March 1 is the application deadline for a new internal funding competition designed to enhance the competitiveness of interdisciplinary research teams at UNL.

The Pathway to Interdisciplinary Research Centers Competitive Grant Program aims to foster or support interdisciplinary research teams and enhance their competitiveness for large-scale or center grants. Applications must be submitted through NUgrant. A full description and application details are available on the Office of Research and Economic Development's Internal Funding Opportunities page.

"Large-scale or center grants are important to enhancing UNL's research competitiveness and our ability to find solutions to complex societal challenges. They're also important to helping the university reach its goal of increasing research expenditures to $300 million," said Prem S. Paul, vice chancellor for research and economic development.

This competition is for broadly multidisciplinary teams with expertise across two or more disciplines and which leverage an integrated or holistic approach to solving complex societal problems.

The program offers three funding phases.

For new interdisciplinary teams with no history of interactions, the program provides a series of three funding opportunities to help build interdisciplinary research teams that will be competitive for large-scale or center grants. New interdisciplinary research teams should follow this path:

Phase I: One-year planning grants of $10,000.
Phase II: Interdisciplinary research team seed grants, which provide up to $75,000 a year for up to two years.
Phase III: Interdisciplinary research team center grants, which provide up to $100,000 for one year with the potential for a second year of funding.
Existing interdisciplinary research teams that already have developed a concept paper may apply for a Phase II grant without first applying for a Phase I grant. Before applying for a Phase II grant, the principal investigator should discuss the team's concept paper with Deb Hamernik, interim associate vice chancellor for research in the Office of Research and Economic Development.

Interdisciplinary research teams that already have received funding through the FY2011 UNL Life Sciences competitive grants program, the Water for Food competitive grants program or the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research competitive grants program may be ready to apply for a Phase III grant. Principal investigators of these teams must contact Hamernik before applying for a Phase III grant.

Funds must be used to support interdisciplinary research teams whose work aligns with a known opportunity for obtaining competitive funding from a federal agency or a foundation. A large-scale or center grant is defined as a competitive, full facilities and administrative (F&A) cost-bearing funding opportunity of at least $1 million per year for a minimum of three years.

For more information contact Deb Hamernik, 472-2851, or Noah Clayton, 472-8012.