Alaska EPSCoR to offer seed funding

The Alaska NSF EPSCoR Fire & Ice project is pleased to announce the availability of a series of seed grants to University of Alaska faculty, staff and students. Individuals who have not previously received EPSCoR funding are especially encouraged to apply.

Grants will be awarded in four categories:

1. Faculty Research Seed Grants of up to $20,000 each will be awarded to full-time faculty members of the University of Alaska to carry out proposals for new and innovative research projects that support the goals of the Alaska NSF EPSCoR “Fire & Ice” research project.
2. Student Research Seed Grants of up to $4,000 each will be awarded for similar proposals from graduate or undergraduate students at the University of Alaska.
3. Education and Outreach Seed Grants of up to $12,500 each will be awarded to UA faculty or staff to carry out innovative proposals to build key competencies among stakeholders to address ecological change; to build a diverse pool of STEM learners and workers in Alaska; and/or to increase capacity for Fire & Ice science and teaching among UA faculty and students. 
4. Visualization Seed Grants of up to $2,500 each will be awarded to UA faculty, staff or students to produce visualizations of STEM research data.

Projects should address themes relevant to the “Fire & Ice” project, which consists of two research components: a Boreal Fires team studying climate-driven changes to fire regimes in the boreal forest, and a Coastal Margins team studying the impacts of climate-driven changes to nearshore ecosystems and organisms in the Gulf of Alaska.

Research Seed Grant applicants will need to identify the component with which their proposed project best aligns. Applicants are strongly encouraged to talk with the appropriate component leads (Boreal Fires: Uma Bhatt or Todd Brinkman; Coastal Margins: Brenda Konar, LeeAnn Munk or Julie Schram) to ensure that their proposed research fits within team goals. Research projects that increase diversity in STEM engagement will be given priority.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 5 p.m. AKDT Oct. 15, 2021. We plan to award up to four Faculty Research, five Student Research, two Education and Outreach, and fifteen Visualization awards, with an award period of Jan. 1–Sept. 30, 2022. Awards will be announced by Nov. 5, 2021. Visit the EPSCoR awards page for full criteria and to apply.

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