K-State is excited to host our first CoSearch – an interdisciplinary research competition around the grand challenge of WATER.  

Do you want to help our K-State water experts transform their bold ideas into compelling — and fundable — research proposals? Then we invite you to join us October 18-19 to help coach our teams in developing their research concepts, methodologies and designs into solid proposals. Your background and expertise will be invaluable to our CoSearch participants. 

When am I needed? 

You are welcome to join us for the entire CoSearch experience, with kick off at noon on Friday, Oct. 18 and the final party at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. However, we are asking for research coaches to support our teams on Friday from 5:30-8 p.m. (dinner served) and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. 

Do I need to have a background in water-related research? 

No, our faculty have the expertise in water. You will help them develop their expertise and big ideas into a proposal that excites investors and demonstrates an impact on our stakeholders. 

Interested in serving as a research coach at our first-ever CoSearch? Please email Susan Metzger at smetzger@k-state.edu as soon as possible.   

The Kansas Water Institute will host a unique workshop opportunity for faculty October 18 and 19, 2024, in Manhattan. The K-State CoSearch workshop will be an interactive and competitive two-day event where interdisciplinary teams will innovate water-related research projects, plan a complete proposal, and pitch their ideas to a judging panel. You are invited and encouraged to attend.

This intensive two-day competition provides facilitation for interdisciplinary research teams to collaborate and develop research plans that solve real-world problems. This year’s theme focuses on water resources, with a goal to break down academic silos to produce innovative projects that unite the programs and departments at K-State. We’re hoping that this fast-paced and unique event will create unexpected collaborations between faculty from different departments and will push your comfort zones in a fun environment.

Registration links and other details can be found here.

Attend lunch with a UDP 

Unlock invaluable insights for your academic journey by signing up for a one-on-one lunch with a distinguished university professor. This is a unique opportunity to engage in a personal, in-depth conversation with a colleague that has attained the highest honor K-State can bestow on its faculty Whether you’re seeking guidance on research, teaching or career advancement, this relaxed, informal setting provides the perfect chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, expand your professional network and gain mentorship from someone with a wealth of experience and knowledge . Don't miss out on the chance to build connections, expand your perspective, and get tailored advice to help you thrive in your faculty role. This opportunity is open to all tenure-track faculty in the first 3 years of their appointment at K-State. Sign up before November 1, 2024. 

Register here.

In today’s digital research environment, standing out and ensuring your work is properly attributed is more important than ever. The Office of the Vice President for Research encourages creating an ORCID iD for a simple yet powerful way to enhance your visibility and streamline your academic journey.

Why ORCID?

• Unique Identifier: ORCID provides you with a unique identifier that distinguishes you from other researchers, even those with similar names.
• Improved Visibility: ORCID integrates with a variety of platforms, helping your work reach a wider audience and ensuring your contributions are accurately recognized.
• Easy Management: Automatically link your publications, grants, and professional activities to your ORCID profile, saving you time and ensuring comprehensive documentation of your career.

Take a few minutes today to create your ORCID iD. Visit ORCID.org to get started!

Representatives from academia, government, industry, and nonprofits/private funders are keenly interested in examining how cross-sector partnerships can maximize resource investment for greater impact.

Last week, during UIDP’s fall conference, UIDP Board Chair Nerissa Draeger and I announced a groundbreaking new initiative to explore effective strategies and tactics for dramatically increasing the power of these partnerships.

The Strengthen and Modernize U-I Partnerships initiative is envisioned to revolutionize how the sectors collaborate (university, industry, government--federal, state, and local-- and nonprofit) by addressing four areas of specific need identified by science and technology leadership.

Learn about the focus areas and read the full article here.

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is seeking subject matter experts to serve as peer reviewers of proposals submitted to the recently released NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) solicitation. These reviews are conducted electronically via NSPIRES.

Through NSTGRO, NASA seeks to sponsor graduate student research that has significant potential to contribute to NASA’s goal of creating innovative new space technologies for our Nation’s science, exploration, and economic future.

If you are interested in serving as a peer reviewer for the NSTGRO solicitation, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/xD5riqwdZrqtQo51A. You can also access the form from the NSPIRES homepage under Site News.

