Team Science – Faculty Research Support Fund (TS-FRSF)

Clarkson University 

Team Science – Faculty Research Support Fund (TS-FRSF)

Overview

Clarkson’s Sponsored Research Services (SRS), in partnership with our internal Research Advisory Committee (RAC), is launching an effort for the third year to support faculty research grounded in Team Science. The funds, provided by the Provost’s Office, are an investment in research teams in order to (1) address a major societal challenge, (2) elevate our research reputation in the team’s thematic area, and (3) ultimately attract external research funding through a team science approach to research.  This year will be focused on small grants to support multiple teams. 

Amount: Up to $6,000 maximum per award.

Total Amount in Fund: $30,000 

Key Dates:

• Proposal Due Date: May 1, 2024 
• Decision Date:   Applicants are notified of the decision approximately 45 days from the deadline.

Description

Objective: To catalyze the development, submission, and successful receipt of high-impact external research funding, the funds under TS-FRSF will be exclusively used to support faculty teams to prepare competitive proposals addressing critical research areas under the motto of Technology Serving Humanity.

The goal of TS-FRSF is to place greater emphasis at Clarkson on high-risk/high-payoff research, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary research toward enhancing our research impact within at least one of Clarkson’s research clusters. A key goal is to focus within the cluster area(s) to address a specific societal challenge. Planning grants are a short-term investment in our longer-term goals.  Specific aims include:  

• Create the foundation for a team science approach to support research
• Create a culture of transdisciplinary collaboration
• Increase research funding, including both small and large grants
• In the longer term, increase Clarkson’s reputation

Guidelines:

1. Full-time Clarkson University faculty (tenure, teaching, or research tracks) are eligible to apply
2. Awards are limited to a maximum of $6000.

We encourage submissions that engage senior and junior faculty and cross disciplinary boundaries. We are particularly interested in non-traditional, high-risk/high-payoff proposals that may lead to the development of significant research efforts, including intellectual property. In addition, the team must demonstrate engagement with stakeholders to motivate the impact of the research and its relevance to technology serving humanity and the importance of the project for society. 

Application Process:

Applicants must submit a brief statement (1 or 2 pages) explaining how TS-FRSF funds can assist their team and how they would use an award of up to $6000 to revamp their research or engage in new research endeavors and why any external funding a faculty may have cannot be used in support of the request. 

The funds should be used for research and professional purposes. Eligible expenses include reagents and supplies, faculty and/or student travel to conferences or visits to collaborators’ labs for planning joint proposals, and support for graduate and undergraduate students to gather preliminary data for proposals.  Faculty summer salaries are not eligible. 

Proposals should include the following:

• A brief description of plans for the use of funds, impact, budget, and budget justification, and reasons why other funding cannot be used.   
• Why a team-based, convergence approach is necessary to address this challenge.
• Identification of your key stakeholders and the plan/strategy for engaging stakeholders.

Faculty with sufficient funds remaining in their support account (e.g., indirect return or salary recovery) or unrestricted startup account are not eligible for this funding.

The Research Committee will review the proposals and will make a recommendation for the selection of the winning proposals. 

Contact for Questions: Michelle Crimi, mcrimi@clarkson.edu or 315-268-4174

To Submit:  Please send the document with Clarkson University TS-FRSF Fund in the subject line to: srs@clarkson.edu.

Appendix A:  Clarkson’s Research Focus Areas

1.  Computational and Data-Enabled Discovery (CDED) Cross-cutting discipline that allows for the analysis and understanding associated with the massively complex multi-modal data sets from modern sensor-rich, computational-rich engineering, scientific, and social media settings.  Strengths in data analytics and complex systems modeling span the three schools and include dynamical systems as learned from data, sensors and controls, business intelligence and financial technology, and artificial intelligence. 

2.  Healthy Global Solutions (HGS) Interdisciplinary faculty teams from across campus create healthy environment solutions that ultimately protect air, water, and habitat resources; reduce public health threats from environmental contamination or lack of access to medical care; develop and implement new energy policies and technologies; create sustainable infrastructure and communities; integrate environmental concerns into management practices; and, ensure the security of our societies.

3.  Advanced Materials Development (AMD) Advanced materials experts work collaboratively to design and develop next-generation materials and integrated material systems to solve real-world challenges in fields of electronics, aeronautics, biotechnology, health, safety and security, mechanical systems, energy generation and storage, and manufacturing technology. Strengths include tailored material design, synthesis and modeling, functional materials and devices, sensors and sensing systems, drug delivery, and diagnostic tools for a healthy and sustainable environment, material sourcing and supply chain management, healthy people, and improved quality of life.

4.  Next Generation Medicine and Healthcare (NGMH) Emerging approaches to addressing critical challenges to human health include innovative technologies for preventing, detecting, and treating disease, including therapeutic strategies as well as economic, entrepreneurship, social, and ethical challenges to health care innovation, management, and access.

 Appendix B: Some Background on Team Science

Team science and convergence research have emerged to reduce institutional barriers in academia and further the quest for knowledge. As per the National Science Foundation (NSF), “convergence research is a means for solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation.”

Convergence research is identified by two primary characteristics:

• “Research driven by a specific and compelling problem.”  Convergence Research is generally inspired by the need to address a specific challenge or opportunity, whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs.
• Deep integration across disciplines. As experts from different disciplines pursue common research challenges, their knowledge, theories, methods, data, research communities and languages become increasingly intermingled or integrated. New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can form sustained interactions across multiple communities.”

For more information on convergence research see: 

• https://drrohitvarma.com/three-defining-characteristics-of-convergent-research/
• Wilson, N. (2019). On the road to convergence research. BioScience, 69(8), 587-593. 

Team science is defined by the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) as “a collaborative effort to address a scientific challenge that leverages the strengths and expertise of professionals trained in different fields.” For more information on Team science, see:

• https://sc-ctsi.org/training-education/what-is-team-science
• Bennett, L. M., Gadlin, H., & Marchand, C. (2018). Collaboration Team Science: Field Guide. US Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
• Cooke, N. J., & Hilton, M. L. (2015). Enhancing the effectiveness of team science.

Clarkson University research clusters maximize our historic strengths and represent opportunities for national and international recognition. This team science project planning grant (TSPPG) program is a strategic investment in research, with the goal of supporting teams of researchers to develop high-impact innovative research programs to enhance Clarkson’s reputation as a leader in solutions-focused research and technology development. Meaningful, prioritized investments such as TSPPG foster collaborations across campus, positively impact research productivity, and spur innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Guiding Principles of this initiative recognize (1) the value of diverse teams and transdisciplinary collaboration to solve complex societal challenges, (2) that increasing research productivity and impact will require strategic investment to support research teams, and (3) that success will depend on stakeholder engagement and support for research translation. In addition to these Guiding Principles, TSPPG is grounded in valuing mentorship and advancement of pre-tenure faculty (although participation is neither constrained nor limited by career stage). 

To rise to the challenge to further team science and transdisciplinary research at Clarkson University, Clarkson’s Sponsored Research Services (SRS), in partnership with our internal Research Advisory Committee (RAC), has launched the Team Science Projects Planning Grant (TSPPG).