Call for Proposals
Michigan Space Grant Consortium
Research Seed Grant
Online Application

The Michigan Space Grant Consortium announces the MSGC Research Seed Grant Program. These seed grants are designed to support junior faculty or research scientists at all MSGC Affiliate Universities and Colleges. This program is designed to facilitate the development of research expertise that will allow research activities to be proposed to other federal or non-federal funding sources.

Submission Requirements:

1. MSGC funding of Research Seed Grants will not exceed (but can be less than) $5,000, and must be matched (at least one-to-one) with funds from non-federal sources. No overhead charges can be deducted from the funds provided by the MSGC. The source of matching funds must be identified. Matching from university units such as departments, Dean's or research offices, must be confirmed by a letter from the appropriate authority.
2. Proposals must address a problem in engineering, science, mathematics,life sciences, or related educational research. Preference is given to projects focusing on aerospace, space or Earth system science, although awards are not strictly limited to these topics. Note: the mission of the MSGC includes creating, developing, and promoting programs that reflect NASA strategic interests.
3. Initiation of a new area of research is preferred over efforts to continue an existing project or study. Proposals can include requests for salary, supplies, and travel support. MSGC funds cannot be used for the purchase of equipment.
4. An interim progress report is required by November 2010, detailing the activities to date to develop research expertise in the relevant topic area and report on proposal preparation efforts. A final report will also be required, due April 2011, that gives a complete report on research expertise development activities and describes the status of proposals submitted based on the activities funded by the Research Seed Grant. Portions of this final report may be published in the MSGC Newsletter, Michigan in Space. Both reports are to be submitted online.
5. Proposals are limited to six pages of research description, and must include an abstract, project description, timeline and plans for proposal submissions to federal and non-federal sources based on the work to be completed. Single-spaced text in 12-point font with one-inch margins should be used. Biographical information on the PI is limited to a one-page vita plus a one-page listing of significant publications. The proposal must be accompanied by a detailed budget with justification and designated signature from the Research Office at the home institution of the investigator. In addition, the online Application Form page must be submitted with the your full name (typed) as verification that your institution's Space Grant affiliate representative has approved your proposal for submission. The total uploaded package must have no more than 12 pages:
   1. up to 6 pages for the proposal
   2. letter from the institution verifying non-federal match
   3. vita
   4. significant publications
   5. detailed budget and justification
6. All application materials must be submitted online through the MSGC website: http://sgc.engin.umich.edu/fellow/login.shtml by 11:59PM(EST) on the deadline date. Please try to convert your proposal to PDF format to ensure unhindered reviewer readability. Also, please ensure that the combined page count of all uploaded documents does not exceed the above limit (12-page maximum).
7. Member institutions (and individuals) are not limited to one proposal. Proposals will be reviewed by a MSGC Review Panel and selected based on adherence to the above criteria, scientific merit, and equitable distribution of resources across the Consortium. Persons who received a Research Seed Grant in the previous year are not eligible to submit. Women, under-represented minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Participation in this program is limited to faculty (research and professorial) at MSGC affiliate and lead institutions.
8. Funding can be used for travel and to purchase supplies and services. Funding can also be used for faculty and student salaries if they are U.S. citizens. Funding cannot be used to purchase equipment or to pay salaries, stipends, or travel to persons that are not U.S. citizens.

For additional information on this or other MSGC programs, please call the MSGC Director's Office at the University of Michigan at 734 764 9508, use e-mail blbryant@umich.edu, use the web www.umich.edu/~msgc, or contact MSGC Representatives at Affiliate Institutions throughout the state.