Faculty Funding

Open Funding Opportunities

WRRI-Urban Water Consortium PFAS Request for Proposal

The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) and the Urban Water Consortium (UWC) has initiated a request for proposals (RFP) process for applied research to strengthen the UWC’s response to and treatment of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) contamination in drinking water and wastewater across North Carolina. A two-stage process involving a pre-proposal and full proposal will be utilized.

The main purpose of this funding opportunity is to support research that can improve utility operations and analytical methods in a cost-effective manner as North Carolina utilities strategically prepare to address the future of evolving regulations, scientific understanding, and public perception. There is a need for accurate data that can inform future treatment options/operations and near-term decisions related to management and removal of PFAS. This is a call for applied research that will strengthen the UWC’s response to and treatment of PFAS, focused on the areas identified below. The Urban Water Consortium has identified research areas of interest in the following categories: Methodology, Treatment, and Education. Specific research areas of interest are included in the RFP document (linked below).

Eligibility

Faculty and University Affiliates of any accredited college or university (public or private) in North Carolina may apply. Out of state collaborators are eligible to be involved in the project as a co-PI, but the PI must be based at a North Carolina college or university. Projects may be proposed for one or two year projects with a maximum award of $60,000 per year. Student and/or post-doctoral involvement in projects is encouraged.

Schedule

Pre-proposals are due June 28, 2024 at 5:00pm EST. Late proposals will not be accepted. The anticipated start date for projects is January 1, 2025.

Contact

Please reach out to Kaitlin Tucker by email at ktucker@ncsu.edu with any questions related to the RFP or submission process. Please reach out to Mary Beth Barrow by email at mebarrow@ncsu.edu for any budget related questions.

Application Resources

• Learn more about the UWC
• Read full RFP details
• Read the full news release about this funding opportunity

USGS 104(g) Grants

North Carolina’s Water Resources Research Institute is accepting proposals for three separate 104(g) opportunities sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey. Interested researchers must submit proposals to NC WRRI by 5pm ET on May 20th , 2024 to be considered. Please let WRRI know at your earliest convenience if you intend to apply. Proposals will then be submitted by NC WRRI on behalf of the researcher.

The National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) and U.S. Geological Survey award grants annually under the USGS Section 104(g) Competitive Grants Program. Any investigator at an institution of higher learning is eligible to apply for these grants with research that focuses on priorities of regional and national importance.

We ask that all interested researchers provide informal notice of their intent to submit proposals by emailing John Fear at jmfear@ncsu.edu.

• National Competitive Grants (104g General) – #G24AS00536
• Aquatic Invasive Species – #G24AS00534
• PFAS – #G24AS00535

View more information and the 2024 USGS 104(g) RFPs on the USGS website.

For proposal questions, please contact John Fear at jmfear@ncsu.edu. For budget questions, please contact Mary Beth Barrow at mebarrow@ncsu.edu.

Closed Funding Opportunities

These opportunities are currently closed.

Community Collaborative Research Grants (CCRG)

The CCRG program is an innovative funding opportunity that requires research approaches that couple local knowledge with scientific expertise. Learn more about CCRG.

WRRI-USGS 104(b) Grants

WRRI issued its annual RFP for faculty pre-proposals and graduate student proposals for the FY 2022-2023 Competitive Grants Program. This RFP is sponsored by WRRI and the USGS 104(b) program.

Faculty may propose one- or two-year projects for the 2022-2023 cycle, with a maximum award of $60,000 per year. Student proposals are limited to one-year projects and a $10,000 maximum award amount. The anticipated start date for faculty projects is September 1, 2023. The anticipated start date for student projects is January 3, 2023. Start dates and award amounts are contingent upon receipt of federal funds.

• Read full RFP details
• Download the NC WRRI Guidelines for Data Management Plans Templates & Examples
• Informational webinar was held Aug. 23, 2022.
• Slide deck (and recording upon request) is now available
• Read the full news release about this funding opportunity

Mini-Grants

WRRI occasionally offers mini-grant opportunities, often in partnership with NC Sea Grant.