Proposal Submission Deadline: currently closed for applications
Overview
In order to deepen joint research collaboration, Notre Dame (ND) and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC|Chile) are announcing a special joint call entitled the ND-UC|Chile Luksic Scholars Joint Research Awards. Through this jointly funded, jointly advertised opportunity both institutions are inviting proposals for joint research projects with the potential to achieve international recognition. Project selection for the Joint Research Awards will be competitive and made jointly by ND and UC|Chile. Applications will be jointly submitted.
Funding and Awards
- Awards up to $50,000 (i.e., $25,000 per institution) will be made available for each joint research project.
- Joint research projects will be of 12 months duration.
Eligibility
- Regular full-time faculty from both universities can apply to this call.
- One PI from each institution should be responsible for the execution of the project. Other faculty or academic staff can be included as co-investigators.
- Projects which include PhD and masters students are welcomed. Undergraduate students can be included.
The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building and supporting a culturally diverse workplace. It strongly encourages proposal applications from female and minority faculty candidates.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is a diverse institution that aims to always provide equal opportunities to the entire UC community. It prioritizes moving forward in the inclusion and diversity of its members. It seeks to become an integrally sustainable UC, having the responsibility of being a cultural heritage of Chile at the service of society.
Criteria and Outcomes
Proposals in all disciplines will be accepted. Proposals, however, related to the following key areas are encouraged and will be prioritized:*
Global and Environmental Change: With sustainability an urgent global challenge, we invite proposals that focus on the environment from interdisciplinary perspectives which include, but are not limited to science, STEM, social science, and the arts and humanities.
Global Affairs: Proposals that address and seek to advance social challenges within Chilean society are encouraged. While not an exhaustive list, public policy related to democracy, education, social cohesion and equity, and health are of particular strategic interest.
Astrophysics and Astro-engineering: Proposals that focus on theoretical and observational astrophysics are welcomed. Cosmology, ground-based optical astronomy, space science, in addition to technological, computational and aerospace problem solving and design, are also areas of interest.
Natural Disasters: Research into the understanding of any or all aspects of natural disasters including contributing factors, mitigation and prevention is welcome.
The Arts: Collaboration between ND and UC|Chile in the Arts is encouraged, whether that be through projects of creative expression/imagination or through research.
*Resources - click here for links to relevant resources at both ND and UC|Chile.
It is anticipated that research outcomes will lead to an application for external funding for either or both institutions and the proposal should therefore address, beyond the current joint work proposal, the following:
- The anticipated external funding body
- The anticipated value of the current grant application and anticipated research output to that external funding application
- Timeframe for submission to that external funding body
In addition to the above, a joint manuscript is highly valued and plans for international dissemination of the research output should be outlined in the proposal.
Expenses
Full details of all anticipated costs/activities must be clearly itemized. The budget plan should indicate spending over the full duration of the proposed project. Budget justification will be required. Application review will include a review of eligibility, scale, and appropriateness of requested expenses.
Disbursement of funds will occur according to each institution's policy. Unspent funds at the end of the award period, will be allocated back to source.
Eligible Expenses
Expenses for the ND-UC|Chile Luksic Scholars Joint Research Awards Program can be used for the following:
- Consumable costs for a proof-of-principle study
- Facilitation of a workshop with potential academic or non-academic partners, with the aim of refining the content and objectives of the research program
- Travel expenses for faculty and students to meet, plan research and review research results
- Costs associated with organizing meetings, workshops and conferences (e.g., rooms, catering, etc.,)
- Assistance from a research assistant**
Exceptional Eligible Expense
- External Consultancy Fee (the applicants must provide a very strong argument/justification for the inclusion of these costs)
Ineligible Expenses
- Computers, Software, Equipment***
- Faculty Salary
- Teaching buy-out
- Business start-up costs
- Tuition fees
**Where short-term assistance from a research assistant is requested on a taxable fee basis, the name of the research assistant must be provided, the scope of their engagement detailed, and the proposed dates of engagement provided. Employment contracts must be in line with the host university’s recruitment procedures and policies. It is expected that the research assistant will be fully directed by the lead director at the institution at which the RA is located. The engagement of an RA must be fully justified in the proposal
***By exception only requests for items of equipment are considered though not encouraged. For any such requests the applicant must be able to demonstrate that the items are both absolutely necessary and not available from other sources
How to Apply
Proposals are to be prepared jointly as 1 application and submitted jointly.
To initiate the proposal development effort for the Joint Research Award Program, Notre Dame faculty and UC|Chile faculty must take the lead in reaching out to each other in their area of expertise. The collaborators should decide who will be the Lead PI on the project although the funds, if awarded, will remain with the contributing institution. The collaborative researchers should comprise a two-page concept paper describing the research problem and research methods necessary to carry out the research, including the following:
- Title
- Project Dates (Start and End Date)
- ND Lead PI Information (Name, email, position held and college/school affiliation)
- UC|Chile Lead PI Information (Name, email, position held and college/school affiliation)
- Abstract (100 words maximum)
-
Project Description
- Overview of the project activities, including its goals, purpose and core (research) area into which this project fits
- How and when the project will take place
- Briefly outline the expertise of the faculty participants for the project
- Description of how this project will lead to future grant success including time scales for future external grant applications and approximate value of any identified call
- Description of how joint working between Notre Dame and UC|Chile adds value to this particular project and how it aligns to the research strategies and enhances our universities’ collaboration overall.
- Budget and Budget Justification (Budget Template)
- ND and UC|Chile CVs of Team Leaders (maximum 2 pages each)
- A letter of support from the respective departmental Chair/Dean of each of the lead investigators
Selection Process
Proposals will be evaluated by a senior faculty panel at both Notre Dame and UC|Chile. Final decisions will be made based on the recommendations of those faculty panels.
Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Academic quality of the proposed joint research including scope, significance, and originality
- Importance of funding for the anticipated future success of external funding grant applications
- Clarity of goals, including the potential external funding source(s) and timeframe for submission
- Alignment with the strategic goals of both universities e.g., research at field stations
Reporting Requirements
A Project Completion Report must be completed by award holders on completion of the work defined in the funding application. Submissions to external funding agencies are to be reported and provided to the contacts at the respective institutions.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Geraldine Meehan
Director of Faculty Engagement
Notre Dame Global
Email: gmeehan@nd.edu
Phone: (574) 631-7742
Catalina Gerstmann
International Partnerships Coordinator
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Email: catalina.ge@uc.cl