Proposals mustsignificantly involve North Carolina local knowledge experts who are involved with or are knowledgeable of the coastal/water resource issues to be addressed. Proposals lacking concise research questions (based on one or more hypotheses) will not receive favorable reviews. Project teams must be led by a two-person team with one scientific expert and one local knowledge expert. Additional participants are allowable as collaborators. These roles may include faculty from a North Carolina-based institution of higher learning (e.g., college, university, or community college), staff from local and/or state governmental entities in North Carolina, staff members of non-government organizations based in N.C. offices, N.C. business owners and private N.C. residents. Federal government and Sea Grant/WRRI employees are not eligible to receive funding, but may participate as unfunded collaborators. Liability insurance coverage is required to conduct projects.
Awards will range between $5,000 and $25,000 with an estimated 2 to 10 awards per year, depending on the availability of funds and quality of the received proposals. Indirect costs may not be charged. Matching/in-kind funds are not required but are highly encouraged. Investigators may only propose one-year (12 months maximum) research projects. Projects should be planned with a June 1, 2021 start date. PI teams may be asked to alter proposed start dates and budgets to align with funding levels/priorities. Individuals may be lead PI or co-PI on only one proposal but can be participants on multiple proposals.