Below are answers from URI’s Division of Research and Economic Development on submitting proposals for our 2023 URI Plastics Seed Program.
The “proposal must demonstrate research translation…at local, state or regional scales.” Will international levels be considered?
The purpose of these seeds is to strengthen local and regional collaboration. International projects are allowed by the funds if URI faculty are exploring local to global questions/solutions and include local/regional stakeholders.
“URI Plastics Seed Grant program funds cannot be used to support projects in fulfillment of advanced degrees…” but we say that work of graduate students can count as part of the educational component required for each proposal. These two points appear contradictory and can lead to confusion. What does it mean exactly that the program cannot be used to support projects in fulfillment of advanced degrees?
The meaning of “cannot be used to support projects in fulfillment of advanced degrees” is that you cannot use the funds to support an advanced degree as an outcome of the project. However, you are allowed to hire a graduate student to carry out the research on the proposed project.
Can a collaboration forming workshop be incorporated in the call (i.e. lightning talks, etc.)? A workshop could avoid the reinvention of the wheel in terms of techniques and multi-year investment in research labs.
The workshop can be part of a research translation activity as long as the workshop communicates research performed at URI or you are engaging a new collaborator to continue working on a project based on information generated at URI. Workshops provide awareness and input to research and can be very important in cultivating relationships and collecting data to further research and solutions.
Is preliminary data encouraged or required in these applications?
The spirit of the seed program is not to support fundamental research; the idea is to communicate/apply/transfer research/information generated at URI with stakeholders at the local or regional level. However, the seed funds can be used to generate data through or with stakeholders or generate a space to share URI data with stakeholders to have an impact.
Can you propose $25k-$30k or $35k for a project? Smaller projects are easier to manage within the one-year time frame.
The solicitation specifies a range of funding. Any proposal within the range listed in the solicitation will be considered for funding.
Can the upper limit of funding be increased to $50-$60k? An increase might attract more applications towards the call. Staffing is often the most critical aspect of delivering grants and can be expensive, especially with applied or lab processing work which can require significant time.
The purpose of this program is to provide seed funding to translate research and develop new collaborations between URI researchers and stakeholders. The proposed funding range seeks to allow disciplines with diverse projects to apply to the program.
The proposal states, “Participants must come from at least two colleges to demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration.” Do I need to find collaborators from at least two other colleges outside URI? Do collaborators from URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography or College of Pharmacy qualify?
We hope these proposals support interdisciplinary research. The colleges must be at URI. For example, it could be one researcher from Pharmacy and one from GSO.
Do I need to allocate a budget for collaborators?
The solicitation encourages stakeholder engagement to support the translation of your research. If a collaborator is doing work in the proposal, then yes, I would suggest you work with the collaborator within the funds allotted to consider allocating budget — whether it be a small stipend or the resource of the graduate student to share.
URI Plastics is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Plastics Seed Grants Program via the Division of Research & Economic Development. The URI Plastics supports initiatives that apply research and creative activities to solving or better understanding plastic pollution problems and issues at local, state and regional levels.
2023 URI Plastics Seed Grants
Available funding ranges from $10,000 to $40,000 of direct support and we anticipate supporting 3-5 proposals. Modification in the number of and/or funding for individual proposals may be made based on final program budget allocations. Competitive proposals will support collaborative teams for research and scholarly activities and enable innovative partnerships to support the pursuit of external funding beyond the scope of this project. The only restrictions are that proposals must meet the guidelines set forth in this invitation.
URI Plastics is hosting information sessions and office hours. Attendance is optional. These sessions and hours are opportunities to discuss ideas, find possible connections and address any questions for developing and submitting proposals.
Info Sessions (1 hour zoom session) Please refer to plastics website (https://plastics.uri.edu/about/funding/) for more info and links for these sessions.
March 10, 2-3PM
March 28, 12-1PM
Office Hours (zoom drop in):
Please refer to plastics website (https://plastics.uri.edu/about/funding/) for more info and links for these sessions.
April 3, 2-3PM (zoom)
April 4, 2-3PM (zoom)
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
All full-time URI faculty from any discipline with any type of continuing appointment (tenured and tenure-track faculty, research faculty, clinical faculty, research scientists) may serve as investigators for these grants. Participants must come from at least two colleges to demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty are limited to serving as Principal Investigator (PI) on only one proposal. Faculty may serve as a co-investigator on more than one proposal. Anyone who is separating from the University in the year immediately following the award is not eligible to participate in this program.
