Research NewsletterIssue: ORN-2022-10

Revised with Additional Funding Opportunity

Call For Proposals

NJIT Faculty Seed Grant Awards – FY2022-23

Paul Profeta Real Estate Technology, Design, and Innovation Center (RETDIC) Faculty Seed Grant initiative – FY2022-23  

Proposal Submission Deadlines:

RETDIC FSG Proposals to MTSM Dean: April 4, 2022

All Other FSG Proposals to Respective College/School Dean: April 4, 2022

Project Funding Period: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Purpose: 

NJIT 2025 Strategic Plan targets on substantial increase in academic research and external funding with faculty and student professional development. The purpose of the NJIT Faculty Seed Grant (FSG) initiative is to promote academic research in the core and interdisciplinary areas by providing seed funding to obtain preliminary results or establish hypotheses for developing future grant proposals for submission to external funding agencies. The FSG initiative specifically seeks seed funding proposals from faculty to launch new initiatives in core, collaborative and interdisciplinary emerging areas aligned with NJIT strategic tactics to develop critical research mass. It is expected that the FSG funds will be used to promote on-campus collaborative seed research with faculty and students.

Eligibility and Type of Awards:

NJIT full-time faculty with a specific research initiative to enhance the critical mass in key and emerging areas may apply to FSG program for internal funding with a budget of $10,000 per collaborative project over the project funding period. Multidisciplinary collaborative projects with 2 or more PIs are strongly encouraged. However, single PI based projects with a strategic justification on the development of a specific innovative research project for obtaining preliminary results targeting early-stage external research funding grants, such as NSF CAREER and other young investigator awards, will be considered at the funding level of $7,500 per project that are strongly endorsed by the respective College/School dean.

It is expected that about 20-25 FSG awards will be made this year.  Funding is arranged through the Offices of Research and College/School Deans.

Recipients of FSG as lead faculty are not eligible to receive another FSG award as lead faculty within three years from the last FSG award. Projects funded by FSG are not eligible to receive another FSG as the intent of internal seed funding is to facilitate initial research towards obtaining external funds to pursue research.

Allowable Expenses include Project supplies and small equipment, travel to conferences and/or funding agencies, travel expenses for funding agency staff to visit NJIT, student hourly wages. Faculty summer salary, AY release and any stipend are not permitted in the budget. FSG is not a travel grant to support travel for out-of-campus work or sabbatical activities. 

Additional New Funding Opportunity: Paul Profeta Real Estate Technology, Design, and Innovation Center (RETDIC) Faculty Seed Grants

The purpose of the NJIT Paul Profeta Real Estate Technology, Design, and Innovation Center (RETDIC) Faculty Seed Grant initiative is to promote collaborative academic research that is aligned with the mission and research agenda of the RETDIC by providing seed funding to obtain preliminary results or establish hypotheses for developing future grant proposals for submission to external funding agencies. The main research topics of the RETDIC include real estate technology (real estate FinTech; shared economy; and smart real estate), new ways of design (design for flexibility, focus on physical distancing and public health, etc.), innovations, and real estate entrepreneurship. It is expected that RETDIC FSG proposals will be collaborative with at least 2 faculty as the co-principal investigators. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary proposals within the scope of RETDIC are encouraged. Information about the Paul Profeta Real Estate Technology, Design, and Innovation Center is posted on the RETDIC website https://management.njit.edu/paul-profeta-real-estate-technology-design-and-innovation-center-retdic.    

Proposal Submission Deadlines:

CFP Announcement: February 22, 2022

FSG Proposal Due in the Respective Office of College/School Dean: April 4, 2022

RETDIC FSG Due in the Office of Martin Tuchman School of Management (MTSM) Dean: April 4, 2022

College/School Dean Recommendations to Office of Research Due: April 15, 2022

Institutional Review and Announcement of Awards: April 25, 2022

Period of Award: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 (no extension will be available)

Review Process and Criterion:

All Proposals will be reviewed within the College/School to which PI is affiliated. College/School Dean will make the recommendation of top ranked proposals based on the reviews from the College/School review committee, which will be forwarded to the Office of Research for further review and discussion with Deans leading to the announcement of awards.

Review criterion primarily includes the scientific merit of the proposal, and potential of external funding. Additional criterion includes significance of project goals, fit to the NJIT strategic research clusters, potential collaboration and emerging trends towards developing critical mass in key areas, justification of internal funding, expected outcomes, and faculty expertise.

Other Requirements: 

Faculty receiving FSG awards will submit a full proposal to external funding agencies within six months from the end date of the award. They will also participate in the NJIT Faculty Research Showcase and Panel Discussion events in the Spring semester.

Faculty receiving regular FSG grants within last three years are eligible to submit collaborative interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research proposals for PRETDIC FSG program.

