Scialog®
Scialog 2009: Solar Energy Conversion
Research Corporation for Science Advancement
Because reliable sources of renewable energy are vitally important for U.S. security, global stability, and a sustainable future, Research Corporation for Science Advancement has chosen to address the issue of solar energy as its first effort under the Scialog® program.
Scialog will focus on funding early career scientists and building research teams to undertake groundbreaking studies in solar energy conversion. This initiative will be entitled Scialog 2009: Solar Energy Conversion.
Scialog 2009 will accept proposals describing fundamental research at the molecular and nanoscale level that show high potential to impact advanced energy technologies. Preference will be given to plans describing: (i) development of novel high-performing materials that possess greater stability, lower cost, or offer higher efficiency than materials currently used in solar energy devices; (ii) innovative, highly efficient methods for solar energy conversion that take advantage of unique chemical or optical properties and are poised to overcome current bottlenecks limiting performance efficiency.
The Scialog initiative is an experiment in collaboration and community building as much as it is about promoting transformative science. It is the intention that the Scialog conferences will facilitate the process of community building and forming new collaborations.
Scialog® Objectives
- Support individuals or collaborative teams of early career researchers who present innovative approaches that address the designated research topics;
- Enable higher-risk research that might fall outside the boundaries of traditional federal funding streams;
- Establish and convene communities of researchers who will interact intellectually to move the broader research agenda forward;
- Leverage funding from private foundations and federal agencies to further support successful lines of research.
Scialog® Conferences
The conferences are an essential feature of the initiative. They will help fulfill a key objective of Scialog: forging a vibrant network of cutting-edge researchers in solar energy conversion. Awardees will meet to share critical feedback on their projects and further develop research agendas. Representatives from funding agencies, government laboratories and industry will be invited. The conferences will provide opportunities to initiate new collaborations and create new funding streams. Awardees are required to participate in three Scialog conferences, each held annually in October beginning in 2010. Expenses to attend these conferences should be factored into the award.
Institutional and Faculty Requirements
Applications will be accepted from tenured science faculty members within five years of date of tenure at public and private colleges and universities located in the United States that offer at least a baccalaureate degree in the sciences.The complexity of the problems addressed in Scialog initiatives is such that significant progress in most cases will require extensive collaboration, team building and teamwork. These collaborations may involve scientists in the U.S. or abroad, at national laboratories, in private industry or in academia. Eligible faculty may apply individually or as a team of two or more faculty members fitting this eligibility criterion from the same or different departments and institutions. Describing existing collaborations that underpin the proposed work will strengthen applications made individually. Furthermore, it is expected that the Scialog conference will provide the opportunity for additional team building by expanding collaborations in key areas.
A single investigator may be included on no more than one proposal. There is, however, no limit on the number of proposals submitted from the same institution.
Grants awarded by RCSA will be made to non-profit U.S. colleges or universities.
Funding
Research Corporation for Science Advancement will make awards either to individuals or to teams of two or more eligible faculty. The individual awards will be for $100,000 and the team awards for $250,000. Budgets are not required; hence, there is no budget page in the proposal. Funds can be used to support the proposed research project at the discretion of the awardee(s) for most direct costs, with limitations only on the range of acceptable expenditures. There is no provision for indirect costs or overhead, faculty salaries, tuition, or for routine institutional services.
Applications
The application process begins with completion of the online eligibility quiz . If the applicant(s) and institution(s) meet the program requirements, the applicant(s) will be invited to submit a pre-proposal that will be used to determine if the proposed research conforms to program guidelines and goals. The deadline for pre-proposal submission is Monday, August 17, 2009 at the close of business. Applicants will be notified by electronic mail on approximately October 1, 2009 of the decision to invite or not invite a full proposal submission. Decisions on the pre-proposals are final with no appeal or feedback possible. The deadline for full proposal submission is Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at the close of business.
Multiple pre-proposals from the same investigator will not be accepted. There is however, no limit on the number of proposals submitted from the same institution.
Both applicant(s) and institution(s) should ensure that a proposal conforms to program guidelines, and that pre-proposals and full proposals are submitted on the unmodified application forms provided by Research Corporation for Science Advancement.
Proposal Evaluation
Research Corporation for Science Advancement will assess proposals based upon the following:
- Scientific merit, quality, significance and relevance of the proposed research relative to other proposals;
- Potential to make significant contributions and advances in solar energy conversion research;
- Quality and significance of the collaborations to the proposed research;
- Quality, significance and relevance of the recent research record of the PI(s)
- Potential for additional funding from public or private sectors;
- Interdisciplinary education/training of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Review Process
Applications that conform to guidelines will be screened by RCSA scientists and reviewed by external experts in the field. Awards will be announced on June 1, 2010.
Timeline:
- Preliminary Proposal Due: August 17, 2009
- Full Proposal Due: December 1, 2009
- Awards Announced: June 1, 2010
- Scialog Conferences (required attendance for awardees):
Biosphere 2, Tucson, AZ, October 12-15, 2010
October (TBD), 2011
October (TBD), 2012
Estimated Number of Awards: 20-30
Award size is $100,000 for single investigators and up to $250,000 for teams of two or more investigators over a 3-year award period.