WRRI issued its annual RFP for faculty pre-proposals for the FY 2025-2026 Competitive Grants Program. This RFP is sponsored by WRRI and the USGS 104(b) program. Faculty or university affiliates of any accredited college or university in North Carolina are eligible to apply.
Faculty may propose one- or two-year projects for the 2025-2026 cycle, with a maximum award of $60,000 per year. The anticipated start date for faculty projects is September 1, 2025. Start dates and award amounts are contingent upon receipt of federal funds.
The deadline for preproposals is September 16, 2024 at 5pm.
Pre-proposals may address research questions and methods in the fields of social science, education, communications, natural science, engineering, economics or policy, or a combination of these disciplines (as applied to the focus areas below). We encourage proposals that include meaningful public engagement, public participation, extension activities or collaboration with members of the communities where research is to take place.
FOCUS AREA 1: NON-POINT SOURCE & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
- Operational Research and Infrastructure Asset Management
- Pollutant Removal Processes and Credits
- Impervious Cover Impacts & Mitigation
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure & Nature Based Solutions
- Education and Behavior Change
FOCUS AREA 2: DRINKING WATER, WASTEWATER & WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
- Water Affordability
- Emerging Contaminants
- Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources
FOCUS AREA 3: SURFACE & GROUNDWATER QUALITY
FOCUS AREA 4: ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Faculty and University Affiliates of any accredited college or university (public or private) in North Carolina may apply. While students and post-docs are not eligible to apply as a principal investigator (PI), undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral support may be included in proposals. We especially encourage student support and student training opportunities. Though not eligible to apply directly, industry and private groups can partner with university researchers in response to this call.
A single individual may be listed as an investigator on a maximum of two pre-proposals and serve as PI on only one. That is, if you are involved in two pre-proposals (the maximum allowed), you may be a co- investigator on both, or a co-investigator on one and PI on the other.
Pre-proposals may be submitted for either 1- or 2-year projects. The maximum award for a 2-year project is $120,000, with a $60,000 annual limit. The maximum award for a 1-year project is $60,000. The limit refers only to direct costs. Per the language in the WRRA, WRRI does not pay indirect costs.