Calling All Researchers: 2022 Competitive Grants open for application
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is currently requesting proposals to receive grants for the Fiscal Year 2022 to support research on state and regional water problems.
On Mar. 15, 2022, the USGS announced three distinct funding opportunities on their website: National Competitive Grants (General), Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Per-and Polyfluoroalky Substances (PFAS).
One of the key actions of the Water Resources Act Program, a Federal-State partnership authorized by the Water Resources Act of 1984, is the arrangement for competitive grants to be awarded under the Water Resources Research Act. The USGS collaborates with the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) — an organization of state water resources research institutes (WRRI) authorized by the Act — to support and facilitate research through these grants.
Each year, the USGS, in cooperation with the WRRI, issues a call for research proposals under the National Competitive (104g) Grants focusing on regional and interstate water problems or issues related to a specific program priority identified by the Secretary of the Interior.
The goals of the National Competitive Grants programs include encouraging collaboration between the USGS and university scientists in research on substantial national and water resources issues, promoting the distribution of research results from projects funded under the program and assisting in the training of scientists in water resources.
This year, the AIS grants focus on supporting research on the real and growing impact of numerous aquatic invasive species on water quality and quantity in the Upper Mississippi Basin. Furthermore, the PFAS grants support research on the challenges and opportunities of understanding the impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on water resources.
All applications will be submitted by the Institute Directors for each state water resources research institute. Only faculty members or affiliates at universities/colleges in the said state may submit project proposals to the State Water Institutes/Centers.
Please note the May 10 deadline listed on the USGS website is for institutes, such as the Ohio Water Resources Center (WRC), to apply. For Ohio investigators, project proposals must be submitted via email to the Ohio WRC (ohiowrc@osu.edu) by Apr. 25 at 5 p.m. If planning to apply, researchers are encouraged to submit an optional Letter of Intent by Apr. 8 at 5 p.m. that includes a tentative proposal title and indicates to which opportunity they plan to apply.
USGS/NIWR FY2022 National Grants Proposal Preparation slides
Great Lakes Region Contacts for USGS National Competitive Grants