DER Weekly Newsletter, August 20th, 2021


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August 20, 2021

Past DER Weekly Newsletters

Weekly In Progress Report

Division of Engineering Research (DER) is here for you!!!

As a new academic year begins in the College of Engineering (EGR) we want to take this opportunity to welcome all new EGR faculty to MSU. We also want to take this opportunity to re-introduce the Division of Engineering Research (DER) to EGR and remind returning faculty of the services that DER provides to the college.

Through our team of experienced Research Administrators including DER Director (Alex Delavan), Assistant Director (Marcy Bishop), Research Administrators (Ziba Banafsheha, Andy Hazel, Krista McGuire, Robert Nelsen, Jennifer Sergeant, and Dennis Shubitowski), and student employees, DER is here to assist EGR faculty and staff with services and support to help foster first-rate proposals and ensure sponsor compliance.

DER is here to help, providing the following research-related resources and services to EGR faculty and staff:

Proposal development and assistance with navigating the MSU proposal process
Proposal budget development
Proposal compliance reviews
Weekly DER Newsletter containing new funding announcements, updates in sponsor and/or MSU policy and requirements, informative articles, and links to sponsor newsletters and notifications
Support with documentation and approval for incoming funding including gifts, Fee for Service, etc.
Assistance with Kuali Coeus (KC) and other MSU systems
Support with Export Control
Referrals to EGR faculty relating to their research interests
Research seminars and information
Support with generating reports related to research expenditures and other research related topics
Weekly In Progress Report

In addition to these valuable services, DER has developed tools to help streamline processes and support EGR faculty. This includes personalized secure network space available for faculty to easily transfer files to DER, as well as video conferencing and screen sharing functionality that is available during the entire proposal development process (including during the budget development) to help accommodate faculty who may have reduced time on campus.

DER is here to help you develop your strongest proposal. To begin simply complete your Proposal Processing Form (PPF) and a Research Administrator will be assigned to help you navigate the proposal process. If you have additional questions regarding other support provided by DER, or have specific questions related to your upcoming proposal, please send an email to proposals@egr.msu.edu.

Spotlight Opportunities & Information

Funding announcement for Amateur Radio Digital Communications

Since its allocation to Amateur Radio in 1981, Internet network 44, known as the AMPRNet™, has been used by amateur radio operators to conduct scientific research and to experiment with digital communications over radio with a goal of advancing the state of the art of Amateur Radio networking, and to educate amateur radio operators in these techniques.

Amateur Radio Digital Communications [ARDC] is a non-profit public benefit California corporation formed to further these goals. It does so by managing the allocation of network resources, encouraging research and experimentation with networking protocols and equipment, publishing technical articles, and other activities to promote the public good of Amateur Radio digital communications and related fields. We have recently begun to contribute funding to organizations, groups, individuals, and projects towards these and related goals.

Read more here

Establishing Seasonal Targets for Receiving Waters: Rethinking Wet Weather versus Dry Weather Expectations (RFP 5123)

The Water Research Foundation has issued an RFP to support research that can provide guidance on estimating compliance with water quality standards when discharges are primarily a function of wet weather events. This project should summarize currently available tools and key findings, evaluating the watershed pollutant loads and receiving water responses under different hydrological conditions and, based on those summary findings, create recommendations for wet weather target setting. Collaboration with a water utility is strongly recommended. Grants are up to $200,000. Applications are due, online, by 3:00 pm Mountain Time on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. An overview with links to the RFP is below. Please forward this RFP to any faculty in your unit that may have interest.

Read more here

Using Phosphate-Based Corrosion Inhibitors and Sequestrants to Meet Multiple Water Treatment Objectives (RFP 5119)

The Water Research Foundation has issued an RFP for a research project to strategies and guidance for water utilities on the selection and balancing of phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors/sequestrants, transitioning from one chemical addition strategy to another, as well as potentially discontinuing the use of an inhibitor/sequestrant while avoiding unintended consequences. Successful application of the resources provided will facilitate assessment and implementation of phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors/sequestrants that minimizes release of lead and other metals but also achieves a water system’s other water quality objectives. Grants are up to $250,000. Applications are due, online, by September 14, 2021. An overview and links to the full RFP are below. Please forward this to any faculty that may have interest and/or expertise in this area.

