Applications are open for ACS Principal Investigator Development in Sustainability Grant 2023-2024. This prestigious award aims to provide funding to early or mid-career investigators who have achieved the Associate level or above. The grant offers an incredible opportunity for recipients to spend 6-12 months in a private company, national laboratory, or academic laboratory at a different institution.
ACS Principal Investigator Development in Sustainability Grant
The primary objective of this grant is to foster strong collaborations between industry and academia, as well as across different disciplines. Participants will also benefit from the guidance and mentorship of a faculty member who is distinct from their prior mentors. It’s a fantastic chance to establish robust connections, broaden research horizons, and contribute to sustainability initiatives.
Program Description
Extensive evidence suggests that to achieve transformative innovations in sustainability, it is essential to foster collaboration and connections between different disciplines and industries.
However, once a faculty member establishes their research group, it becomes difficult to explore new directions and identify opportunities that may require knowledge in related but distinct fields, such as chemistry and toxicology, synthetic chemistry and synthetic biology, or catalysis and computational chemistry.
Additionally, developing strong collaborations with industry colleagues that facilitate a mutual exchange of innovative research and addressing gaps in innovation becomes a challenge.
One of the main reasons for these challenges is the need for faculty members to relocate to another facility in order to gain the necessary training and establish collaborations.
This grant aims to address these obstacles by providing support and encouragement for bold cross-disciplinary training and collaborations that lead to research with direct applications to sustainability challenges. The intention is to de-risk these endeavors and stimulate fruitful partnerships that can bridge academia and industry.
Benefits
- Cash prizes up to $50,000 will be awarded
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for application, interested individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Currently, hold a faculty position at a Ph.D.-granting institution of higher education in the United States.
- During each application period, individuals are permitted to submit only one application, and they are allowed to make a maximum of two submissions in total.
- Have a sabbatical planned, which is anticipated to commence within the next 12-18 months. Note that the sabbatical may not have received formal approval yet.
- Have already identified opportunities for a sabbatical position at a different company, national laboratory, or institution than their own. This position should provide the necessary training and experience to explore a new research direction relevant to interdisciplinary research and teaching in the field of green and sustainable chemistry.
To be eligible to receive the award, applicants must agree to the following conditions:
- Attend a teacher-training workshop focused on green chemistry.
- Teach at least one course in green chemistry and sustainability, or a chemistry course that explicitly integrates green chemistry principles, during their faculty position. This can be either an undergraduate or graduate-level course.
Evaluation Criteria
- The Award Committee evaluates proposals and provides funding recommendations based on the following criteria, prioritized in order of importance:
- The connection between the PI’s research and green and sustainable chemistry, assessing its relevance.
- The proposed research’s novelty, overall quality, significance, and scientific merit. This includes evaluating its potential to expand knowledge and stimulate further research.
- The applicant’s previous experience and accomplishments in green and sustainable chemistry-related applications, examining their research track record.
- The applicant’s commitment and enthusiasm for teaching, with a focus on green and sustainable chemistry.
- Funds must be allotted for travel, accommodation, and laboratory supplies/chemicals. They should be clearly justified in relation to the project and the Principal Investigator’s career goals. Overhead costs like secretarial/administrative salaries are not allowed. The funds can’t be used for supporting lab technicians, contractors, consultants, or visiting faculty.
ACS Principal Investigator Development in Sustainability Grant 2023-2024 – How To Apply
To ensure a smooth application process, it is highly recommended that you gather the necessary information in a separate document that can be easily copied and pasted into the web form. The following details are required:
- Title of Proposed Research: Please provide a title with a maximum of 250 characters.
- Abstract: Your abstract should be no more than 250 words.
- Sustainability Teaching Plans: Write a statement of up to 200 words outlining your plans for teaching courses that incorporate or focus on green and sustainable chemistry.
- Sustainability Impact: In a concise 200-word statement, explain how your research impacts both the fundamental tools of green chemistry and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Research Technical Proposal: Submit a comprehensive research statement that spans two pages. This should include your significant research contributions to date, your research plan for the sabbatical period, and a clear explanation of how your sabbatical research and training will shape your future ability to contribute to green and sustainable chemistry. Please upload this as a single PDF file, with a double-spaced text body, 12-point font (Times Roman, Arial, or Courier), 1-inch margins, and numbered pages in the footer.
- CV: Please upload your curriculum vitae as a single PDF file.
By preparing all the necessary information in advance, you can easily complete the web form and submit your application without any difficulties. You can complete the web form and also submit your application using this link.
For More details about ACS Principal Investigator Development in Sustainability Grant 2023-2024- visit ACS.
Application Deadline
November 15, 2023
