The USAID Feed the Future Legume Systems Innovation Lab at Michigan State University is pleased to announce the Legume Systems Grant Writers Workshop and Seed Grant Competition.   This unique opportunity will combine a grant writing workshop followed by a proposal writing competition. A total of six seed grants ($5,000 each) will be rewarded for research in any aspect of the legume value chin specific to cowpea, pigeon pea, or common bean for work in any of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia. Application and concept note deadline is February 28, 2022. The goal of this event is to build the grant writing and science communication skills of partner country researchers.   See attached flyer for more details. Read more

The Discretionary Funding Initiative (DFI), funded by the Michigan State University Foundation, provides bridge funds for tenure stream faculty for additional studies needed for resubmission of an unsuccessful, but nearly fundable, grant application to the same program within a funding agency.  To request funding from this program, faculty should submit a proposal via the grant proposal system. Applicants will be expected to provide copies of their previous external reviews, if applicable, and describe the work that will be completed to address the comments provided in those documents. The research associate dean of the applicant's college (lead college if appointed in multiple colleges) will review applications, and submit a prioritized list to the Office for Research and Innovation (OR&I). Requests for support approved by the research associate deans will be reviewed by the OR&I. The maximum award from OR&I will be $25K and will require a 100% (up to $25K) match from units or colleges. Funds will be available for 18 months.   For more information or to apply, click here. Read more