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Pre-Award and Post-Award Services

Request for Proposals (RFPs)

Internal RFPs

• Faculty Research and Professional Development (FRPD)
  •  FRPD is a funding partnership between the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) and the 10 academic colleges. The primary objective of this program is to provide seed funding to individual investigators — to jumpstart larger awards and grants from outside agencies.
  • Deadline: Proposals for funding should be submitted to College Research Office via email, no later than 5:00 PM, on May 25, 2023
  • More Information: https://research.ncsu.edu/rdo/funding/internal-funding/frpd/
• Research and Innovation Seed Funding Program (RISF)
  • NC State’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), in partnership with the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology, and Science (KIETS), established the RISF program in 2010. The primary goal of the RISF program is to assist NC State researchers in developing collaborative interdisciplinary programs of strong intellectual merit that have a high potential for significant future external support from government agencies, corporations, industrial consortia, and/or foundations. Proposed projects should be high-risk/high-gain and initiate new areas of research or enhance existing research areas at NC State.
  • The definition of “interdisciplinary” is dynamic and the topic of continual revision. For the RISF program, interdisciplinary research is defined as “research that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more disciplines to advance fundamental understanding or to solve problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research practice”, according to the definition used by the National Academies. The term disciplines can be construed as meaning branches of scholarship (formal sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, applied sciences, design and humanities). Conceptual interdisciplinary research (the exchange of ideas across fields to enhance understanding) and instrumental interdisciplinary research (using tools from other fields) are both acceptable.
  • Proposals which seek funds to enhance scholarship or faculty professional development are not eligible for this program. See http://research.ncsu.edu/rdo/funding/internal-funding/ for internal funding opportunities that address these topics.
  • NOTE:  A minimum of 25% cost match is required from internal or external sources and should be included in the total project budget. For example, if $75,000 of RISF funds are requested a match of at least $18,750 is required, resulting in a total project budget of $93,750. Also, Single-PI applications are discouraged.
  • Deadline: October 16, 2023 by 9am via InfoReady
  • RFP: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fOFHJ-X4UWoGtLmuZ_Lw1tx9fdp_xnRe/view

External RFPs

• North Carolina Biotechnology Center – Translational Research Grant
  • The Translational Research Grant (TRG) program funds projects that explore commercial applications or initiate the early commercial development of university-held life sciences inventions. The technology must have the potential to solve a real-world problem as a commercial product in the life sciences sector.
  • Goals of the TRG program:
    • Transform basic research discoveries into product-focused translational research development
    • Generate data that addresses important product development milestones, addresses the concerns of potential licensees or investors, or otherwise de-risks the technology for a specific commercial application
    • Enable strategic “go/no-go” decision-making regarding further technology development or pursuit of intellectual property protection
    • Enable technology licensing efforts by the university
    • Establish goal-oriented partnerships between university scientists, product development professionals, and key stakeholders
  • Proposals will be evaluated on the composition of the project team, including a project manager, and the setting of relevant, realistic, and achievable milestones during the product development tasks.
  • Deadline: August 23, 2023 at Noon!
  • Guidelines/Instructions:  https://www.ncbiotech.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/TRG%20FY23%20Cycle%202%20Guidelines.pdf 

Important Dates

SREE & Honorary Awards

The College of Design has a Scholarship, Research, Extension and Engagement (SREE) Committee consisting of four faculty on two-year appointments. This committee serves as an advisor to the Associate Dean for Research, Doctoral Programs and Global Engagement on research, extension, and engagement-related scholarly efforts and administration. Two faculty members who serve on the University Research Committee also coordinate and provide input to the Associate Dean of Research, Doctoral Programs and Global Engagement on a regular basis.

Current SREE Committee Members:

• Helen Armstrong (Graphic Design and Industrial Design)
• Lesley-Ann Noel (Media Arts, Design and Technology)
• Wayne Place (Architecture)
• Gavin Smith (Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning)

University Research Committee College of Design Faculty Representatives:

• Deborah Littlejohn (Graphic Design and Industrial Design)
• Gavin Smith (Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning)

Recent Funded Research Awards

Faculty Member	Agency	Award Amount	Award Title
Prof. Gavin Smith	Department of Homeland Security	$1,737,016	RSL-FIMA-Mitigation Directorate Building the Capacity to Develop, Implement, and Manage Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grants and Assist Communities Adapt to a Changing Climate by Harnessing the Abilities of U.S. University and Institutional Systems
Prof. Helen Armstrong	Laboratory for Analytic Sciences	$32,605	LAS DO2 Armstrong – Design Support
Prof. Robin Moore	George B. Storer Foundation	$30,000	Early Childhood in Nature Publication
Prof. Kelly Umstead	Eastman Chemical Company	$18,000	Research and Conceptualization of Switchable Automotive Sunroofs and Mirros
Prof. Kofi Boone	US Dept. of Commerce	$92,669	Uplift NC

