Woods Hole Sea Grant Biennial Request for Proposals
Funding Cycle: February 1, 2024 –January 31, 2026
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant (WHOI Sea Grant) requests proposals for two-year projects from investigators at academic, research and educational institutions throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Funded projects will fill information gaps or provide innovative solutions to pressing coastal issues in Massachusetts.
Important dates
- Pre-proposal deadline: Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 4:30 pm Eastern Time
- Full proposal deadline: Friday, April 28, 2023, 4:30 pm Eastern Time
* Note: Only those who submitted pre-proposals may submit full proposals. - Informational webinars: November 30, 2022 at 2 pm and December 14, 2022 at 2 pm (see Q&A summary in sidebar)
Anticipated funding
Depending on availability of funds, approximately $1 million will be available to support 4-6 research projects during the two-year funding period. Sea Grant proposals require a match of $1 of non-federal funds for every $2 of federal funds requested.
Eligibility
Lead Principal Investigators for proposed projects must be staff or faculty at any public or private research or higher educational institution within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Investigators that do not submit a pre-proposal are not eligible to submit a full proposal. Proposed research must occur primarily within Massachusetts and/or Massachusetts state waters and adjacent federal waters. See RFP for full eligibility requirements.
Program and Focus Area Priorities
For the 2024-2025 research competition, WHOI Sea Grant solicits proposals that directly address the one or more of the focus areas and program goals described in WHOI Sea Grant's Strategic Plan. Priority research topics associated with management challenges faced by Massachusetts communities are listed in bullet form below, although research projects on other emerging themes that fit the focus areas are also welcome.
Priority research topics
Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
- Interactions between climate change, coastal water quality, and ecosystem response to eutrophication
- Range shifts/expansions of marine flora and fauna
- Identifying mechanisms or technologies to facilitate or incentivize ecosystem conservation and restoration
Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Diversifying and expanding aquaculture and fisheries opportunities
- Technology development that fosters expansion of sustainable aquaculture practices while reducing interactions with wildlife.
- Resiliency of commercial or recreational fisheries and/or aquaculture to: 1) changes in market conditions; and/or 2) stressors such as climate change, water quality, or fishing effort
Resilient Communities and Economies
- Exploring economic feasibility and social acceptance of adaptation methods to coastal hazards
- Coastal wetlands: factors affecting their resilience, ecosystem service valuation, and/or facilitating adaptation to climate change related impacts
- Green infrastructure as a strategy to protect shorelines and reduce coastal erosion
Cross-cutting themes
The following cross-cutting themes will also be considered:
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility
- Climate Change
- Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development