Spring 2024 - Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering

Colleges of Engineering and Science Quantum Seed Grant Competition

Purdue’s College of Science and College of Engineering are pleased to announce $50K seed grants to support collaborative projects in Quantum Science and Engineering. This seed grant competition is held to help coalesce teams to pursue multi-investigator and center-level funding opportunities as described in the “Quantum Funding Landscape” Workshop. This initiative is designed to promote teaming opportunities for researchers pursuing major center-level funding and to encourage new collaborations in Quantum Science and Engineering.

Eligibility

Teams shall be comprised of a core group of two or three investigators. Any tenure/tenure-track faculty, research faculty, or clinical faculty member in CoS or CoE may serve as a PI or co-PI. However, no person may serve as the lead PI on more than one application per cycle, and no person may be a PI or co-PI on more than two applications per cycle. If an investigator is listed in a manner that violates either of these points, the submission(s) that was submitted last will be returned without review.

Program Application Process and Evaluation Criteria

The following categories will be used to evaluate Quantum Seed Program applications, which will consist of a 2-page application (see the Word template). Select application teams will be brought forward for discussions with ADRs to determine the teams that will be funded by the program based on the following criteria. 

  • Intellectual Merit and Technical Impact: Describe what high-level challenge is being addressed and how this effort will target a significant gap relative to other current efforts. Describe how the proposed research will alter the foundational landscape of quantum science and engineering (e.g. algorithms, modeling, new quantum materials, devices, systems, networks, and workforce development). The application must detail the complementary or unique nature of the future major grant relative to any existing external centers that would be seen as competition.
  • Strength of the Proposed Collaboration Plan/Seed Effort: Provide details on the complementary expertise of the PIs, their relevant accomplishments, and the preliminary results obtained through the seed funding will be significant. What are some of the anticipated outcomes at the end of the seed grant (e.g. in 9-12 months) and how does this help increase the chances for the team to go after bigger external funds.
  • Alignment with Upcoming Funding Opportunities: Seed funding should help major grant proposals in the future. As described in the Quantum Funding Landscape workshop, there are increased funding opportunities, for example, in quantum systems, engineered solutions, applications, testbeds and workforce development. Industry partnership could also be valuable.
  • Requested Funding and Brief Justification: Briefly describe how the $50K funding is used and provide main categories (faculty time, student/ postdoc, supplies, travel, workshop, etc.). Selected projects will develop an official budget in collaboration with their department/school and respective business offices.

Anticipated Schedule

Applications are due at 5:00 p.m. on April 9, 2024, with the initial down-selection completed in early May. After oral discussions in mid-May with the selection committee, final funding decisions will be made, and applicants will be notified in late May 2024.

Funding Support, Expectations, Evaluation of Progress, and Continued Funding Possibilities

In addition to the funding provided by the award, the selected seed grants will be provided full access to the ADRs in close coordination with the Office of Research. The teams will be expected to meet quarterly with the ADRs to provide updates to ensure that the team is being supported fully and that the team is making appropriate progress toward their proposal goals. Any failure to meet these expectations will result in funding being revoked. Assuming appropriate progress, additional funding and/or staff support may be available for teams that have a strong potential for center grants.

Application Submission Procedures

Guidelines for the preparation of the body of the application:

  • Use the application template (Word).
  • The document should be single-spaced and not exceed two (2) pages in length when using 1-inch margins on all sides and with 11 pt. Times New Roman font.
  • Sponsored Program Services should not be involved at the application stage.
  • The completed proposal including all materials outlined should be submitted as a single PDF attachment.
  • Proposals should be submitted to both Nicki Morris at morri333@purdue.edu and Brettley Ann Ross at ross63@purdue.edu by 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2024.

Contact Information

Please direct administrative inquiries to Nicki Morris and Brettley Ann Ross and programmatic inquiries to Associate Deans for Research Guang Lin and Ali Shakouri.

FAQ

Q: Can funds be budgeted for graduate student or postdoctoral researcher support?

A: Funds may be budgeted as determined by the proposing team to fit the needs of the project. However, teams are encouraged to consider using part of the funds on freeing faculty time to envision a competitive large proposal and execute on the necessary steps required to effectively communicate that vision to a funding agency.

Q: Is this initiative part of the University-wide center-level efforts?

A: This program is spearheaded by both the College of Science and the College of Engineering but intended to couple into a broader portfolio of University efforts to establish multi-investigator teams to compete in center-level opportunities.

Q: Can this funding support projects with investigators outside of Purdue University?

A: Yes, although, funding will only support researchers on the Purdue University, West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses.

 

Lewis-Burke and Associates Webinar on March 6, 2024