The Midwest Climate Adaptation and Science Center (MW CASC) invites proposals from faculty and researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to support up to three 11 month, 50% Graduate Research Assistantships (RAs) for incoming graduate students. Eligible incoming/current students are those pursuing research applicable and relevant to the mission of the MW CASC, and that have been admitted/enrolled in a UIUC degree program. Preference will be given to projects that align with one or more of MW CASC’s 5 current research priorities (see below for details). Preference will also be given to students with a strong interest in working with stakeholders and Tribal groups to create actionable science outcomes to benefit cultural and natural resources. The RA will be expected to actively pursue their research, maintain progress towards their graduate degree, and participate in MW CASC training and educational opportunities. For incoming students, this assistantship should be part of a multi-year award, arranged by the prospective advisor and graduate program. Each advisor may nominate one student for this award.
- Deadline: 5pm, May 16, 2025
- Email proposal to Amy Rosenbery (subject line: “Midwest CASC – iSEE Proposal”)
About the Midwest CASC
Established in 2021, the MW CASC provides regionally relevant scientific information, tools, and techniques to advance adaptation science and practice needed support natural and cultural resource management in the Midwest region. The MW CASC is funded by the USGS, hosted by the University of Minnesota, and administered at UIUC through the Institute for Sustainaility, Energy, and Environment (iSEE). The overall research priorities for the MW CASC can be found at this website, and the core management challenges being addressed by the CASC are listed on this site.
Guidelines for Preparing the Proposal
Proposals are invited from tenured/tenure track faculty and research scientists. The proposal should include a cover page with project title, and principle and co-investigator information (names, affiliations, and email addresses). The narrative of the proposal should be a maximum of two single-spaced pages (minimum 11 pt. font; 1-inch margins) not including references, figures, and tables. The narrative should describe, in lay terms,
- the problem the team or lab is trying to solve and the project goal
- the methods that will be used to accomplish project goals
- specific activities of the RA within the project
- how the work will help address the MW CASC’s core management challenges (particularly related to climate adaptation and the development of strategies to help with the conservation of natural and cultural resources)
- partners involved in the co-production of knowledge & actionable science outcomes
- expected outcomes and examples of actionable science outcomes that can come from this work that can help address climate change threats
The proposal should also confirm that the advisor (a) currently has funding in place to support this student’s research and graduate study for the remainder of their degree beyond this RA, and (b) will actively support and enable their student’s participation in MW CASC training and educational opportunities, if supported by the MW CASC. The advisor’s letter should also confirm that the student is either currently enrolled, or will be accepted into, a graduate program at UIUC in Fall 2025.
Additional required documents include (i) a two-page CV from the PI that includes five most relevant publications and, (ii) if known, a CV of the graduate student who will hold the RA appointment. NSF or other federal funding agency biodata/CV templates can be used.
The deadline for proposal submissions is 5pm, May 16, 2025. To submit, please email the proposal to Amy Rosenbery, with “Midwest CASC – iSEE Proposal” in the subject line. Applicants will be informed about final funding decisions by late May or early June, 2025, with a start date for funding of August 16, 2025.
Questions about this RFP may be addressed to Jeff Brawn or Cory Suski, UIUC representatives of the MW CASC.