Texas Global Faculty Research Seed Grants
Developing a global mindset is essential to preparing the UT community to contribute, succeed, and lead in an increasingly interconnected world. Based on this assertion, Texas Global is committed to supporting exposure to regional politics and histories, foreign languages, literature, global arts and culture, and contrasting perspectives from different regions around the world to equip the UT community with the skills and intercultural understanding needed to make a positive impact and address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Program Description
Texas Global Faculty Research Seed Grants support faculty with peer collaborators at institutions abroad to conduct research that addresses global challenges. Applicants may request seed funding of up to $10,000 to propose a new research project with a peer collaborator at (1) a leading institution/organization with which UT has an existing partnership, or (2) an institution/organization with which UT Austin would like to explore development of a new partnership.
The program furthers the mission of UT Austin by:
- Encouraging colleges, schools, and departments to participate in a cohesive approach to internationalization;
- Providing funding and resources to support transnational research and outreach; and
- Building and cultivating international partnerships with higher education institutions, governments, non-governmental organizations, and corporations across industries globally.
Eligibility
The Texas Global Faculty Research Seed Grant program is open to all UT Austin tenured and tenure-track faculty members. It is also open to permanent researchers with principal investigator (PI) status for, at least, the past five years.
Application Information
Proposals are due April 15, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. CST and must be submitted via InfoReady. Questions concerning the program may be submitted to TXGlobalGSO@austin.utexas.edu.
Successful proposals will be announced by May 7, 2021 with projects beginning on May 10, 2021. Funds should be expended by April 30, 2022.
Proposal Narrative
The proposal narrative (five-page maximum) should include:
- A jargon-free description, suitable for public dissemination, of the proposed project and area of research, an explanation of the significance of engaging with a peer collaborator abroad to advance contributions to the field(s) of inquiry, and how it supports one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are outlined below;
- A description of how the proposal will (1) strengthen an established UT Austin partnership with collaborators from a leading global research institution/organization, or (2) support the development of a new partnership with collaborators at a leading global research institution/organization. The proposal should include information that demonstrates prior collaboration with the researcher(s) abroad;
- A detailed timeline of the proposed activities and how such activities will support the goals of the collaboration; and
- A list of expected outcomes of the collaboration, including how funded activities will support continued collaboration after completion of the activities outlined in the proposal. Prospects for continued collaboration should include prospective funding agencies and programs that can support future activities.
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG |
Description |
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1 |
End poverty in all its forms everywhere. |
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2 |
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. |
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3 |
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. |
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4 |
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. |
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5 |
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. |
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6 |
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. |
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7 |
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. |
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8 |
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. |
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9 |
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. |
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10 |
Reduce inequality within and among countries. |
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11 |
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. |
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12 |
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. |
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13 |
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. |
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14 |
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. |
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15 |
Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. |
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16 |
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. |
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17 |
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. |
Sample Project
A UT faculty member from the Dell Medical School collaborates with a colleague in the Department of Automotive Engineering at Hanyang University in South Korea to conduct research on the impact of artificial intelligence in driverless electric cars and their use by elderly and differently-abled populations in urban medium- to large-sized cities.
The team brings together academic and industry leaders to address the topic from various perspectives. Industry leaders in the smart cities movement, social workers, gerontologists, nursing specialists, medical doctors, engineers, and urban planners meet in Seoul to advance the research and seek solutions that support these underserved populations.
From theory to application, they devise metrics to assess user-experience. The project responds to a combination of SDGs including Good Health and Well-being; Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Budget
The budget (one-page maximum) should include a summary of how funds will support the proposed activities. Allowable activities, whether in-person or virtual, may include the following: hosting and planning meetings, sponsoring guest speakers or public lectures, organizing symposia, supporting international travel, and facilitating other research-related activities (e.g., equipment use, etc.) oriented toward the proposal topic.
Letter of Support
A letter of support from the most appropriate academic leadership (e.g., department chair, center director, etc.) at UT Austin for the proposed collaboration.
A commitment letter from the research collaborator. If the proposed collaboration is with a faculty member at a partner institution, please include a letter of support from a key administrator.
Review
Proposals will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Inclusion of all required application materials.
- Intellectual significance and contribution to the applicant’s field; and
- Detailed work plan outlining how the proposed project will strengthen an established global partnership or develop a new and sustainable global partnership and the likelihood of continued collaboration after completion of the project.
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of faculty and academic administrators who will make recommendations to the senior vice provost for global engagement for final approval.