Required FSG Proposal Format:

The main proposal (sections 2-7 in the required FSG proposal format below) is limited to 5 pages with single spaced 12 point font size. The page limit does not include the cover sheet, budget and budget justification (maximum one page) and list of references (maximum one page). In addition up to 2 pages of biographical sketch and 1 page of current and pending support are required for PI and each investigator. Please see the proposal format guidelines below.

The main proposal should have the following sections:

1. Cover Sheet:

              Title of the Project

              Principal and Co-Principal Investigators

              Department

              College

              Date Submitted

              PI and Co-PI (if multiple investigators) Signatures

2. Abstract (Maximum 250 words; Non-IP for public dissemination):

      (Please summarize briefly on):

       a. Project Goal(s)

       b. Significance

       c. Expected Outcomes

       d. Justification of Internal Funding

3. Specific Objectives

4. Methods and Procedures

5. Evaluation and Deliverables

6. Future External Funding Plan and Justification

6 (a): Future External Funding Plan: Describe how the project funding with the deliverables will help in future proposal submissions, enhancing the research synergy, and obtaining external funds.

6 (b): Justification of Internal Funding: Describe what other funds including start-up funds (if applicable) are available and why additional internal funding is needed.

6 (c): Justification for Single PI Based Project Funding (If applicable): If the proposal is being submitted with a single PI, please provide a justification for the single-PI based project support for developing specific expertise and strategic plan for submitting future proposals for external funding. 

7. Budget and Budget Justification (maximum 1 page)

8. References (maximum 1 page)

9.  Appendix (for PI and each Co-PI/Investigator):

        a. PI Biographical Sketch (NSF/NIH or Federal Agency Format; 2-3 pages per investigator)

b. Other Grant Support (maximum 1 page per investigator; summarize specific project goal(s) for each grant and any overlap with this proposal)

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SVP-Research Open Hour

Have a Question or Need to Discuss Something?

Walk-In Open Hour Discussion with SVPR Over Coffee/Tea

Every Monday: 3.00 PM-4.00 PM; 350 Fenster Hall

The Office of Research is restarting the SVP-Research Open Hour for faculty and staff to explore and discuss active RFPs (Request for Proposals) and collaborative research opportunities for potential proposal development and submission. Faculty and research staff members are welcome to discuss any research related issues with Senior Vice Provost for Research Atam Dhawan at the open hour in the following, but not limited to, areas:

• Research funding opportunities and RFPs
• Proposal development and submission
• Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research collaboration and large program grants
• Proposal review criterion for specific RFP/program/agency
• Proposal draft review/discussion with respect to the RFP review criterion
• Research compliance and export control regulations
• Invention disclosures, patent applications and processing of intellectual property

Though walk-ins are welcome during the open hour, faculty members are encouraged to email SVPR Atam Dhawan (dhawan@njit.edu) about specific questions on research opportunities and needs for specific date in advance to help scheduling for a more detailed discussion.

To make or confirm an appointment, please send email to Ms. Jaimie Cooper, Administrative Assistant to SVPR at jc2484@njit.edu.

NSF: Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education (FARE); Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities (EAR/IF); Incorporating Human Behavior in Epidemiological Models (IHBEM); Inviting Proposals Related to Information Integrity to the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace Program; Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplemental Funding in Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR); Training-based Workforce Development for Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (CyberTraining); Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (PEOSE)

NIH: Bioengineering Partnerships with Industry (U01); BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs - eTeamBCP (U01); Team-Based Design in Biomedical Engineering Education (R25); Development of Biomarkers or Biomarker Signatures for Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders (R61/R33); NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program

Department of Defense/US Army/DARPA/ONR: Air Force Young Investigator Program (YIP); ERDC Broad Agency Announcement; Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI); Science & Technology for Advanced Manufacturing Projects (STAMP); Strategic Technology Office (STO) Office-wide; Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide; Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology

Department of Transportation: Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP)

Department of Agriculture: Conservation Innovation Grants New Jersey State Program; Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

Department of Labor: Growth Opportunities

Department of Commerce/EDA:  Precision Measurement Grant Program (PMGP); FY2021 to FY2023 NOAA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

EPA: FY 2022 - FY2023 Pollution Prevention Grant Program Fy 2022 - Fy2023 Pollution Prevention Grant Program Funded By The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Department of Energy: Mining Innovations for Negative Emissions Resource Recovery (MINER); Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP); Chemical and Materials Sciences to Advance Clean Energy Technologies and Low-Carbon Manufacturing; Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Funding Opportunity Announcement

NASA: ROSES 2022: Applications-Oriented Augmentation for Research and Analysis; ROSES 2022: Heliophysics Tools and Methods; ROSES 2022: Space Weather Science Application Research-to-Operations-to-Research; ROSES 2022: Solar System Observations; ROSES 2022: Heliophysics Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-Ready Data; ROSES 2022: Heliophysics Innovation in Technology and Science