If your skills match NASA’s needs for the review, and considerations for any organizational conflicts of interest allow, we will contact you to discuss further steps.

Participating in a review is a service to the community. Eligible reviewers will receive a nominal honorarium.

Please direct questions to hq-nstgro-call@mail.nasa.gov.

This fall, the Office of Science (SC) is transitioning to one SC-wide monthly virtual Office Hour to share information about our programs and provide opportunities to ask questions. Researchers at all institutions are welcome to attend and learn more about our programs; no existing relationship with DOE or the DOE national laboratories is required to attend. Research administrators are also encouraged to attend.

Office Hours will take place on the first Tuesday of each month, from 1 - 2 p.m. Each office hour will begin with a brief presentation followed by questions and answers on a monthly topic. After the presentation and questions, we will move to breakout rooms by program office to answer general questions. We will then move to breakout rooms by individual program office for general questions from the community.

For more information on SC Office Hours, including registration and upcoming topics, and to view slides and recordings of past Office Hours, please visit the DOE website.

The National Science Foundation is hosting a variety of office hours and webinars throughout 2024 covering a wide range of programs and topics. Links to register and more information for each series can be found below:

• STEM Education Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowships program Office Hours: September 16, 2024 - November 25, 2024
• Division of Biological Infrastructure Virtual Office Hours: August 20, 2024 - December 17, 2024
• Decision, Risk and Management Sciences Office Hour: July 17, 2024 - December 18, 2024
• ExpandAI Virtual Office Hours: April 15, 2024 - December 16, 2024
• Innovation Corps Teams Q&A Webinar: October 3, 2024 - December 5, 2024
• IUSE Office Hours: October 15, 2024 - January 7, 2025
• Human Networks and Data Science Program Office Hour: October 17, 2024 - November 13, 2024
• Science and Technology Centers Informational Webinar: October 17, 2024
• IOS Virtual Office Hours: Meet the IOS Program Directors: October 17, 2024
• Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation: October 17, 2024
• Information and Intelligent Systems Office Hours: October 17, 2024
• Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics: October 18, 2024
• NSF Webinar: Introduction to MFS-SPEED program: October 18, 2024
• Division of Materials Research Open Hour: October 18, 2024
• OCE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Office Hours: October 18, 2024 - November 7, 2024
• DEB Virtual Office Hour: Dear Colleague Letters: October 21, 2024
• R2I2 Office Hours: October 21, 2024 - October 29, 2024
• CISE Research Expansion Program Webinar: November 7, 2024

Following up on the sneak peek we provided a few weeks ago, we are pleased to announce that NIH launched the new NIH Grants and Funding website this week. Designed with the needs of the extramural research community in mind, the new site is intended to enhance your journey through the NIH grants process with a modernized interface and powerful features to make finding critical information easier than ever. We encourage you to explore the site at your leisure, and to familiarize yourself with the new content and layout.

Read the full announcement here.

Back in April, we announced that Common Disclosure Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support would be required for all applications and progress reports submitted in 2025, amongst several other changes. These Common Forms aim to standardize disclosure requirements and processes across federal research agencies, with the goal of reducing the time and effort researchers spend providing disclosure information to federal funders and ensuring integrity throughout the research process. We recently released a Guide Notice with additional information and expectations for applications and progress reports effective May 25, 2025, including the requirement that Senior and Key Personnel use an Open Researcher and Contributor Identification digital identifier (ORCID ID).

Read the full announcement here.

The Fall 2024 Frontiers Mock Study Section is soliciting letters of intent from researchers who are developing NIH grants for Winter and Spring submission. Mock Study Section will occur on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Kansas State University – Olathe campus. Investigators who are interested in having their proposals reviewed by expert reviewers should submit a letter of intent by Friday, September 30, 2024.  

Mock Study Section is open to all Frontiers’ investigators across career stages. Grants should be R-, K-, or F-series proposals, but may be initial submissions or resubmissions.

Full grant submissions are due Monday, October 28, 2024.

If you have questions, please contact our Biomedical Communications Manager, Heather Fielding-Gebhardt, Ph.D. 

Staff from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) will be attending various scientific meetings this Fall. Please check the meeting programs for more details as we will be hosting informational sessions/workshops at some of these meetings and will have a booth in the exhibit hall at other meetings. 

