“Lightning Rod” Events Call For Proposals

College of Humanities and Social Sciences “Lightning Rod” Events

Call For Proposals

Proposals Due: November 1, 2015

Interdisciplinary Studies and the Office for Research invite proposals to host a major interdisciplinary scholarly event on behalf of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences during 2016. We are calling these activities “lightning rod” events—that is, events that gain a lot of attention on campus and throughout the region. The goal of such an event is galvanize interdisciplinary and, where appropriate, inter-college groups to tackle major research problems, and to share ideas with the broadest possible audiences, both on and off campus, and do lay the foundation for significant ongoing research activities.

We invite proposals for a speaker, colloquium, or other public event or series of events over a day or several days that would attract a broad interdisciplinary audience that would address “big questions” about the most important issues of the day. The topics are wide open, but should derive from the College’s strengths and should support its strategic plan. The event should also attract interest from the widest possible audience from NC State as a whole, from regional colleges and universities, and from the region as a whole.

Jefferson Science Fellows Program--Call For Applications

Colleagues, I believe this is an excellent opportunity for faculty working at the intersection of science, policy, international development, and society. Please share this with your colleagues and let me know if you know of anyone who would be a solid candidate for this program. Thanks!


I hope the semester has gotten off to a good start for you. I wanted to share an opportunity for some of your engagement- and policy-minded faculty. The Jefferson Science Fellows program was established to engage U.S. faculty in science, technology, engineering, and medicine in the design and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Each year, Jefferson Science Fellows are selected based on their stature within their scientific or disciplinary communities, their ability to integrate scientific knowledge into international policy discussions, and their experience in areas that are important to policy discussions and processes going on at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Fellows are selected through a competitive process and, if selected, spend one year at the State Department or at USAID. Their assignment may also include extended stays at U.S. foreign embassies and/or missions. Up to 15 Fellows are expected to be selected in the 2016 competition.

Drs. Jean Ristaino and Mohammed Zikry here at NC State have served as Jefferson Science Fellows.

The application deadline for the 2016 competition is November 2, 2015. Application information can be found at www.nas.edu/jsf. Please distribute this information as appropriate to your faculty, and of course please let me know if I can assist in some way, should a faculty member wish to apply.

Best,
Katharine
---
Katharine E. Stewart, PhD, MPH
Professor & Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
NC State University

210A Holladay Hall
919.513.7741
kestewa4@ncsu.edu

New Limited Submission and Non-Limited Research Funding Programs

The following are opportunities for research funding from various federal agencies, primarily NSF and NIH. These opportunities fall into two categories, limited submission, and non-limited submission programs.

I strongly encourage you to look at both categories. You may not be interested in being the lead on a limited submission proposal, but your expertise may strengthen a larger team's proposal, and I can help you connect with these teams. I am particularly familiar with the Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CNH) program at NSF. And one other note: if you see the term STEM in these announcements, remember that, from most funding agencies' perspectives, the social and behavioral sciences are STEM disciplines.

As always, please let Missy know if you plan to pursue one of these as soon as possible, and be in touch with me so that I can help. The announcements follow the jump.

The Research Office Has Moved!!

As you may already know, the college research office has moved to its new location, 2526 Hillsborough Street, Suite 102. This was the former Sir Speedy print shop. Contrary to rumors, I will not be the new "Sir Speedy."

Missy, Paula, and I are still getting settled in, and Joyce rejoins us at the end of the month. We don't have phones hooked up yet, but hope to as soon as today (August 7), or early the following week. But we have email, and are readily available.

While the bad news is that we're a bit further from the Dean's office and the main college buildings, the good news is that we're between a sushi restaurant and a frozen yogurt shop, so if either motivates you to visit us (besides the excellent service our staff provides for grant seekers!), feel free to stop by and say hi. We will have, very soon, an intercom and buzzer on the front door, but it will be easy to come in and see our new digs.

Yet more exciting is the Khayrallah Center's impending move into "our" space on the third floor of Withers. Akram Khater and his group are already doing fantastic interdisciplinary work, and now will have a home for Akram and his staff. The move will occur later this month, and I am sure that the college and the Khayrallah Center will announce when they've settled in.

We're looking forward to the beginning of the new academic year, and are eager to see you and to support your research and scholarship.