Ohio Water Resources Center Seeks Research Pre-Proposals to Address Water Resources Issues in Ohio

The Ohio Water Resources Center (WRC) is seeking research pre-proposals to address current water resources issues in the State of Ohio. This annual competition for in-state researchers is made possible through the Water Resources Research Institute 104(b) Program. The aim of these grants is to stimulate water-related research relevant to Ohio to the point where a highly competitive external proposal can be developed. 

The Ohio WRC will accept any pre-proposal related to Ohio water resources issues but expects to give priority to proposals that address water technology, water resilience and security and emerging issues. Projects that also incorporate concepts of water equity — such as identifying causes and impacts of water-related disparities, developing or evaluating tools or strategies to improve water quality or evaluate environmental justice or providing scientific information to benefit underserved communities — are also sought. View a list of previously funded proposals here.

Researchers involved in funded projects with an equity focus will be invited to join a regional working group coordinated by the Water Resources Research Institutes in the Great Lakes region. The working group will organize member-driven activities that may include but are not limited to grant development workshops, conference special sessions, mini-conferences, special issue journal proposals and coordinated communications to amplify research impacts. Funding of up to $1000 for these activities will be provided directly by the Ohio WRC and should not be included in the project budget. 

Any investigator with principal investigator (PI) status at an institution of higher learning in Ohio is eligible to apply. An applicant may serve as a PI on only one proposal, but participation as a co-PI on proposals is unlimited. Strong preference will be given to investigators early in their careers. Graduate and/or undergraduate student support is expected to be a component of each proposal.

The application deadline for Ohio pre-proposals is 11:59 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Pre-proposal decisions and an invitation to submit a full proposal will be announced the week of Oct. 31, 2022. Full proposals will be due Dec. 15, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. and funding decisions are expected the week of March 13, 2023. Funding is anticipated to begin on Sept. 1, 2023. 

Click here for the official request for proposals announcement and detailed instructions.

For questions regarding the grant opportunity, please contact Ohio WRC Co-Directors Dr. John Lenhart (phone: 614-688-8157; e-mail: lenhart.49@osu.edu) and Dr. Linda Weavers (phone: 614-292-4061; e-mail: weavers.1@osu.edu).