New Faculty Seed Grant Program
Monday, October 21st
1:00pm – 2:00pm
VBR 305
We will hear from three previous awardees. They will discuss their research, how the seed funds helped, and how it projected their research to obtain another grant. Following the presentations, stay for the annual informational session in which the program coordinator will present more information about the New Faculty Seed Grant program and answer your questions.
Dr. Idil Akin was a NFSG recipient in 2018. See how she has utilized the seed funds to open endless opportunities.
- Dr. Idil Akin’s project: Strength and stiffness of the soil are the two most important parameters in the design and analysis of geotechnical engineering structures (e.g., foundations, pavements, natural and man-made slopes, etc.). The traditional framework that is used in geotechnical engineering practice to determine the mechanical soil behavior is based on the assumption that the soil is fully saturated with water. This study is a step to develop a new framework to quantify mechanical behavior of soils in the entire range of saturation (i.e., form 0 to 100%). Soil stiffness is measured through resilient modulus and shear modulus tests in the entire range of saturation. The change in soil stiffness with saturation is explained through the change in internal stress components (i.e., adsorptive and capillary components) with saturation.
Dr. Jason Wu was a NFSG recipient in 2017. Learn how Dr. Wu used the New Faculty Seed Grant to prepare for another grant.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 7 men, and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Despite early detection and a wide spectrum of primary tumor interventions, nearly 30,000 yearly deaths from prostate cancer still occur in America. These facts highlight the unmet clinical need for new mechanism-based therapies to effectively treat prostate cancer and improve patient survival. Our studies will provide new fundamental knowledge of the molecular basis of prostate cancer development in the microenvironmental context, laying the foundations for new single or combination therapies capable of rapid clinical translation to treat prostate cancer.
Dr. Joy Winuthayanon was a NFSG recipient in 2016. Discover how the New Faculty Seed Grant propelled her career.
- Dr. Winuthayanon’s project: Millions of infertile couples worldwide pursue assisted reproductive technology (such as in vitro fertilization or IVF) per year and it costs more than $10K per IVF treatment cycle. Unfortunately, IVF is not an answer for everyone as the cause of infertility remains unclear for 20-30% of the infertile couples. Our research project will provide basic knowledge regarding how female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) control the cells that line the female reproductive tract.
The New Faculty Seed Grant program encourages new, junior level faculty to develop research, scholarly, or creative programs
The Office of Research and Office of the Provost support the annual New Faculty Seed Grants to help junior faculty develop research, scholarly, or creative programs that lead to sustained professional development and extramural funding. This program supports projects that will significantly contribute to the PI’s long range goals by kick-starting a more complex project or idea. Projects with a strong potential to lead to significant external funding and/or PI portfolio development are encouraged.
The 2020 application cycle begins November 1. A Notice of Intent is required and must be submitted by 5pm December 6, 2019 in order to be considered for this program. Full proposals are due February 14, 2020 by 5pm.
RFP: The 2020 Guidelines and Application will be available in the fall. Feel free to review the 2019_Seed Grant Guidelines and Application. If you have any questions concerning the guidelines, proposal or review process, please contact the program coordinator: Emily Brashear at or.orap@wsu.edu.
View previous recipients research here.