Current Select Funded Research Projects

*For full list of awards, please contact the College Research Office. A select list of funded projects is below:

Project Title: Pollocksville Floodprint: Implementing a Flood-Resilient Main Street

Lead PI: Travis Klondike

Abstract – The CDDL will provide community technical assistance and administrative support to ensure that project reporting and fiscal oversight activities are executed in accordance with requirements set forth by the grantor. This includes but is not limited to the completion of progress and final project reports; reimbursement requests and, as needed, the facilitation of payments made to vendors for professional services and project implementation activities per the approved budget. The CDDL will assist the Town of Pollocksville in completing the following tasks: draft and issue RFQ/RFPs; coordinate design reviews; oversee compliance of permitting activities; conduct site visits with selected vendors.

Project Title: Ross Park Nature Play and Exploration Trail Master Plan

Lead PI: Dr. Robin Moore

Abstract – The Southern Tier Zoological Society (STZS) proposes to engage the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) in a collaborative process to create a Master Plan for the approximately 30 wooded acres adjacent to the Ross Park Zoo with the goal of creating a system of nature trails and dedicated spaces for nature play and exploration reflecting their mission to promote awareness and stewardship of the natural world through education, conservation, and community engagement. NLI will facilitate a participatory design process leading to the creation of an innovative Master Plan that exemplifies best practices, informed by the latest research, supporting diverse outdoor play and learning in naturalized surroundings for the healthy, equitable, development of children and families. NLI will collaborate with the project team to ensure the Master Plan aligns with the Zoo’s education and conservation plans and will help create a phased master plan to guide implementation.

Project Title: Mid Town Water Front Park Study

Lead PI: Charles Flink

Abstract – NC State University proposes to engage with the Raleigh Appearance Commission to complete a landscape appearance assessment and design ideation for a waterfront park as part of the Walkable Midtown Plan (called Midtown Waterfront Park in this proposal). The City of Raleigh envisions a waterfront district and park that would reimagine Crabtree Creek and create a unique amenity for the Midtown District of Raleigh. The city has completed evaluation of the impacts to the Crabtree Creek floodplain, but currently lacks detailed ideas about the design development and programming of the waterfront park itself.

Project Title: Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Environments – Train of Trainers (ToT) Course

Lead PI: Dr. Nilda Cosco

Abstract – Early Childhood Outdoor Play and Learning Environments – Train of Trainers (ToT) Course is a North Carolina State University non-credit program developed to: a. Train future instructors / trainers and subject matter experts on the importance of early childhood outdoor play and learning environments. b. Train existing instructors and subject matter experts to increase their knowledge repertoire to include early childhood outdoor play and learning environments. c. Support future trainers to empower their organizations and/or communities to promote, develop, implement, manage, and evaluate high quality outdoor spaces for young children. d. Equip future trainers with knowledge, skills, and resources readily transferred to practitioners in multiple fields as strategic tools to achieve long-term, sustainable change in their contexts. The course will equip participants with knowledge, skills, practical examples, and content resources to support their confidence to promote the creation of healthy outdoor environments and programs in childcare settings. Collaborative mechanisms will be established with the funding organization to meet shared goals and objectives.

Project Title: Seeding Resilience in Princeville II: Community-driven Adaptation to Climate

Lead PI: Andrew Fox

Abstract – “Seeding Resilience” will convert vacant town-owned parcels to green infrastructure and community gardens. It will also employ local youth to build a recreational trail adjacent to a new farmers market in a park adjacent to the Tar River. This project is part of an ongoing, multi-faceted resilience engagement with and for the Town of Princeville, NC, the nation’s first town chartered by African Americans following emancipation. Princeville has been subject to repeated devastating floods. In this proposal, project partners build on their history of learning and cooperation with the residents of Princeville to implement a second round of community enhancements aimed at increasing resilience of property and people. The project incorporates lessons from initial collaborations that established overarching goals for the partnership: follow community-driven decision-making at every stage; move decisively from planning to implementation; build local knowledge and economic opportunity; and develop replicable strategies that address community environmental, economic, and social needs.

Research Initiatives and Labs

Our applied research guides key policymakers and informs how communities and products are designed. And compelling design methods like data visualization and virtual reality tech help bring important concepts to a wider audience.

Partner With Us

We’re always looking for unique partnerships in alignment with faculty expertise and partner interest. Through our work, we empower industries, government agencies and communities across the state, region, and the nation by applying smart, sustainable solutions in response to grand challenges.

For partnerships and further inquiries, please contact Soolyeon Cho, Associate Dean of Research, Doctoral Programs and Global Engagement at soolyeon.cho@ncsu.edu.