Special Research Program

 The program of KAS Special Research awards is directed particularly to faculty in Kentucky higher education institutions, public or private, involved primarily in undergraduate education. Proposals may be for work related to the subject matter of any of the sections of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences. Awards are for one year. Funding for an additional year may be requested by reapplying the following year and competing with newly submitted proposals. Awards of up to $5,000 will be available as funding allows. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
 

1. Is the primary investigator a member of the Academy.
2. Significance of the proposed project(s) within the context of the subfield of the proposed work.
3. Feasibility of the project, given the resources available. And measurable goals that can be assessed to verify progress of the investigation.
4. Qualifications of faculty member or scientist and of students. Priority will be given to new investigators, including senior faculty who are initiating research in a new direction, over established investigators. Priority will also be given to research involving undergraduate students.
5. Encouragement and support from the local educational institution.
6. Well thought out budget design.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for all KAS Grants.

2024 Grantees
Adult and larval Culex mosquito susceptibility status to the insecticide fipronil
    Dr. Allison Parker, Northern Kentucky University

An AI-Driven System for Enhancing Interaction in Individuals with Communication Disabilities
    Dr. Nicholas Caporusso, Northern Kentucky University

Impacts of historical climate and land cover change on extreme streamflow events across the Kentucky River Watershed
    Dr. Christopher Day, University of Louisville

2023 Grantees

Effect of the Mutations on the Structural Dynamics of Potassium Channel Modulating Protein KCNE3
    Dr. Indra Sahu, Campbellsville University
Identification & Characterization of Phosphatase Inhibitors from a Plant Used in American Traditional Medicine
    Savita Chaurasia, Bellarmine University

2022 Grantees

Integrated Renewable Energy System for research and educational purposes,
    Dr. Zeel Maheshwari, Northern Kentucky University

Can Increasing Soil Complexity of Freshwater Wetlands Improve Carbon Storage by Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
    Dr. Jessica Moon, Murray State University
 
Variability associated with maxillary infrazygomatic area in the subjects with different race, growth pattern & gender
    Nandakumar Janakiraman, University of Louisville

Designing Practical Internet of Things (IoTs) - based Intelligent Air Quality Monitoring Systems for Livestock Producers
    Gang Sun, Northern Kentucky University

Urban Dendrochronology and Anthropogenic Influences on Forests Across the Urban-Rural Gradient
    Maegen Rochner, University of Louisville

Analyzing recent spatio-temporal rainfall erosivity patterns and trends across Kentucky
    Christopher Day, University of Louisville

    Archive of KAS Research Grant past recipients 2006-2021

Contents of Proposal:
 

1. Abstract (250 words)
2. Brief description of proposed project (1000 words). Descriptions should include:
   • Role of student(s) in research
   • Expected time-table for research progress
   • Plan for dissemination of research results
3. Letter  of support from the appropriate Department Chair or College Dean - uploaded as attachment
4. Project Budget - uploaded as attachment. The budget should  include the following categories:

• personnel support specified for faculty or scientist , not to exceed 1/3 of the requested funds,
• separately, personnel support specified for students, in accord with policies and amounts normally approved at the institution of the principal investigator(s)
• equipment to be purchased in furtherance of the project,
• materials and supplies,
• in-country travel, where necessary to the project,
• consultant costs

7. Brief vita for faculty mentor, not to exceed two pages, listing most recent publications and grants.

Special Research Awards allowable costs include:
 

1. personnel support specified for faculty or scientist , not to exceed 1/3 of the requested funds
2. separately, personnel support specified for students, in accord with policies and amounts normally approved at the institution of the principal investigator(s)
3. equipment to be purchased in furtherance of the project,
4. materials and supplies
5. in-country travel, where necessary to the project
6. consultant costs

Accountability: 

Grant Period: The date shown on the award letter is considered the start date.  All awards end one year after the date indicated on the letter. Grant recipients must be members of the Kentucky Academy of Science.  All awards are made to the institution of the faculty supervisor/researcher. At the close of the grant period, any unspent funds must be returned to the Kentucky Academy of Science. KAS Grant funds do not provide support administrative overhead or other such costs not directly associated with the conduct of research. 

Final Report: A project for which an award has been made is not complete until a written final report has been submitted and approved.  This report shall detail objectives of the research as actually executed, general description of methods used, results obtained, and a summary of the disbursements made by budget categories listed in your proposal. The report should not exceed six pages, exclusive of papers submitted for publication and abstracts for meetings.

Three copies of the report shall be filed to the following KAS officers, not later than April 15 of the year following the award: KAS Executive Director (executivedirector@kyscience.org); the Chair of the Research Grants Committee, and the KAS Treasurer. Contacts for current Research Grants Chair and Treasurer are available at the KAS website. The approval of future applications by the student researcher or the faculty sponsor will not be granted if a complete final report is not on file.

All Applications will be evaluated based upon:
 

1. Significance of the proposed project within academic discipline, justification for the project, innovation, advancing educational quality, and problem-based focus (30 points)
2. Feasibility of the project given available resources and major objective(s), methodology, plan of operation, timetable, expected products and results (30 points)
3. Qualifications of the faculty PI and any student(s) involved who will develop and carry out the project objectives (15 points)
4. Institutional support, equipment, and/or materials available to carry out the project objectives (15 points)
5. Budget and cost-effectiveness. Elements considered include the degree to which the project maximizes the use of limited resources and educational value of the dollar (10 points)