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2022 Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC)
In anticipation of a FY22 FOA for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) from the Department of Energy (DOE), OVPR is modifying its past selection process with a goal of increasing the competitiveness of U-M teams in the national competition. This year we are partnering with schools and colleges across campus to provide an opportunity for teams to receive early feedback from faculty peers in advance of a Spring 2021 internal competition. Interested teams will not be required to participate in the early feedback process, commonly known as a “pink team” review, but they are strongly encouraged. We hope this step, along with an accelerated Spring 2021 internal competition will help shape and strengthen proposals, and provide teams sufficient time to coordinate with external partners.
Based on past calls, we are anticipating a general EFRC call (similar to the 2017-18 cycle) with up to three teams allowed to move forward. Given the potential for new priorities from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) and/or a new administration, OVPR may work with school and college leadership to reassess the institutional nominations if the FOA deviates significantly from past calls. Furthermore, given uncertainty in the number of institutional nominations allowed by DOE, we will provisionally select two teams to move forward during the spring competition. If necessary, a third team will be selected following a rapid competition in the fall once the FOA is published.
Campus Eligibility: Per guidance from DOE, we will not know more about the consideration of Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint as separate campuses until the FOA is released. Therefore, teams from all three campuses will be competing in the spring/summer competition.
Key dates:
- February 8, 2021: Early feedback materials due to OVPR (submit here) -optional but encouraged
- Week of February 22, 2021: Short presentations to faculty panel, feedback provided on presentation and other materials- optional but encouraged
- April 12, 2021: Spring internal competition deadline
- May, 2021: Notification of the two selected teams
- Fall, 2021: EFRC FOA released (expected)
- Fall, 2021: Details of fall internal competition releases (if necessary)
- January, 2022: EFRC deadline to DOE (expected)
Submission requirements
Early feedback materials
Pre-proposal draft of no more than 2 pages that outlines the following:
- List of planned collaborators and partner organizations
- Statement of the scientific mission of the proposed EFRC and relevance to past DOE BES Priority Research Directions (see recent BES workshop reports)
- Set of 4-year research goals that support the proposed mission
- Description of the research methods and approaches that will be used to achieve the goals of the EFRC
- Explanation of the potential scientific impact of the proposal research and need for an integrated, multidisciplinary research team to conduct it
- CV of the PI and other key personnel with particular emphasis on past experiences with BES and demonstrated international leadership in the relevant field
- Response to any reviews of previous EFRC proposals
- 15-min presentation to the faculty panel feedback (not due until scheduled meeting during week of February 22)
Spring internal competition
- Expanded pre-proposal draft of no more than 3 pages including the same sections listed above
- CV of the PI and other key personnel with particular emphasis on past experiences with BES and demonstrated international leadership in the relevant field
- Response to any reviews of previous EFRC proposals
- Response to early feedback received during the “pink team” review, if applicable
To receive updated information about the U-M internal selection process, please email UMORlimitedsubmissions@umich.edu to let them know you’d like to be added to a distribution list.
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