NC Sea Grant Seeks Coastal Research Proposals

For Immediate Release 

Contact:
John Fear, jmfear@ncsu.edu or Katie Mosher, kmosher@ncsu.edu

North Carolina Sea Grant is opening its 2022-2024 proposal process for applied research to address problems affecting coastal ecosystems, economies, and communities. The first deadline is Jan. 11, 2021.

“This opportunity provides funding to tackle real-world problems,” notes Susan White, Sea Grant executive director. “We welcome proposals from researchers with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds, who will bring strategies to consider coastal, marine and watershed issues important to North Carolina.”

North Carolina Sea Grant uses a two-step process for its core funding. Initially, researchers submit preproposals that outline the research topic, its need within the state, the approach and strategy, and the team to be assembled. The second step, known as full proposals, will take place in 2021. A preproposal is required before a full proposal can ben submitted for the final competitive review.

Proposals should recognize Sea Grant’s multidisciplinary, integrated program of applied research, outreach, and education; and should fit one or more of four primary focus areas: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems; Resilient Communities and Economies; Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development.

“Researchers must relate their topics to the current North Carolina Sea Grant Strategic Plan, which has been updated to cover through 2023,” notes John Fear, deputy director. “Go to our website — go.ncsu.edu/Sea-Grant-Plan — to help you ensure that your project ideas align with our focus areas.”

Lead investigators must be at an institution of higher education in North Carolina, but collaborators can come from other avenues for academic, industry, government, and other expertise. Multi-campus and interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

North Carolina Sea Grant strongly encourages proposals from faculty researchers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and/or from traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities, as well as faculty who can demonstrate how their work and related outreach will benefit underserved and underrepresented communities.

“Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply for this competitive research opportunity,” White adds.

Preproposals are reviewed on three aspects:

• Relevancy and need: Will the project help address a high priority coastal issue?
• Approach: Are the proposed methods appropriate to complete the work?
• Transferability: Is it clear the results of the work will be provided to end-users, and do they want the research and results?

The 2022–2024 North Carolina Sea Grant Biennial Competitive Research Funding Cycle will fund research to begin Feb.1, 2022, and be completed by Jan. 31, 2024.

Preproposals are due by Jan. 11, 2021, by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  North Carolina Sea Grant uses the proposal management system, eSeaGrant, at go.ncsu.edu/ncesg, for all parts of the proposal cycle.

Detailed instructions are included with the application materials at ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/core-funding.

If you have any questions, contact John Fear at jmfear@ncsu.edu; or Susan White, at snwhite3@ncsu.edu. Email is the preferred first contact at this time, and follow-up phone calls can be scheduled.

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