Proposal must demonstrate research translation – how it may be applied to solving or better understanding problems and issues at local, state or regional scales. To this end, collaboration at varying levels with external stakeholders is strongly encouraged for successful awards. Acceptable stakeholders include non-profits, government agencies, community organizations and industry.
Proposals must include an education component, which can involve undergraduate or graduate students in research, or it can incorporate learning in the classroom. URI Plastics Seed Grant program funds cannot be used to support projects in fulfillment of advanced degrees, time needed for preparation of extramural grants, or to pay for reprints of published work. Funds may be used to support projects for instructional development only to the extent that the project is essential to the preparation of one or more proposals for extramural funding.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION
Applicants must submit a clear and concise proposal that is understandable to members of the review committee who may not be familiar with the applicant’s discipline or area of specialization. The review committee will include URI and external members. Proposals are to be single-spaced, with minimum 12-point type and 1-inch margins
I. PROJECT ABSTRACT (150 words or less)
II. PROJECT NARRATIVE(maximum of 3 pages)
Introduction: Provide a succinct statement of the objectives of the proposed work and background information that places the proposed project in a broader scholarly context. The proposal should be understandable to peers who may not have expertise in the discipline.
Significance and innovation: Demonstrate how research may be applied to solving or better understanding problems and issues at local, state or regional scales. Discuss the importance of the research or scholarly activities and the short- and long-term benefits to the faculty member’s research program and to society.
Work plan: Describe what you plan to do and how you will complete the work. The work plan should describe and justify experiments, fieldwork and so forth. Include a brief timetable that indicates when each task will be performed during the grant period, thus illustrating achievability of the project. Describe how you will integrate learning experiences in the field, lab or classroom for students (undergraduate and/or graduate).
Plan for submission of extramural proposals: Discuss what extramural funding programs will be pursued as a result of completing the proposed work.
III. LITERATURE CITED SECTION OR BIBLIOGRAPHY (as appropriate)
IV. BIOSKETCHES/CVs (maximum of 2 pages)
A biosketch, curriculum vitae or resume should be included for all key personnel. These should include publications relevant to the proposed project. For those familiar with SciENcv, this format is welcome as well (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/)
Faculty Summer Salary is allowable only for faculty on nine-month appointments to work on the proposed project. Salary may not be used for time spent writing extramural grant proposals. The maximum amount of summer salary is $4,000 for one applicant and $8,000 for two or more principal investigator’s/co-principal investigators. Note that total summer re-contracting from all funding sources may not exceed 27.8% of the faculty’s academic year salary
Salary for other personnel such as postdocs, co-principal investigators or engaged partners may be included. Co-principal investigators must be named on the Cover Sheet and the itemized budget.
To calculate non-faculty personnel salaries (i.e. Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Other) multiply the number of hours by the appropriate hourly rate. FICA for graduate and/or undergraduate student(s) summer salary is calculated by multiplying the total number of hours by 0.0765. FICA does not need to be included with faculty salary.
Equipment – Equipment (>$5000 unit cost) that is not normally available through department budgets or other University sources may be purchased using grant funds. Cost-sharing is encouraged, but evidence of a cost-sharing plan must be included with the proposal (e.g., letter of support from the principal investigator’s Dean). A quote for each equipment request must be included with the Budget Justification.
Supplies – For artistic, laboratory, and fieldwork, computer, media and telecommunications expenses, etc. may be requested. List each type of supply separately. Funds may not be used for purchase of routine expenses, e.g., office supplies, equipment repair, calibration, and/or maintenance, or for other purposes unless they specifically relate to the proposed project.
Travel – Funds to defray the cost of travel to study sites and/or to collect data may be requested. Provide the actual fare if traveling by public carrier (air, rail, bus, etc.). If traveling by a privately owned vehicle, use the authorized standard per-mile rate. For each trip identify the destination(s) and indicate the number of days per destination per trip. The most reasonable, economical lodging available in close proximity to the work location should be identified. The university’s travel policy is available at http://www.uri.edu/controller/policies.html. Calculate expenses on a per-trip basisand enter totals for Mileage, Out-of-State Travel, Other Travel, and Foreign Travel in the spaces provided.
Other Costs– Funds not covered by the above categories, such as lab rental fees, may also be included, and must be clearly justified (see above).
VI. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION (maximum of 2 pages)
Applicants must submit a separate budget justification that indicates how each item contributes to the intended goals of the grant program. It is essential that the applicant make a direct connection between the requested budget items and the aims of the research. Conventions of particular disciplines that require a specific expenditure should be clearly explained and justified. Full amounts requested may not be awarded subject to availability of funds.
REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS
1. If use of the URI Plastics Seed funds result in the development of items eligible for patent or copyright, or the production of any books, etc., the University patent and copyright policy shall apply (see University Manual10.40.10 through 10.44.10).