At the meetings (and all the time), we’re happy to answer questions about submitting proposals to NSF, reviewing proposals, serving on panels, rotator and job opportunities at NSF, and much more! 

Meeting information:

• 2024 NDiSTEM Conference (by SACNAS) - October 31- Nov 2, 2024 
•  Entomology 2024 - November 10-13, 2024 
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) - November 13-17, 2024 

The Kauffman Foundation has announced new grant opportunities in coordination with the release of their new strategic priorities: Grant types (kauffman.org)

Research Grants provide funding to design and implement or scale a research project that builds deeper understanding of our strategic priorities and focus areas, addresses gaps in our research base, and translates research findings into practice: Strategic priorities

Together with our community, we believe we can shift the landscape in three strategies — college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship — prioritized because of their anticipated power to advance economic mobility: Focus areas



In alignment with these priorities, we are seeking projects at the intersection of innovation and impact through the focus areas of essential competencies and skills, education and employer connection, participation and belonging, and equitable access.

Letters of interest open Oct. 15.

October 22, 2024, 2 p.m.

This webinar will discuss the benefits of collaborative approaches to protect the U.S. swine herd from emerging disease threats.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) supports research that improves animal health and welfare. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), supported by Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the U.S. swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data and targeted research investments. FFAR’s and SHIC’s shared goals directly address pork producer concerns and have resulted in several collaborations that identify, prioritize and fund research on emerging disease threats in swine. FFAR collaborations with SHIC have included a comprehensive approach to enhancing Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity, funded in partnership with the Pork Checkoff, and proactive investigations to prevent and prepare for a potential Japanese encephalitis virus incursion.

More information and a link to register can be found here.

Are you part of a research team with an innovative biomedical product concept? Are you ready to take that next step toward translation and need funding? Register for the STARTUP Central program by October 25, 2024.

STARTUP Central is an NIH-funded grant program featuring funding opportunities for proof-of concept projects. We’ll help you turn your cutting-edge research into a viable product or solution.

Awarded teams receive a grant between $15,000 - 30,000 and will be required to complete an online entrepreneurial education program called InspireU2 iTi.

We're seeking applications from faculty, academic investigators, researchers and students who are...

• Motivated to shift the research focus of your lab to foster a culture of innovative project exploration
• Interested in translating research to a real-world health-related solution or product
• Part of an existing startup looking for support with commercialization, funding and customer development

More information and registration can be found here.

The University of Kansas Office of Research seeks nominations for the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards. Late Distinguished Professor Takeru Higuchi and his wife, Aya, partnered with KU Endowment to create four awards that recognize individuals for their accomplishments in research, scholarship and creative activity.

Faculty from any Kansas Regents institution are eligible, and your assistance in identifying outstanding candidates is critical. Winners receive $10,000 in support of research activities.

Awards include:

• The Balfour Jeffrey Research Award in the field of the Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Olin Petefish Research Award in the field of Basic Sciences
• The Dolph Simons Research Award in the field of Biomedical Sciences
• The Irvin Youngberg Research Award in the field of Applied Sciences

Submit a nomination here!

Nomination deadline: November 1, 2024

November 13, 2024, 3 - 4 p.m.

This EPSCoR Live! will be of particular interest to early- and mid-career researchers.

In this session, Drs. Chinonye Whitley, Hongmei Luo, Lisa Cliggett, and colleagues, will discuss the EPSCoR Research Fellows opportunity, which aims to transform the career trajectories of non-tenured and tenured investigators through extended visits to private, government, or academic institutions. EPSCoR Program Officers will also facilitate a Q&A session related to this funding opportunity. 

Advance registration is required. Click here to register. Please use an institutional email address for registration. 

How to Submit Questions: EPSCoR Live! participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance through the registration form or by sending an email to epscor-live@nsf.gov. 

While real-time captioning will be available, requests for additional accommodations may be sent to epscor-live@nsf.gov.

If you missed the last event or would like to review the presentation again, please visit our EPSCoR Live! webpage. 

This past spring, OER and CSR partnered to present a 1-hour webinar, A Walk-Through of the NIH Grants Process. We are again combining efforts for an expanded, two-part, interactive virtual event – NIH Grants Process Primer: Application to Award – taking place on November 13-14, 2024, from 12 – 3 p.m.

