CAES Research Grants
CAES leadership strongly encourages its researchers to obtain funding from external sources. Faculty can work with grant specialists in the ISU Office of Sponsored Programs who will search for grant opportunities and facilitate proposal submissions. Faculty can also contact the ISU CAES Associate Director to identify potential collaborators from other CAES institutions.
ISU-CAES Internal Seed Grants
The ISU Office for Research provides seed grants for research projects associated with CAES Focus Areas (broadly defined), engender collaboration with colleagues at INL, BSU, or UI, and show good potential for future funding by external agencies. As described in the CAES Strategic Plan, Focus Areas include: Advanced Manufacturing, Computing/Data/Visualization, Homeland and Cybersecurity, Energy Policy, Energy-Water, Innovative Energy Systems, and Nuclear Energy. Funding is available for:
- Research expenses by faculty or supervised students (but no faculty/staff salaries or stipends).
- Undergraduate and graduate student support (wages and/or graduate student tuition).
- Travel by faculty or students to perform research and/or attend meetings and workshops
Proposals from ISU Faculty are accepted in late Fall and grants are awarded each Calendar Year. Recent grants have ranged from $10,000-$30,000. The most recent RFP can be found at ISU-CAES Seed Grant RFP - FY23 and a list of previously funded projects can be at ISU CAES Seed Grant Awards - cumulative.
ISU/BSU CAES MaCS Seed Grants
BSU and ISU offer Seed Grants to their faculty to conduct analysis in a CAES laboratory called the Microscopy and Characterization Suite (MaCS). MaCS has the capabilities to characterize a wide range of materials including metals, semiconductors, ceramics, coal and minerals in bulk or powder forms, as well as some organic cellular materials. Using state-of-the-art instruments including STEM, LEAP, SEM, FIB, and XRD, it can provide 2-D/3-D morphology, chemical information, and mechanical testing data from micron to atomic scale. Previous research includes analysis of nuclear fuels and materials, geological samples, feedstocks for biofuels, stainless steel alloys, ceramics and more. Proposals for grants up to $5,000 are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. A copy of the RFP can be found here.
INL CAES Collaboration Fund
The INL-CAES Collaboration Fund is designed to provide funding to selected proposals by Idaho National Laboratory researchers that would enhance collaborative relationships with CAES universities, in line with the CAES strategic plan. The goal is to establish and foster relationships between the CAES entities in research, education and innovation. ISU faculty can serve as co-PIs but not lead PIs for this program. Proposals from INL researchers are accepted in mid-winter and grants are awarded for the remaining fiscal year. The Collaboration Fund program is described in more detail here.