Background 

Grand challenges seek to solve big problems by focusing on innovation that makes a positive societal impact. The grand challenges facing us today will not be solved by one discipline alone. Many of the world’s greatest challenges require the integration of knowledge, methods and expertise from across science, engineering, the humanities, social sciences, medicine, and other disciplines.  Most often, these challenges require a convergence research approach.  

 
The National Science Foundation defines convergence research as “a means of solving vexing research problems, especially those focusing on societal needs.”  

Convergence research has two primary characteristics: 

• It is driven by a specific and compelling problem, whether that problem arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs. 

• It shows deep integration across disciplines.  

• Convergence research intentionally brings together intellectually diverse researchers to develop effective ways of communicating across disciplines.  

• As experts from different disciplines pursue a common research challenge, their knowledge, theories, methods, data and research communities increasingly intermingle. 

New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can emerge from convergence research as these new research partnerships adopt common frameworks and a new scientific language.  

Convergence research projects typically call for more resources than projects driven by a single investigator. However, funders often require that the research team provide evidence of its readiness to perform the proposed research, which can include previous transdisciplinary projects, joint publications by team members, or demonstration of the feasibility of novel methodologies. This program seeks to mitigate that challenge for Emory researchers interested in such funding. 

"How might we" is a design-thinking framework that can be used to frame grand challenges and other complex problems as opportunities for innovation. For illustration, here are several examples of “how might we” questions that other organizations have proposed convergence research projects to attempt to address: 

• How might we help to stimulate and revitalize communities in the city in a fair and visionary manner? 

• How might we detect and reverse protein misfolding in brain tissue to prevent neurodegenerative diseases? 

• How might we improve safety and peace of mind for individuals traveling alone? 

• How might we reduce the amount of Styrofoam in landfills? 

• How might we develop new management education theories to better ground leadership development? 

• How might we effectively prepare and support elementary teachers to teach STEM? 

• How might we ensure that ensure that litigants in civil cases have appropriate representation? 

• How might we use trustworthy AI to design and adapt clinical trials in real time to improve efficiency and patient outcomes? 

• How might we use genomic data of the malaria-causing parasites to better control malaria? 

• How might we increase access to human health services among remote pastoral communities? 

• How might we create an experience that is engaging and supportive for pediatric cancer patients and families while they are waiting? 

Purpose 

The Office of the SVPR seeks to spur convergence research and strengthen external proposals that will support the research team’s pursuit to solve vexing research problems with societal impact by providing the resources to formulate teams and ideas, as well as demonstrate success in early transdisciplinary projects that result in new frameworks, methods, and approaches and co-publications.  

This seed program has an explicit expectation that awardees will go on to compete for external grants that support convergence research, which may include NIH P- or U- series, NSF centers, NSF convergence accelerator, and other mechanisms from federal and/or private sponsors that can support convergence research teams. 

Award Mechanisms 

Two (2), 12-month award mechanisms are offered through this RFA:  

• Phase 1: Planning Award – Planning awards will provide up to $10,000 for planning, convening, and related activities intended to identify and recruit additional research team members, create a shared understanding of the vexing problem targeted, and explore how their disciplines might be merged in novel ways. 

• Phase 2: Pilot Award – Pilot awards will provide up to $120,000 for a research team to rapidly demonstrate success through a cluster of related research projects (approximately, 3-5 research projects) that results in early transdisciplinary success, creates new frameworks, methods, and approaches, demonstrates in the feasibility of novel approaches, and generates new co-publications.  

Eligibility 

The following eligibility criteria apply: 

• Proposing teams must include at least two Emory faculty members each of whom are from different colleges or schools. Although we expect that successful Phase 2 applicants will describe larger teams.  

• Regular, continuing full-time faculty of Emory University are eligible to apply for awards.  

• Eligibility follows criteria for “full-time faculty” as defined within each school.  

• Postdocs, Fellows, Adjuncts, and part-time faculty are not eligible to apply for funding.  

Submission Limitations:  

There is no limit on the number of applications that an individual faculty member may submit or participate in as long as the topics are distinct; however, it is unlikely that a faculty member would be awarded more than one award as PI, MPI, or Co-PI. Refrain from submitting multiple applications on the same topic with highly overlapping teams. 

Mature teams can apply directly for Phase 2.  

Teams awarded Phase 1: Planning Awards will be eligible to compete for Phase 2: Pilot Awards in future cycles of this program. 

Budget and Project Duration