The Community Collaborative Research Grant Program is open and accepting proposals through 4 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2020.
The Community Collaborative Research Grant Program, or CCRG, is supported by WRRI and North Carolina Sea Grant, in partnership with the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science based at North Carolina State University.
The CCRG requires the use of a collaborative research approach that couples the knowledge of community stakeholders with academic experts in the field to address priority issues that align with the missions and strategic plans of WRRI and Sea Grant. WRRI focus areas eligible under this RFP include: stormwater management; drinking water, wastewater and water infrastructure; groundwater and surface water; and watershed management. The 2018-2021 NC Sea Grant Strategic Plan defines four focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; resilient communities and economies; and environmental literacy and workforce development.
Deadline: Jan. 20, 2020
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, dependent upon the availability of federal funds. Indirect costs may not be charged. Matching/inkind 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 May 1, 2020 start date. Individuals may be lead PI or co-PI on only one proposal but can be participants on multiple proposals.
