Deadline: 4-Jan-23
DHS S&T Office of University Program (OUP) is requesting applications for the Scientific Leadership Awards (SLAs) from accredited U.S. colleges and universities defined as minority institutions and other minority serving institutions by § 365(3) of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
Through the SLA program, S&T aims to support the ability of MSIs to learn techniques, build capacity, and connect with various organizations conducting business in or directly supporting HS mission areas. These institutions will enhance STEM programs to increase the pool of culturally, geographically, and ethnically diverse multidisciplinary job applicants who possess highly desired skills and competencies in areas of critical needs to the HSE. Operational topics of interest, as related to the scientific domains of the HSE, include but not limited to: applied qualitative and quantitative analysis; arctic domain awareness; border security, trade, and immigration, countering biothreats in supply chains; cybersecurity, infrastructure protection and resilience; quantum computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning; law enforcement investigations; maritime domain awareness; natural hazards and resilience; homeland security technology transition; transportation security and screening; and terrorism prevention.
Objectives
- Based upon the Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024 | Homeland Security (dhs.gov), the SLA program mission objectives are:
- Recruit 2-year and 4-year postsecondary students to participate in opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to HS challenges through experiential learning.
- Build MSI research capacity in HSE topics and foster their ability to compete for ongoing funding and development.
- Develop and maintain a highly qualified, diverse, and reflective student population equipped to support the DHS mission.
- Work towards developing innovative approaches and effective solutions to challenges faced by the HSE.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
- Award Floor: $1,000,000
- Period of Performance: Up to 72 months from start date
Awarded institutions will:
- Provide opportunities for students and faculty to engage in research projects addressing Homeland Security (HS) research areas.
- Consistently engage with DHS S&T and the DHS Centers of Excellence (COEs) to ensure that the program is effectively building the next generation workforce that will support the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE).
- Develop innovative programs to experiential learning activities with government, academia, and the private sector for students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and faculty.
- Engage with community colleges to identify the academic strengths of their local MSI communities and promote pathways toward STEM degree completion and transition from 2-year to 4-year institutions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public & State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Successful applicants will be from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal College or Universities (TCUs) and other minority serving institutions to include Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions(NASNTI), Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs) as defined by § 365(3) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) (20 U.S.C. § 1067k (3)). Institutions must possess the capability to develop an enduring program of undergraduate education and relevant HSE research and development. Institutions must also be able to partner with a community college to provide research experience to its faculty and students, the capability to develop a pathway for students to transition from 2-year to 4-year degrees in HS-related fields, and the means to collaborate with existing DHS COEs.
- Proposals may be submitted only by accredited ANNH, AANAPISI, HBCU, HSI, NASNTI, PBI, or TCU academic institutions in the U.S., its territories or possessions,and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; these institutions must award bachelors’ degrees in STEM fields. DHS will only fund one award to an eligible institution.
- Other Eligibility Criteria Early Career Faculty Members Proposals must include significant involvement of early-career faculty with interest in HSE and connectivity to DHS operations or partners. Faculty should be empowered to develop courses and curricula pertinent to HSE operations, research focused internship opportunities, or other programs to advance the capabilities of the institution in HS research. Additionally, early career faculty members are encouraged to become involved in HSE-related research projects. Opportunities to collaborate with other researchers at COEs, Federally Funded Research Development Centers (FFRDCs), the private sector or other HSE research partners that are involved in the development of technologies, research, and other scientific contributions related to the HS mission should be provided to early career faculty members.
- Early-career faculty (also referred to as young investigators or junior faculty) should have received their Ph.D. or Masters’ Degree within seven years prior to the application deadline and be no more than five years in their current position. Supported early-career faculty must commit to the grant recipient institution for the duration of the award. Institutions that do not have qualified early-career faculty, but plan to attract them, must have them under contract by the time of award and submit the required letter of departmental support. Other faculty may be included in the proposal as well. However, the early career faculty must have a significant financially compensated role in the proposal. Since researchers are vetted employees of their respective institutions, they are not required to be US citizens.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=344370