OPPORTUNITY FUNDING ALERT

Animal Research
Americans for Medical Progress - Michael D. Hayre Fellowship in Public Outreach
Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration
NOAA Project Grants
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Program in South Florida
Decision, Risk And Management Sciences
National Science Foundation - Decision, Risk and Management Sciences
Ecology
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation & Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - "Acres for America"
Economics
National Science Foundation - Economics
Energy
National Science Foundation - Energy for Sustainability
Geography and Regional Science
NSF - Geography and Regional Science Program
Health & Science Research
NIH Challenge Grants
Immunology
Dana Foundation, Human Immunology Scholars
Italian Studies
National Endowment for the Humanities and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Fellowship
Law and Social Science
NSF - Law and Social Science Program
Linguistics
National Science Foundation – Linguistics
Marine Geology And Geophysics
NSF - Marine Geology and Geophysics Program
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
NIH - NIMH and NIAAA - Novel Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Political Science
NSF Political Science Program
Public Broadcasting / Media
Park Foundation - Public Broadcasting / Media
Science Education
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation – Professional Science Master’s Degree
Social Psychology
NSF - Social Psychology Program
Sociology
NSF - Sociology Program

Animal Research

Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) - Michael D. Hayre Fellowship in Public Outreach
The Fellowship promotes peer outreach and education about animal research in the United States among students and young adults aged 18-30. Fellowships include a stipend of $5,000 and some support for educational outreach materials. The AMP/Hayre Fellowship program seeks to find and support college students and young adults here in the United States who are just as frustrated by the domination of animal rights rhetoric against biomedical research and who are committed to making a case for the necessary and humane use of laboratory animals in the pursuit of treatments and cures. As an AMP Hayre Fellow, by developing innovative outreach programs for your peers to lead them in making an informed decision about this issue, you will be helping to secure the future of medicine. Deadline: Apr. 30, 2009. Go to: https://www.kintera.org/

Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration

National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
"NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Project Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act"; No. NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2009-2001709; CFDA No: 11.463, Habitat Conservation; NOAA anticipates up to $170 million may be available for coastal and marine habitat restoration; typical awards are expected to range between $1.5 million to $10 million. Funds will be administered by NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation. Deadline: Apr. 6, 2009.

The following are exemplary of the types of coastal and marine habitats and projects that will receive priority for restoration funding consideration: Projects that seek to restore coastal and marine habitat to recover threatened or endangered species or benefit species of concern; Diadromous fish habitat, particularly projects that remove in-stream migration barriers or create/restore habitats limiting productivity; Shellfish habitat restoration/creation, for the broad ecological benefits and ecosystem services it provides; Coral reefs, through projects that address land-based sources of pollution, recovery from disturbance or disease, or that promote coral recruitment and/or recovery; Coastal wetlands, through shoreline restoration or hydrological reconnection; Projects that provide protection for communities and infrastructure through habitat restoration to improve coastal resiliency to storms and flooding; Projects that improve the potential for coastal habitat to respond to climate change through restoration or protection of transition zones that provide room for habitat migration with sea level rise; Projects that seek to address the problem of marine debris accumulation in coastal and marine habitats; Projects that support conservation corps type activities to provide employment, education and training through restoration of coastal and marine habitat; and Restoration of Great Lakes habitats within Areas of Concern (AOC) addressing beneficial use impairments to loss of fish and wildlife habitat and/or degradation of benthos. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Program in South Florida
The US Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Program is a non-regulatory, voluntary program capable of providing both technical and financial assistance for on-the-ground habitat restoration projects. We are looking for project ideas and proposals to help us accomplish our program objectives. The Coastal Program is an assistance program rather than a grant program, therefore it is important to engage in dialogue regarding project ideas prior to proposal submission. This will allow us to assess the restoration needs of south Florida and ensure that proposals are appropriate for funding consideration. Please contact the Coastal Program Coordinator for further details and to discuss project ideas. The Services wishes to develop cooperative agreements that provide funding for technically sound and cost effective projects that restore or enhance degraded coastal wetlands, uplands, estuaries, and riparian corridors; including the removal of exotic vegetation from coastal areas; and promoting public awareness of south Florida’s ecological issues; and to form partnerships in south Florida in joint effort to conserve, restore, and enhance coastal resources and habitat. Deadline: Apr. 17, 2009. Contact: Debbie L. DeVore, South Florida Coastal Program Coordinator, US Fish & Wildlife Service, 1339 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960-3559. Phone: 772-562-3909 x324; Fax: 772-562-4288; Email: Debbie_DeVore@fws.gov. Go to: http://mgg.rsmas.miami.edu/sfcesu/

