The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards provide seed money for research by junior faculty. These awards are intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty and result in new funding opportunities.
Funding:
Funding is provided exclusively from non-federal monies by ORAU. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant's institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).
This award can include funds for faculty summer salary, graduate student salary, travel, equipment, or other assistance relevant to the faculty member's research. ORAU does not allow overhead charges or indirect costs on the award from ORAU or the university match.
Eligibility
Full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their initial tenure track appointment at the time of application are eligible. If there is a question on eligibility, the ORAU Councilor makes the final decision.
The awards provide seed money for research by junior faculty at ORAU member institutions. These awards are intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty and result in new funding opportunities. The research project must be in one of the following five disciplines:
1. Engineering and Applied Science
2. Life Sciences
3. Mathematics/Computer Sciences
4. Physical Sciences
5. Policy, Management, or Education
Applicants are encouraged to develop research collaborations with government, private-sector, and other academic researchers.
Because of the close working relationship between ORAU and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Award Committee particularly encourages collaborative interaction with ORNL. Thus, substantive interdisciplinary research and inter-institutional research partnerships will be considered as very positive factors in the review process, and will increase chances for success.
Penn State Downselect Requirements:
1. A one-page abbreviated resume with a second page listing publications and/or presentations.
2. A two-page research proposal that should address the following:
- research goals and objectives and relevant background
- expected research outcomes and relevance
- research design and methodology
- competence of the applicant to perform the proposed research
- the available research facilities and resources
- a budget justification
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(optional) an additional single page of references relating to the proposal.
3. Department Head approval/agreement to match funds