Jan. 11 Deadline for NC Sea Grant Coastal Research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

The deadline is approaching for the first step in North Carolina Sea Grant’s 2022-2024 proposal process for applied research to address problems affecting coastal ecosystems, economies, and communities. The first deadline is Jan. 11, 2021, at 5 p.m.

“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 later this year. A preproposal is required before a full proposal can be 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 various avenues of expertise, including academia, industry, and government. 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 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 based on three aspects:

• Relevance 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; follow-up phone calls can be scheduled.

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North Carolina Sea Grant: Your link to research and resources for a healthier coast.