CTEMPS provides access to equipment for the advancement of understanding of environmental processes using innovative sensing. Since CTEMPS offers instrumentation that is not normally accessible, many times it is necessary to verify that it will perform as required for a particular application. In addition, CTEMPS seeks to introduce transformative equipment to scientists early in their careers to help them incorporate these technologies as they establish their research trajectories. To assist the community in this effort, CTEMPS has a pilot program, where equipment and support is made available for short-term installations on a very limited budget with the primary goal to collect publishable data that verifies feasibility. The Pilot Program is open to graduate students and PIs with preference given to young investigators.

 

   

Proposals are evaluated based on:

  1. Providing access to instrumentation that could transform the research experience of the individual or group (scientific merit – 20 pts plus 10 pts if graduate student led);
  2. Their likelihood of leading to scientific discovery using this instrumentation (feasibility 20 – pts);
  3. Likelihood of team to succeed (demonstrated ability – 20 pts);
  4. Linkages to a spectrum of educational opportunities (broader merit – 20 pts plus 10 pts if graduate student led);
  5. Addressing inequity in access to support (equity – 20 pts).

Instrument leasing and mobilization fees can be waived, however no other financial support is provided. Proposals will be reviewed and awarded by the Center Advisory Board. Prospective PI's are encouraged to contact the staff of the Center with any questions.

Proposal applications are now being accepted on a quarterly basis. Proposals are due by April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1. Proposals are reviewed by the CTEMPs Advisory Board with notification within 6 weeks of the proposal deadlines. CTEMPs staff are available to work with Pilot Program PI's to be refine proposal concepts, as well as experimental design review and scheduling. Proposals should be submitted in electronic form to Cara Walter.

Proposal Contents:

  1. Standard CTEMPS Instrument Request form
  2. Two-page document consisting of a project summary, and a numbered set of 5 paragraphs indicating the merits of the proposal related to each of the five criteria discussed above.
  3. References (no limit)
  4. Budget, Resources, and Schedule (one page demonstrating practicability)
  5. Curriculum Vitae

Data Policy: As in all CTEMPS projects, data will be made public two years after the delivery of the data.

Report: Awardees are required to submit a report one year after the delivery of the data.