Dear Colleagues,
An interdisciplinary and university-wide team (led by John Coulter and Dom Packer) is working on a fairly large-scale proposal for a new NSF program called Accelerating Research Translation (ART). We will be requesting $6 million over 4 years to increase Lehigh's institutional capacity to translate research at the university into actual use and impact in society.
We are currently seeking faculty-led proposals for Seed Translational Research Projects, which can be funded as part of the overall ART award. We seek projects that will translate fundamental research into real world impact – impacts that can be economic and/or social – within a relatively quick window of time.
Specifically, candidates for STRPs involve innovations that have emerged from prior fundamental research with a clear underlying analytical and/or experimental proof of concept that has been completed. Each STRP should have a justifiable path of achieving a prototype in an accelerated manner (< 2 years) that can be demonstrated in an environment relevant to the intended usage of the innovation. Eligible STRPs will be highly focused, with a clearly defined path for tangible deliverables, a timeline, and an exit strategy.
If Lehigh receives a NSF ART award, we anticipate funding four STRPs over the life of the grant – two in years 1 and 2 and another two in years 3 and 4.
If you would like to propose a translational project for possible inclusion in Lehigh’s ART submission, please submit a short proposal with the following components to Kate Bullard at vpresearch @lehigh.edu by April 15:
Part 1: Description of the innovative solution (e.g., technology, behavioral intervention) its applications, and its anticipated economic and/or societal impact. (<500 words)
Part 2: Assessment of solution readiness level with supporting documents on operational testing to date.
Part 3: Description of how you would use the funding to achieve specific milestones toward producing an operationally viable prototype that will be successfully tested within two years in the relevant operational environment.
- Each STRP can request up to $150,000/year for two years. Outline how you would spend requested funds to achieve your translational goals.
- Provide details on how customer/user identification, user-centered design, development, validation, and testing of prototypes for specific potential customers/users will be performed.
- Describe how this prototype development and testing process will be attentive to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- ART funding cannot be used for the purchase or acquisition of major pieces of equipment or instrumentation but can be used to buy equipment up to $50K and/or gain access to such equipment or instrumentation that can be shown as necessary for the activities of an STRP.
- ART funding cannot be used for clinical trials.
Part 4: Describe how this project will help graduate students and/or postdocs involved in the work become more adept at translational research. Include descriptions of specific activities that are likely to produce this outcome. (<500 words)
Part 5: Describe how this project will involve participation of individuals from underrepresented and/or underserved groups, and ensure an inclusive and accessible research environment. (<500 words)
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to either of us.
Dom Packer
Associate Vice Provost for Research In Arts Humanities and Social Science
Kate Bullard
Senior Research Program Development Officer