National Endowment of Humanities: Research and Development; Humanities Initiatives; Fellowships

Private Foundations: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Grant

Senate's Approval of a $1.5T Omnibus Package: The Senate on Thursday approved a $1.5 trillion omnibus funding bill, sending the measure boosting agency spending across government to President Biden’s desk just one day before the deadline for a shutdown. Congress approved the bill nearly halfway through the fiscal year, after Biden signed three previous stopgap measures into law. Lawmakers moved with unusual speed after appropriators unveiled the long-awaited spending package early Wednesday morning, leading the House to pass it later that day. The measure will provide a 6.7% funding increase to non-defense agencies and a 6% boost to the Pentagon.

“This bill makes bold investments in critical areas that went underfunded or even neglected in the previous administration, including education, childcare, healthcare, the environment, science and research, and many more,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and one of the chief architects of the bill. “It is unquestionably in the interest of the American people that the House and the Senate act quickly to pass this bill and send it to the president.” Nearly every federal agency would see a funding increase under the measure, though some are set to receive larger bumps than others. Biden had pushed to keep spending at the Homeland Security Department flat in fiscal 2022, but Congress instead opted to provide an 11% increase. As the Transportation Department begins implementing much of the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it is set to receive a 17% funding increase. Lawmakers set aside more than $20 billion for research and resilience efforts related to climate change and $1 billion to stand up Biden’s proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. Read more on the biggest impacts the omnibus will have on federal agencies here.

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DARPA to Accelerate the Making of a Useful Quantum Supercomputer: U.S. defense researchers recently moved to partner with the private sector to strategically explore building the world’s first practical quantum supercomputer. “There's a lot of hype in the commercial space and there's a lot of people claiming that they've figured out a path to a really big, really useful quantum computer. And we would like to listen—like, if somebody thinks that they cracked the secret code to make any quantum computer, then we would love for them to apply for this program,” Joe Altepeter, a program manager in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Defense Sciences Office told Nextgov this week. “And we want to be really flexible in how we work with companies.” Altepeter is a subject matter expert at the key national security research arm, where, among other programs, he’s leading the newly unveiled Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing or US2QC effort. Through it, researchers intend to puzzle out whether any approach is capable of achieving a utility-scale operational quantum machine quicker than conventional predictions.

            Other federal components beyond DARPA are also investing in and pursuing programs to develop quantum systems and explore associated use cases. That’s partly because of all the possibilities it represents. Some predict that quantum advancements could eventually lead to almost unimaginable breakthroughs in medicine or national security, like enabling unhackable communications. More information is posted on the NextGov website.

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Preparing for the Quantum Revolution Quantum technologies have the potential to produce breakthroughs in computing, sensing and communications during our lifetime. However, alongside the incredible opportunities they offer to enhance mission attainment, quantum technologies can introduce unprecedented threats. For example, federal consensus is growing that quantum computing will threaten mainstream encryption methods at the heart of our cybersecurity infrastructure by the end of the decade. Recent National Institute of Standards and Technology and Department of Homeland Security assessments highlight the potential difficulties of updating our nations’ cybersecurity posture before this threat fully emerges. Quantum Information Science enables fundamentally different approaches to processing information. These changes redefine what is possible, for better and worse, and are best illustrated by three key QIS technology clusters: computing, sensing and communications.

Computing: Quantum computers process information differently than today’s computers—also referred to as classical computers—and can significantly accelerate certain types of calculations.

Sensing: Quantum sensors capitalize on new ways of controlling and exploiting the relationship between particles to improve measurement accuracy and enable new modalities for sensors.

Communications: Quantum communications leverage quantum mechanical properties to improve information sharing and security. 

QIS investment is a strategic imperative, and we are seeing this race playing out on the world stage. The United States continues to pursue legislative and executive actions to ensure its leadership in QIS. Since its signing in 2018, the National Quantum Initiative Act has driven a coordinated QIS R&D strategy to ensure the United States’ economic and national security in the fast-approaching quantum era. The NQI Supplement to the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget shows that the United States is well on its way to meeting its goal to double its QIS R&D budgets by 2022 from its baseline of $435 million in 2020. More information is posted on the NextGov website.

Question:       Can I change project start and end dates after I have submitted for approval?

Answer:         When a proposal is routed for approval certain information is locked to ensure that the information at the various approval levels (department, college, and university) remains constant.  This is intended to guarantee that the authority of academic leadership (e.g., chairs and deans) is recognized in the system.

The start and end dates are included in the data that is locked.  If you need to change the dates of a proposal already submitted for approval, you will have to recall the proposal, make the necessary changes, and resubmit for approval.

More FAQs on Streamlyne: Please visit https://research.njit.edu/streamlyne