Posted: 4/18/2022

Re-entry to Active Research Program (RARE)

The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) and the Division of Chemistry (CHE) are conducting a Re-entry to Active Research (RARE) program to reengage, retrain, and broaden participation within the academic workforce. The primary objective of the RARE program is to catalyze the advancement along the academic tenure-track of highly meritorious individuals who are returning from a hiatus from active research. By providing re-entry points to active academic research, the RARE program will reinvest in the nation’s most highly trained scientists and engineers, while broadening participation and increasing diversity of experience. A RARE research proposal must describe potentially transformative research that falls within the scope of participating CBET or CHE programs.

The RARE program includes two Tracks to catalyze the advancement of investigators along the academic tenure system after a research hiatus, either to a tenure-track position or to a higher-tenured academic rank. Track 1 of the RARE program reengages investigators in a competitive funding opportunity with accommodations for gap in record that are a result of the research hiatus. A Track 1 proposal will follow the budgetary guidelines of the relevant CBET program for an unsolicited research proposal or the relevant CHE Disciplinary Research program. Track 2 retrains investigators for whom the research hiatus has led to the need for new or updated techniques, such that retraining is required to return the investigator to competitive research activity. A description of how these new techniques will lead to competitive research in CBET or CHE programs is required.  A Track 2 proposal budget will include only funds necessary for specific retraining activities, such as travel to a workshop or conference, workshop registration fees, a retraining sabbatical, or seed funding to support collection of preliminary data (including salary support, equipment usage fees, materials, and/or supplies).

 

Full Proposal Accepted Anytime
 

Approved PIs have up to 1 year from RARE approval to submit their Track 1 or Track 2 proposal. There is no deadline for this solicitation.

For CBET, Proposals are Accepted Anytime. There is no deadline for this solicitation.

For CHE, Proposals are Accepted Anytime. There is no deadline for this solicitation. Proposals must be submitted for consideration by one of the CHE Disciplinary Research Programs.

Eligibility Requirements

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

  • Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Investigators must contact a RARE program director in CBET or CHE to confirm eligibility prior to submission, depending upon which division the PI will apply to. The investigator will receive an e-mail confirmation of eligibility, which must be uploaded as a Single Copy document with the proposal submission.

The investigator must hold a PhD in engineering, chemistry or a closely related discipline, with prior research experiences in an area within the scope of the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems or Division of Chemistry.

Application to the RARE program is not limited by demographics. Tenured or tenure-track faculty may apply. Adjunct, affiliated, research, or teaching faculty may apply if they are employed either full or part-time by an institution of higher education (IHE), provided they have a plan to seek future employment on the tenure-track. Other qualified individuals who lack IHE affiliation may apply, provided they have identified a senior research mentor at an IHE; in this select case, the mentor may serve as PI (see ‘Additional Eligibility’ information below).

Investigators that have previously received a Track 1 RARE award are ineligible for a second award of either track. Investigators that have previously received a Track 2 award are ineligible for a second Track 2 award. Investigators that have previously received a Track 2 RARE award are eligible for a Track 1 award, if the Track 1 topic is related to the prior Track 2 award. PIs that are eligible for a CAREER submission are ineligible for a RARE submission. Proposals from investigators who have had no change in career status for an extended period of time are encouraged.

Each investigator may submit one proposal to the RARE program in a 12-month period after approval. Individuals who have previously received a Track 1 RARE award are ineligible for a second award in either Track. Investigators that have previously received a Track 2 award are ineligible for second Track 2 award. Investigators that have previously received a Track 2 RARE award are eligible for a Track 1 award, if the Track 1 topic is related to the prior Track 2 award.

Amount Description

Estimated Number of Awards: 3 to 4 per division per year

Anticipated Funding Amount: $2,400,000

There is no minimum budget, and the maximum budget should be that of the CBET or CHE program of interest, typically no more than $150,000 per year, for Track 1. Budgets for Track 2 may not exceed $300,000.

It is anticipated that there will be up to $2,400,000.00 total funds available for this program, pending availability of appropriations.

Amount
$300,000
Funding Type
Eligibility
Posted
4/18/2022
Deadline
Sponsor: Rolling