2. Publications that result from a URI Plastics Seed Grant must include an acknowledgement of this support, and a copy of the publications must be delivered to the Office of Research Development soon after publication.
3. All funds must be expended between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024.
4. Awardees are required to provide the Director of URI Plastics with a final report on activities supported by the grant no later than three months after the end of the grant.Failure to submit a report will result in the recipient being ineligible to apply for future funding from the URI Division of Research & Economic Development.
5. Awardees are also required to provide to the Director of Research Developmentone copy of each proposal submitted for extramural funding that resulted from the Seed grant. This should be submitted within a year of the end date of the Seed grant. Failure to submit at least one such proposal will result in the faculty or staff member being declared ineligible to apply for future funding from the URI Division of Research & Economic Development.
6. Awardees must attend a showcase event on the outcomes of funded seed projects that will be held at the end of the 12-month timeframe to engage with internal and external stakeholders. Participation is a condition of receiving an award. Funded research teams will receive support to provide effective presentations.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Funds will be awarded through a competitive review process conducted by Division of Research & Economic Development leadership. Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Clarity of the description of the work proposed and evidence of the project’s achievability
Potential for application in society (ie. to improve understanding, address an issue, utilized by or connected to local to regional resources)
Prospect of securing external funding beyond the scope of this project.
Strength of the collaborating research team and partners.
Proposal presentation (adherence to formatting requirements).
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
Applications are to be submitted via the InfoReady system at:
Dr. Karl Aspelund, Dr. Izabela Luiza Ciesielska-Wrobel, and Dr. Seray Ergene discussing the consequences of textile-related microplastics.
URI College of Business faculty discussed microplastics in the textile industry for URI Alumni’s Faculty Office Hours event. The panel, which consisted of Dr. Izabela Luiza Ciesielska-Wrobel and Dr. Seray Ergene, and moderator, Dr. Karl Aspelund analyzed the impacts of microplastics on the environment and implications for policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers.
Microplastics are plastic particles that are smaller than 5,000 micron and are found primarily in bodies of water. In our oceans, microplastics are the result of the degradation of larger pieces of plastic which is triggered by oceanic conditions such as water turbulence. Although a majority of microplastics result from degradation, microplastics can also enter our waterways through other avenues.
Microfibers, a textile byproduct, are another contributor to microplastics in our ocean. Textiles from synthetic materials like polyester and acrylic release microfibers when they are washed, and these microfibers end up in bodies of water. Due to their size, microplastics cannot easily be removed. Dr. Ciesielska-Wrobel explained that ocean water can be filtered to remove microplastics, but the process also removes microorganisms from their environment and disrupts the oceanic ecosystems.
Although filtering microfibers and microplastics out of water may not be feasible, there are other ways to reduce plastic pollution. One solution includes using washing machine filters that catch microfibers post-wash cycle. This method, although costly, is a way consumers can make an impact at home.
The panel encouraged policymakers and industry leaders to think about the environment as a stakeholder and change the way we consume plastics. Dr. Ergene noted that “some materials may be good for humans and durable for our use; but we also need to consider animals, plants, and the natural environment and the impact on them.”
As microplastics continue to be an issue for our oceans and environment, URI’s ongoing research aims to find solutions to the problem.
Dr. Irene Andreu loading a sample in the transmission electron microscope.
The Rhode Island Consortium for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (RIN2), the Surface Analysis Laboratory and the COE Analytical Core Facility invite you and your colleagues to a free seminar series describing theory and applications of the newest techniques available to you in the URI College of Engineering. Experts will answer your questions and introduce new and experienced scientists to instrumentation and technology available at the URI COE core facilities.
Melissa Omand, Associate Professor of Oceanography in the Graduate School of Oceanography, holding a minion float developed in her lab to capture particle sized data from the ocean twilight zone.
Networked, often expendable, devices have revolutionized how we access ocean data for applications across research and marine sectors. These instruments are often made of non-degradable plastic components, and at the end of life, they become marine debris. An interdisciplinary team of microbiologists, materials scientists, engineers, and oceanographers from three academic institutions together with industry partners, are working together to develop ‘self-destructing’ ocean instruments made from engineering biomaterials that will rapidly degrade in oceanic conditions once data collection is complete. Novel materials such as these will help achieve a more sustainable era of ocean research.
