships (multi-year participants)
• Post-Graduation Career Opportunities

SMART Brochure