The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) is pleased to announce that it will provide grants of up to $10,000 (or $15,000 for events of exceptional potential) and part-time administrative support as part of our Research Workshop Fund. The goal is to support RAMI members to organize world-class research workshops in Houston and/or at Rice University. RAMI is currently accepting applications from full-time faculty members at Rice University who are members of RAMI. Workshops are expected to promote the latest fundamental advancements and cutting-edge technologies in advanced materials, should provide a venue for your community to engage and develop innovative new ideas and concepts, should be leveraged to build collaborations and attract potential faculty to Rice, and, more generally, deepen the knowledge in the field for the participants. Ultimately, the workshop should bring the world to Rice and showcase Rice’s efforts and growth in this space. We expect to support at least two-three (2-3) member-organized workshops per year for the next few years.
The workshop topic should be related to at least one of the RAMI research themes given below:
- Next-generation electronic/photonic materials
- Energy materials
- Materials for environmental stewardship
- Accelerating/Automating Materials Discovery, Design, and Manufacturing
You can read more about the RAMI research themes here.
Proposal Timing
Workshop proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis, but funds will be made available and are expected to be spent within one (1) year from notification of the award. The request for funds should be submitted at least 45 days ahead of the event date.
Eligibility
Full-time faculty members at Rice who are members of RAMI are eligible to apply either individually or as a group. Priority will be given to organizing efforts that span different Schools, Departments, and individuals at different stages of their careers.
Funding Information
- The typical maximum workshop grant that will be awarded by RAMI is $10,000, but we will consider grants of up to $15,000 for events that offer and opportunity to have significant influence or impact on the Rice community.
- The funds cannot be used for faculty (summer) salary, undergraduate/graduate student research, postdoctoral/research scientist research, subcontracts, purchase of research equipment, indirect costs, and reduction of teaching responsibilities.
- Allowable expenses could include (but are not limited to) items such as: public relations/marketing work, travel support for speakers, prizes for best posters/presentations, meals (catering) or events at the workshop, rent of space for the meeting (if needed), etc.
- In addition to financial support, RAMI will provide partial (20% effort for approximately 2-3 months) administrative support for event planning and logistics and to support the actual event itself.
- Workshops should focus on research-related topics connected to at least one of the RAMI core research themes. Workshops supporting academic programs and teaching curriculum development will not be considered.
Evaluation Criteria
The proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of the workshop topic, goals, and projected outcomes to the goal of advancing Rice’s efforts in materials research and in expanding Rice’s national and global reputation in advanced-materials research.
- Potential to enable new collaborations, proposals, and research efforts in advanced materials at Rice University.
- The quality of the planned event agenda including efforts to attract diverse, world-leading researchers at all stages of their academic careers to Rice and to include representation of Rice’s students, postdocs, researchers, staff, and faculty in the same.
- Increasing Rice’s visibility to the broader research community, institutions, businesses, and other organizations.
- Possibility of building new partnerships within and outside Rice University.
- The quality and detail of the proposed budget for the event – clearly delineating what the funds will be used for.
Other Information
- RAMI encourages proposals for workshops that support advanced materials associated interdisciplinary research.
- Although not required, proposals with other funding sources are welcomed.
- Priority will be given to workshops held at the Rice University campus and/or Houston.
- Applicants are welcome to work with other Institutes, Centers, or Departments in organizing the workshop.
Application Procedure
Applications should be submitted to ricematerials@rice.edu. Proposals should include the following information:
- Proposed event/workshop title.
- Proposed event/workshop date(s) and location.
- Organizing faculty member(s)’s name, school/department affiliation, and contact information.
- A summary (~1 page) of background and need for the workshop, proposed workshop goals, and projected outcome of the workshop.
- A list of key topics to be addressed, potential plenary/keynote/invited speakers (both external and internal to Rice), and estimated number of attendees.
- A brief estimate of the number of sessions, other events, awards, etc.
- An itemized budget table with a detailed breakdown of costs and a short description of how RAMI funds will be used for the workshop. Include other financial details such as the event’s total cost, additional funding sources being sought or in hand, registration fee (if any), etc.
- Requested administrative support from RAMI, if any.
Award Requirement
If awarded, RAMI requires a 1-2-page report within one month of the conclusions of the event from the workshop organizers with a short description of the event, a list of speakers, the total number of attendees, goals and outcomes. A summary of costs and expenses, along with copies of receipts, should be attached to the report. RAMI should be acknowledged as a sponsor for the event – including RAMI logos on materials as appropriate.