Decision, Risk And Management Sciences

National Science Foundation - Decision, Risk and Management Sciences
The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program (PD-98-1321) supports scientific research directed at increasing the understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research, and workshops are funded in the areas of judgment and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids; risk analysis, perception, and communication; societal and public policy decision making; management science and organizational design. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009; Jan. 18, 2010. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45811

Ecology

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation & Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - "Acres for America"
Acres for America is a partnership between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Acres for America program was established to provide funding for projects that conserve important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property. The goal of the Acres for America program is to offset the footprint of Wal-Mart’s domestic facilities on at least an acre by acre basis through these acquisitions. Deadline: Apr. 1, 2009. Go to: http://www.nfwf.org/AM/

Economics

National Science Foundation - Economics
The Economics program (PD-98-1320) supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part. This program also strengthens both empirical and theoretical economic analysis as well as the methods for rigorous research on economic behavior. It supports research in almost every area of economics, including econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance. Deadline: Aug. 18, 2009, Jan. 18, 2010. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45809

Energy

National Science Foundation - Energy for Sustainability
The Energy for Sustainability program (PD-09-7644) supports fundamental research and education in energy production, conversion, and storage and is focused on energy sources that are environmentally friendly and renewable. Most world energy needs are currently met through the combustion of fossil fuels. With projected increases in global energy needs, more sustainable methods for energy production will need to be developed, and production of greenhouse gases will need to be reduced. Sources of sustainable energy include: Sunlight Wind Biomass Hydrogen and alcohols are potential energy carriers that can be derived from renewable sources. Research that generates enabling science and technologies for more efficient hydrogen generation and storage is supported by the program. Potential sources of hydrogen include conversion from biomass and from electrolysis, photolysis or thermolysis of water. Biomass is available from agricultural crop residues, forest products, aquatic plants, and municipal wastes. In addition to hydrogen, biomass can be a source of liquid, solid, and gaseous fuels including biofuels such as ethanol. Fuel cells have the potential to convert fuels such as hydrogen and alcohols to electricity at high efficiencies and should play an increasing role in energy conversion. Critical components of fuel cells requiring additional research include catalysts and electrolytes. Development of these components also requires fundamental research on the reaction and transport mechanisms at the catalyst and membrane electrolyte interface. Advances in these areas are needed to address key challenges in efficiency, durability, power density, and environmental impacts. The engineering aspects of fuel-cell design and operation also require further study in areas such as water and thermal management. Wind power is a growing source of electrical energy. Increased efficiency requires a fundamental knowledge of the interaction of wind with the blade structure. Understanding the fluid flow, and optimizing blade design are important aspects in developing more efficient wind generators. Photovoltaic devices have the potential to supply a significant fraction of electrical energy to the power grid. Although silicon-based materials have been most widely used, other semiconducting materials and titanium dioxide also have potential. New materials and novel fabrication techniques for solar energy conversion are supported by the program. The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000. Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review. Deadline: Sep. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45813

Geography and Regional Science

National Science Foundation - Geography and Regional Science
The Geography and Regional Science (GRS) Program (PD 98-1352) sponsors research on the geographic distributions and interactions of human, physical, and biotic systems on the Earth's surface. Investigations are encouraged into the nature, causes, and consequences of human activity and natural environmental processes across a range of scales. Projects on a variety of topics (both domestic and international) qualify for support if they offer promise of contributing to scholarship by enhancing geographical knowledge, concepts, theories, methods, and their application to societal problems and concerns. Support also is provided for projects that explicitly integrate undergraduate and graduate education into the overall research agenda. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009, Jan. 15, 2010. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45807

