March 17, 2008
New awards fund multidisciplinary research
kate.antoniades@rochester.edu
President Seligman has adopted the recommendations of
the Multidisciplinary Advisory Council, creating a $250,000 annual fund and
endorsing other initiatives to support faculty research that crosses
disciplines, departments, or schools within the University.
“These awards, in conjunction with the
University’s other initiatives that support multidisciplinary
research, will encourage collaboration and innovation and enable faculty to
take their work to new heights,” says Provost Ralph Kuncl, who will
administer the new awards. “We are looking forward to reviewing the
first group of grant applications this spring.”
To qualify for the Provost’s Multidisciplinary
Awards, research may incorporate two or more disciplines within
either one or two schools. Proposals will undergo peer review by the
Multidisciplinary Fund Review Committee, which is made up of nine faculty
members from each of the University’s six schools. The committee will
evaluate projects based on their potential benefit to the community,
overall significance, innovation, and other characteristics.
Among other materials, grant applications must include
a short abstract, proposal, and 12-month budget. (The maximum request for
direct costs is $100,000 per proposal.) Applications for the 2008-09
academic year are due to the Provost’s Office by April 15; beginning
in 2009, the annual deadline will be April 1.
In addition to the multidisciplinary awards, Kuncl
will oversee the institution of the searchable, editable electronic Faculty
Research Database (based on a pilot program at the Medical Center), the
Phelps Colloquium Series, the University Committee on Interdisciplinary
Studies, and other initiatives.
The report of the advisory council, request for
proposals, and application form are available on the provost’s Web
site at www.rochester.edu/provost/multidisciplinary.html.
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