EREF

21 Nov
by sofia
Forums: 
General discussion

Environmental Research and Education Foundation 

https://erefdn.org/research-grants-projects/how-to-apply-for-grant/

 

Countries: There are no restrictions in regards to geographic location.

Application language: English

Deadline: 06 January 2018

 

Grant size: Previously awarded grants have ranged from $15,000 to over $500,000 with the average grant amount in recent years being $160,000. Typical project durations are about 2 years. It should be noted that proposed research in excess of $300,000 or longer than 3 years should contain sufficient details that justify the need for the higher than average amount requested and longer project duration.

 

DESCRIPTION

Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) is currently accepting applications for the Sustainable Solid Waste Management Research Programme.

The EREF Board of Directors has set an initiative to ensure research funded reflects EREF’s long-term strategic plan to address all areas of integrated solid waste management, with a strong focus towards research that increased sustainable solid waste management practices.

 

Objectives

  • Unbiased, scientific reports and analysis on waste management practices
  • Scholarships for high potential graduate students and internships for highly qualified undergraduate students
  • Targeted research to expand industry knowledge and understanding of the waste stream from generation to final disposition
  • Improved public understanding of solid waste stream and sustainable solid waste management practices
  • Increasing industry knowledge through educational programs

Research Topics: Pre-proposal topics must relate to sustainable solid waste management practices and pertain to the following topic areas:

  • Waste minimization
  • Recycling
  • Waste conversion to energy, biofuels, chemicals or other useful products. This includes, but is not limited to, the following technologies:
  • Waste-to-energy
  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Composting
  • Other thermal or biological conversion technologies
  • Strategies to promote diversion to higher and better uses (e.g. organics diversion, market analysis, optimized material management, logistics, etc.)
  • Landfilling

Pre-proposals are now REQUIRED prior to submitting a full proposal using the pre-proposal template. All pre-proposals must adhere to the criteria noted and be submitted by the established deadlines.  Pre-proposals submitted in response to this RFP that do not fit within the topic areas noted will not be reviewed.

 

Desirable aspects of the above topics, in addition to or as part of hypothesis driven applied research, also include: economic or cost/benefit analyses, feasibility studies for untested technologies or management strategies, life cycle analysis or inventory, and analyses of policies that relate to the above.

Upon submission, pre-proposals will be examined by a selection committee and successful pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal for consideration. Full proposals will then be subjected to EREF’s review process, as described later in this document.

 

There are a number of topics that may require approval before a pre-proposal will be considered.  Investigators who would like to propose a research topic where the primary objectives relate to the areas listed below should contact EREF to discuss the topic prior to submitting a pre-proposal. To do this, please email a description of the proposed research that is 1-page or less to proposals@erefdn.org that requests review of the concept.  This request should be made 2 weeks or more in advance of any pre-proposal deadline.  If necessary, or upon request, the concept can be discussed via phone as well.

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • Non-U.S. Institutions: There are no restrictions in regards to geographic location. Any U.S. or non-U.S. institutions are eligible to apply.
  • Non-Academic Institutions: Proposals will be accepted from non-academic institutions provided the principal investigators are qualified to conduct the research.
  • Multiple Institutions: Submissions may include multiple institutions.
  • Who Can Serve as a Principal Investigator: Principal investigators (PI) must be qualified to do the work proposed and should be experts in the subject matter referenced in the pre-proposal/proposal. Typically this would include full-time faculty at academic institutions, post-doctoral employees, and principals or senior personnel at non-academic institutions.  Graduate students are not eligible to be principal investigators.
  • Multiple Pre-Proposal Submissions: Pre-Proposal submissions are limited to two (2) submissions per principal investigator during a particular submission period.  Beyond this, the PI cannot be listed as a PI or co-PI on other submissions that round, but may be listed as a supporting investigator on other submissions.
  • Repeat Submittals: Pre-proposals that did not receive an invitation to submit a full proposal may re-submit a revised version of the original pre-proposal once, and thereafter, approval must be obtained by EREF beforehand.  In the event a research topic is very closely related to a prior submittal by the same entity, EREF staff will make any determinations regarding whether or not a submitted proposal constitutes a re-submittal.
  • Overhead Costs: EREF will not pay indirect or overhead costs in excess of 25% of direct costs.  For non-academic institutions, the definition of overhead can vary.  However, typically this refers to payment that denotes a time and materials rate multiplier of 1.25.  Please contact EREF if your firm does not fit this model to discuss defining an appropriate overhead definition.
  • Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is encouraged, but is not required.  For clarity, any cost sharing should not be listed in in the “Amount Requested” line of the pre-proposal form.  Only the amount requested from EREF should be listed.  If cost sharing will be a part of the proposal, the amount of the cost share and where it comes from can be noted in the full proposal if one is requested.
  • In Kind Services and Additional External Funding: Because the amount of funding for research is limited, EREF encourages submitting parties to form partnerships with other funding sources (real-dollars or in-kind services).
  • Including Educational Objectives/Efforts in Research Proposals: Pre-proposals do not need to contain specific or direct educational objectives.