Read more here

Development of Innovative Predictive Control Strategies for Nutrient Removal (RFP 5121)

The Water Research Foundation has issued an RFP for research to fill knowledge gaps and provide a resource for WRF subscribers who are looking to utilize predictive tools to improve and optimize their control systems to not only achieve stringent effluent nutrient limits, but also to operate their systems more reliably and cost-effectively. Implementation of online monitoring and automated control strategies is an integral part of achieving process efficiency and intensification at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). Many control strategies currently in place at WRRFs are based on reactive approaches that require large design safety factors to ensure reliability in the absence of more advanced, precise controls. Implementation of modern data-driven, predictive control tools has shown promise to improve reliability of operations, with better overall process performance, and with an immediate return on investment (ROI). Collaboration with a water utility is highly recommended. Grants are up to $200K. Applications are due by September 28, 2021. Please forward this RFP to any faculty that may have interest or expertise in this area.

Read more here

U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) is currently accepting applications for FY2022

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) is currently accepting applications for FY2022 until 30 November 2021 from qualified faculty members interested in conducting research at Air Force (AF) Research Labs/Centers.

Visit our site today to review FY2022 Research Program Opportunities and start coordinating with an Air Force Advisor in preparation for your application.

The AFRL SFFP is managed and administered by Systems Plus, Inc. (www.sysplus.com) and offers hands-on exposure to faculty members (i.e., Assistant, Associate and Full Professor levels) at U.S. colleges and universities to perform high-quality and meaningful research at AFRL Directorates, Air Force Test Centers (AFTC), the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), or the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) during the summer months (May through September) for an 8-to-12 week period. Research Fellows are highly encouraged to bring a graduate student with them for the research period.

Research Fellows use the residencies for full-time research in the science, technology, mathematics, and engineering fields engaging in challenging research at some of our nation’s most advanced laboratories and facilities. Information on all aspects of the program can be found on the AFRL SFFP website at http://afsffp.sysplus.com. Interested applicants can find detailed instructions regarding eligibility, appointment requirements, the application process, etc., on the website and are encouraged to start applying early. All applicants who wish to obtain an AFRL SFFP fellowship must be U.S. citizens or Dual U.S. Citizens (See Eligibility Information Page for details).

Please direct questions regarding the program to AFSFFP.PMO@Sysplus.com. AFRL SFFP Program Office, Systems Plus, Inc. Direct: 301-948-423,

Spotting — and hearing — heart attacks before they strike

If heart attacks blared a warning signal, patients would have a better
chance of avoiding them. That’s the idea behind a new imaging technique developed by a Spartan-led team of researchers.

“We shine light into an artery where we’ve delivered certain types of
particles that can absorb that light,” said Bryan Smith, an associate
professor of biomedical engineering in Michigan State University’s
College of Engineering. “As a product of the release of that energy,
they can literally shout back at us in ways that we can detect and use
to create 3D images.”

Read more here

Digital tools for collecting, transmitting and analyzing agronomic data

Purpose: seeking digital tools for collecting, transmitting and analyzing data, and data platforms for measuring and predicting agronomic performance

Solutions of interest include:

Novel phenotyping and modeling tools for early detection and quantification of insects, nematodes and diseases or modeling tools for plant growth and development in response to abiotic stresses
Machine learning and data modeling tools that provide actionable insights and recommendations for efficient use of crop inputs, e.g. for soil application scripting
Precision technologies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, such as in-field chemical residue measurement
Artificial intelligence applications in active ingredient discovery and optimization processes
Novel approaches for yield estimation
Novel approaches for root phenotyping, esp. non-destructive methodologies

Funding: $5,000-$15,000 gift funding (amount is proposal dependent)

Deadline: August 31^st, 2021

Read more here

Sustainably protecting crops while preserving natural habitats

Purpose: seeking novel approaches and technologies to sustainably protect crops and preserve natural habitats

Solutions of interest include:

Traits that improve nutrient and water use efficiency or increase carbon sequestration in row crops, fruits and vegetables.
Novel approaches to optimize, identify and validate gene or protein expression, activity and regulation.
Novel approaches to discover and optimize native crop genes
Novel approaches to increase genetic diversity/variation in crops
Novel approaches for reducing insect and nematode damage or reducing fungal growth and symptoms
Novel approaches for increasing tolerance to herbicide applications and/or lower weed pressure
Controlled-release technologies for active ingredients and biologicals

Funding: $5,000-$15,000 gift funding (amount is proposal dependent)

Deadline: August 31^st, 2021

Read more here