Producing local sea urchins, a species not previously considered a viable seafood option, would provide economic and social sustainability, and help to restore the ocean’s vibrant ecosystem. These “weird and wonderful creatures” showcase a tolerance of ocean environment stressors, like ocean acidification and marine plastic pollution, that pose a threat to marine life and ecosystems … and they are delicious. Coleen Suckling, URI faculty, is the lead investigator in a two-year collaborative study to understand the implications on ocean and human health and build sustainable ocean-driven economies.
Dr. Peter J. Snyder, URI Vice President for Research & Economic Development, led the design and creation of the Plastics: Land to Sea COLAB. Photo credit: Beau Jones.
From Sri Lanka to Ghana and from the Arctic to Block Island, URI’s research and outreach have addressed the health of fisheries, climate resilience, sustainable energy and the presence of plastics in every ecosystem — land to sea. The University now plans to leverage those partnerships and cultivate new ones to advance plastics research via its Plastics: Land to Sea COLAB. The COLAB already includes more than 50 faculty working with state, regional and international governments, universities, and agencies around the world.
Plastics play an important role in society and can be lifesaving, but they were not seen as a pollutant when they were developed. Yet, the environmental and economic reality of plastics pollution is a global crisis that has outpaced our understanding of its impacts on our waterways, food web, air quality and human health. Science Approximately 420 million metric tons of plastics were produced worldwide, with production expected to triple by 2050. Less than 10 percent of plastic trash produced has been recycled, and it is the fastest growing component of municipal waste.
URI scientists and students have extensive research on one of the most well-studied resources, Narragansett Bay. They have collected and archived baseline data that are rare and difficult to find for many water bodies and have launched long-term studies that have run continuously since 1959.
The Plastics: Land to Sea COLAB is housed in URI Coastal Institute and will welcome participation by faculty and students across all URI colleges to make clear, tangible projects within the five “thrust areas”. Please join us as the University “thinks big” to accelerate critical research efforts and contribute to global solutions to sustain the health of our land, our waters, our health, and our future.
Bees play a vital ecological and economic role. In addition to providing honey, they pollinate fruit and vegetable crops which is vital to maintaining our food supply. Honeybees are designed to collect particulates from the environment. Their branched hairs on their bodies are perfectly suited to collect nectar and pollen from flowering plants. Honeybees covered in pollen will groom themselves and compress collected pollen along with any debris into pollen packs on their hind legs to carry back to the nest. The tendency of honeybees to collect non-pollen debris particulates from the environment was vital to the unraveling of honey bee language in post-World War II Germany. Lindauer first observed dancing honeybees coated in flour, brick dust and soot reporting potential hive locations to a collected swarm in a grain mill, collapsed building and chimney, respectively.
The URI research team used the same basic ability of honeybees to gather non-pollen particulates to detect microplasticin the environment. URI entomology Professor Steven Alm and URI Associate Professor of Chemistry, Matthew Kiesewetter, are exploring a novel approach to tracking microplastic emissions that starts at URI’s East Farm’s Bumblebee Garden and hopes to leverage a world-wide network of honeybees.
The sources of microplastics are ultimately terrestrial and have been detected in wind/air currents and distributed overlarge surface areas. The challenge of detecting microplastics terrestrial distribution can be supported by the assistance of the honeybees populations. Honeybees forage from 2-5 miles from their hives, sampling an area of 12-75 square miles.There are approximately 2.5 million managed and well distributed honey bee colonies in the US. The collection of a single beehive coupled to an existing worldwide network of managed colonies is a ready-made tool for tracking microplastic emissions.
To support URI’s Bumblebee Garden and its plastics research, please donate today.
URI student Casey Johnson. Photo credit: Beau Jones
Microplastics prepared to be analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Photo by Beau Jones
written by CHRIS BARRETT ’08 for URI’s Momentum: Research & Innovation Magazine, Spring 2021
When plastics break apart, the material leaves a trail of pieces often visible only with specialized equipment. That’s where the University’s core facilities and their researchers step in with equipment and expertise. To understand the role of plastics in our world, imaging equipment housed within the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) core facilities analyze plastic particles so small that it would be like finding a single drop of water in an Olympic sized pool.
Scientists leverage that data to trace plastics pollution in waterways to its source, to understand how plastic particles harm animals, as well as to develop nanoplastics that deliver life-saving medicines into our bodies. “People are looking at microplastics in a lot of different areas; they are popping up everywhere and we don’t know if they’re good, bad or neutral,” said Rhode Island Consortium of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Director Irene Andreu.
Yet, looking at micro and nanoplastics poses significant challenges. Plastics comprise a wide variety of polymers with additives to change their texture, rigidity and color. When plastics break apart, the material leaves a trail of pieces often visible only with specialized equipment. That’s where the University’s core facilities and their researchers step in with equipment and expertise.
