Funding Guidelines

Bioeconomy Institute

Strategic Funding in Technical Focus Areas

Funding Guidelines

In its 2008 strategic plan, the Iowa State University Bioeconomy Institute (BEI) identified several Technical Focus Areas that are of importance to the advancement of the Bioeconomy and in which Iowa State is seen to have competitive advantage.

These Technical Focus Areas are:

  1. Biorenewable Chemicals
  2. Feedstock Production
  3. Harvest, Storage and Transport
  4. Thermochemical Conversion
Funding Purpose and Objectives

The BEI uses its funds to build capabilities and competiveness of BEI affiliates faculty members. These funds support activities and resources that will catalyze new interdisciplinary research teams and lead to large external research grants in priority areas.

  • Funding range is $10,000 - $100,000 
  • Targeted funding is intended also to help develop a “champion” for a research team working in a priority technical focus area
  • The use of BEI strategic funding is expected to promote diversity and the involvement of junior faculty who are affiliates of the
Use of Funds

Use of BEI strategic research funds is not limited to specific categories or activities. The intent is to provide critical funding not available from other sources that will catalyze significant new research activity.  For example, BEI is willing to provide funding for the following:

  • Enable a leader to catalyze large collaborative efforts to win external funding in targeted technical focus area
    • Buy time of leader
    • Support proposal preparation through administrative support
      • Proposals must be large and collaborative
  • Travel for PIs to coordinate with collaborating organizations, visit funding agencies, etc.
    • No more than 1/3 of travel funds to area leader – balance to co-PIs
  • Purchase equipment that will enable expansion into a targeted research area and attract significant external funding

This list is obviously not exhaustive or comprehensive.  Funds are intended to remove barriers by whatever means necessary and categories of use are not limited.

Request for Funding (i.e., Proposal Process)

A meeting with Robert Brown should be initially scheduled to discuss your research proposal. Please contact Diane Love by email, lovedm@iastate.edu, or via phone, 515-294-3759, to schedule an appointment.

Based on the outcome of this discussion, a brief (1-3 page) proposal should be submitted for further review. The proposal should include a statement of what is being requested and how funding will achieve the BEI Funding Purpose and Objectives outlined above. The proposal should clearly identify:

  • Technical Focus Area addressed
  • Participating personnel
  • Schedule of anticipated activities
  • Budget of appropriate detail

It is imperative that the request include a clear statement detailing how the requested funds will catalyze significant new activity at ISU and why the funds requested are not available from other sources.

Requests will then be presented to the SEB and funding decisions are made in consultation with the BEI management team. There are no proposal deadlines. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis and are reviewed by the SEB at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Funding decisions will be communicated directly to those requesting funds in as timely a manner as possible.  Funds are distributed at the discretion of the SEB.

Questions can be directed to Robert Brown (rcbrown@iastate.edu).

Download the BEI Research Focus Area Funding Guidelines (pdf format)

Obligations associated with BEI Funding (i.e., deliverables)

Unless specifically relieved at the time of funding, recipients of BEI strategic funds are expected to:

  • Identify and commit to major proposals to be written
  • Provide a mid-year report (written and oral) to the BEI Science and Engineering Board (SEB)
  • Provide an end-of-year report on proposals submitted and other accomplishments
  • Involve at least one junior faculty member in a meaningful way (to be identified in the proposal for funds and in end-of-year reporting)
  • Make available as shared resources any large equipment purchased with BEI funds. Generally such equipment will be housed in a common facility such as the BRL Building.