Led by NIH experts, this event will cover key aspects of the grants process, available resources, and related systems. The content and interactive approach are designed for institutional grant administrators and investigators new to NIH grants processes. But anyone seeking a better understanding of the grants process is encouraged to attend.

Part One is an overview of the grants process, where attendees will learn about pre-award activities and resources – from application planning through the review process to award determination. In Part Two, attendees will interact with live demonstrations focused on NIH systems and resources. NIH experts will be available to address live and pre-submitted questions during both parts.

Topics being covered include:

• Roles and responsibilities of key NIH staff and key personnel at the applicant institution
• NIH grant application and peer review processes
• Application materials, instructions, and required electronic systems
• NIH resources to help you stay informed

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is pleased to share with you the nomination call for 2025 Moore Inventor Fellows. 

Inspired by Gordon Moore’s passion for discovery, this fellowship seeks to identify outstanding early-stage inventors. We are looking for individuals who are harnessing science and technology solutions to enhance scientific research, strengthen environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes of patient care. 

We invite you to nominate two individuals from your institution for this opportunity. 

Fellows will receive funding for three years at a level of $200,000 per year from the Moore Foundation. In addition to funds for the fellow, the foundation will provide $25,000 each year to the institution to cover costs associated with administering the grant award, resulting in a total three-year award of $675,000 from the foundation. As host institutions are required to contribute $50,000 in annual support of the inventor’s work, each fellow receives a total award of $825,000.

To begin the nomination and application process, please complete this submission form. Formal nominations are due November 15, 2024.

We are thrilled to announce the release of the 2025 Requests for Applications for the prestigious Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute's training programs. This is your opportunity to advance your career with our respected KL2 Career Development, Postdoctoral TL1, and Predoctoral TL1 Programs.

KL2 Career Development Program:

Letters of Intent Deadline: October 25, 2024

Full Application Deadline: December 20, 2024

For more information and to apply, click here.

Postdoctoral TL1 Program:

Letters of Intent Deadline: October 25, 2024

Full Application Deadline: December 13, 2024

For more information and to apply, click here.

Predoctoral TL1 Program:

Pre-Meeting Requirement: By December 7, 2024

Full Application Deadline: December 13, 2024

For more information, click here.

This is your chance to join a community of pioneering researchers and dedicated professionals who are shaping the future of clinical and translational science. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to drive your research career to new heights.

If you have any questions regarding the KL2 and TL1 programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to Holly Zink, Ph.D.

Request for Information in Support of the Implementation of the United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is requesting information related to the Implementation Roadmap for the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology.

In this Request for Information (RFI), NIST is seeking information about the following topics:

• Existing awards and recognition programs that the U.S. government and U.S. standards community can use to encourage and support participation and leadership in standards development for critical and emerging technologies.
• Ways the U.S. government and the U.S. standards community can educate and empower the standards workforce and business and technology decision-makers.
• Feedback on how NIST can best maintain an open dialogue and sustained communication with the U.S. critical and emerging technologies and standards communities regarding the ongoing implementation of the roadmap.

The U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology promotes technologically sound standards that help American industry compete internationally on a level playing field. It is intended to support and complement existing private sector-led standards activities.

The full RFI is available in the Federal Register, including information on how to submit comments. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Dec. 9, 2024.

Different exercise patterns bring health benefits

Many people do recreational activities like hiking, team sports, or bicycling on their days off. This can be enough to meet the guideline-recommended levels of exercise. Studies have suggested that this “weekend warrior” pattern of exercise may be as beneficial for people as spreading activity out over a week. NIH

Healthful diet linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline

A heart-healthy eating pattern called the MIND diet was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline or impairment. NIH



Finding critical minerals from scoops of sand

To potentially help boost national supply of critical minerals, which are crucial to both the economy and national security, Dustin Trail and Rachel Glade, professors at the University of Rochester, are collaborating on a U.S. National Science Foundation-supported project to find novel ways to identify undiscovered critical mineral reservoirs. NSF

No bandage needed: electrical impulses to major nerve help stop bleeding

A ‘neural tourniquet’ increases blood-clot stability in human tests. nature

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