Health & Science Research

National Institutes of Health Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research (RC1)
The mission of NIH is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. To that end, the NIH, through the extramural grants programs of its Institutes and Centers, supports a broad range of biomedical research. Previous research has enormously increased our understanding of the molecular, cellular and behavioral bases of disease and our approaches to health care. At the same time, these advances have identified new gaps in our knowledge and have created needs for new technologies. This funding opportunity for NIH Challenge Grants (RFA-0D-09-003) is designed to provide investigators with the opportunity to address these unique challenges by addressing new avenues of research in defined areas where progress would produce a significant impact on biomedical or behavioral science and/or health research. The NIH has identified a range of Challenge Areas that focus on specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Within each broad Challenge Area the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices have specified particular Challenge Topics that address their missions. Deadline: Apr. 27, 2009. Go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-003.html

Immunology

Dana Foundation - Human Immunology Scholars
The Dana Foundation will support promising new investigators who are beginning careers in patient-based immunology research as Dana Scholars. To be considered for a Dana Scholar award, a candidate should be a new faculty member carrying out independent research (e.g., postdoctoral fellow transitioning to a first faculty position) as instructor or assistant professor (with no more than one current R01 award). A scholar should be initiating or engaged in research in immunology that requires the study of patients or materials from patients. One of the areas of interest is the brain. Each Dana Scholar will be eligible to receive up to $225,000 in support (which can include up to 10 percent for equipment; the foundation does not fund indirect costs), payable over a three-year period. Deadline: May 12, 2009 (Preliminary Application). Go to: http://www.dana.org

Italian Studies

National Endowment for the Humanities and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Fellowship
The two organizations are cooperating in the support of scholarly research, NEH invites applications for humanities research focusing on Italy[s cultural heritage in relation to that of the United States. Recipients will be awarded fellowships through the regular NEH Fellowships program CNR will award fellowships to Italian scholars for research on America's cultural heritage in relation to Italy. Fellowships cover periods lasting from 6-12 mos. at a stipend of $4,200 per month. The maximum stipend is $50,400 for a 12-month tenure award period. Deadline: May 5, 2009. Go to: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/fellowships.html

Law and Social Science

National Science Foundation - Law and Social Science Program
The Law and Social Science Program ( PD-98-1372) at the National Science Foundation supports social scientific studies of law and law-like systems of rules, institutions, processes, and behaviors. These can include, but are not limited to, research designed to enhance the scientific understanding of the impact of law; human behavior and interactions as these relate to law; the dynamics of legal decision making; and the nature, sources, and consequences of variations and changes in legal institutions. The primary consideration is that the research shows promise of advancing a scientific understanding of law and legal process. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45802

Linguistics

National Science Foundation - Linguistics
The Linguistics Program (PD-98-1311) supports scientific research of all types that focus on human language as an object of investigation. The program supports research on the syntactic, semantic, phonetic, and phonological properties of individual languages and of language in general; the psychological processes involved in the use of language; the development of linguistic capacities in children; social and cultural factors in language use, variation, and change; the acoustics of speech and the physiological and psychological processes involved in the production and perception of speech; and the biological bases of language in the brain. Deadlines: Jul. 15, 2009, Jan. 15, 2010. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45812

Marine Geology And Geophysics

NSF - Marine Geology and Geophysics
The Marine Geology and Geophysics program (PD-98-1620) supports research on all aspects of geology and geophysics of the ocean basins and margins, as well as the Great Lakes. The Program includes: Structure, tectonic evolution and volcanic activity of the ocean basins, the continental margins, the mid-ocean ridges, and island arc systems; Processes controlling exchange of heat and chemical species between seawater and ocean rocks Genesis, chemistry, and mineralogic evolution of marine sediments; Processes controlling deposition, erosion and transport of marine sediments; Past ocean circulation patterns and climates; and, Interactions of continental and marine geologic processes. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45806

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

NIH - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) - Novel Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (R34)
This Request for Proposals (RFA-MH-09-160) is to provide support for the development of novel efficacious interventions for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), with the aim of improving various domains of functioning that are impaired across disorders and are altering developmental trajectories. It provides resources for evaluating the feasibility, tolerability, acceptability and safety of novel approaches, and for obtaining the preliminary data needed to support the development of a larger-scale clinical trial. The goal is to develop new treatment approaches with the potential for widespread, cost-effective application. For the purposes of this FOA, "neurodevelopmental disorders" are mental disorders that have their onset during the developmental period. These include, but are not limited to, autism spectrum disorders, childhood-onset schizophrenia, pediatric bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, child- and adolescent-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder, and neurodevelopmental disorders with a known etiologic basis that have been associated with psychiatric symptomatology, such as Fragile X and velocardiofacial syndrome (22q deletion syndrome). In addition, neurodevelopmental disorders caused by infection or exposure to HIV-1 will also be considered responsive to this FOA.NIAAA is particularly interested in supporting applications focused on fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), but also would consider contributing to broader applications in which FAS and/or FASD are among the neurodevelopmental disorders to be studied. Deadlines: Letters of Intent: Apr. 12, 2009; Proposal: May 12, 2009. Go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-160.html.

A related RFA is RFA-MH-09-161 - "Novel Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (R21/R33)" This accompanying funding opportunity announcement (RFA-MH-09-161) solicits Exploratory/Developmental Phased Innovation (R21/R33) grant applications that propose to develop novel interventions that will improve functioning in domains commonly affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. It provides support for a first phase (R21) for initial technical development and proof-of-principle and a second phase (R33) for further development, application, and evaluation of clinical utility. It is intended that the results will support the development of larger efficacy studies of the proposed novel intervention. Deadline: May 12, 2009. Go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-161.html

Political Science

NSF - Political Science Program
The Political Science Program (NSF 98-1371) supports scientific research that advances knowledge and understanding of citizenship, government, and politics. Research proposals are expected to be theoretically motivated, conceptually precise, methodologically rigorous, and empirically oriented. Substantive areas include, but are not limited to, American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, political behavior, political economy, and political institutions. In recent years, program awards have supported research projects on bargaining processes; campaigns and elections, electoral choice, and electoral systems; citizen support in emerging and established democracies; democratization, political change, and regime transitions; domestic and international conflict; international political economy; party activism; political psychology and political tolerance. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45805

Public Broadcasting / Media

Park Foundation - Public Broadcasting / Media
The Park Foundation values a diverse and transparent media landscape. Its goal is to fund non-commercial broadcasting, investigative journalism, and independent media that is substantive, unbiased, and accurate. It aims to heighten public awareness of critical environmental, political, and social issues to foster a more fully informed electorate. Deadlines: Jan. 5, Apr. 3, Jul. 3 and Oct. 2. Go to: http://parkfoundation.org/program_areas.php

Science Education

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - Professional Science Master's Degree
The long period required to earn a Ph.D. in much of science, and doubts about the suitability of present graduate training for non-academic jobs suggest that graduate schools might consider a different kind of graduate degree in addition to the Ph.D. In this program, the Foundation makes grants that encourage and promote the development of the Professional Science Master's degree, a two-year degree, heavily oriented toward coursework that provides a sound basis for work outside academia in scientific and technical fields.

The Professional Science Masters Degree (PSM) program has been included in the stimulus bill also known as The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The National Science Foundation PSM language can be found in the Joint Explanatory Statement Division A states:

Education and Human Resources
The conference agreement includes $100,000,000 for education and human resources, to remain available until September 30, 2010. These funds shall be allocated as follows:
    • Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. $60,000,000
    • Math and Science Partnerships. 25,000,000
    • Professional Science Master's Programs. 15,000,000

The Professional Science Master's (PSM) is an innovative, new graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. PSM programs consist of two years of academic training in an emerging or interdisciplinary area, along with a professional component that may include internships and "cross-training" in business and communications. All have been developed in concert with industry and are designed to dovetail into present and future professional career opportunities. Go to: http://www.sloan.org/program/15

Social Psychology

NSF - Social Psychology Program
The Social Psychology Program at NSF supports basic research on human social behavior, including cultural differences and development over the life span. Among the many research topics supported are: attitude formation and change, social cognition, personality processes, interpersonal relations and group processes, the self, emotion, social comparison and social influence, and the psychophysiological and neurophysiological bases of social behavior. Deadline: Jul. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45808

Sociology

NSF - Sociology
The Sociology Program (PD-98-1331) supports basic research on all forms of human social organization -- societies, institutions, groups and demography -- and processes of individual and institutional change. The Program encourages theoretically focused empirical investigations aimed at improving the explanation of fundamental social processes. Deadlines: Aug. 14, 2009, Jan. 15, 2010. Go to: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45810

Prior Opportunity Alerts

March 2009