NSF Sets Aside $35M for Plant-Genome Projects; ‘Unconventional Ideas’ Sought

The National Science Foundation today said it has set aside $35 million to support plant genome-research projects in 2003. And it appears that the more "unconventional" and "high-risk" they are the better.

By a GenomeWeb staff reporter

As part of its four-year-old plant-genome program, the NSF said it has enough money to fund 40 five-year functional-genomics projects among three kinds of awards: virtual-center awards, for as much as $2 million per year; individual and small-group awards, for between $300,00 and $500,000 per year; and young-investigator awards, for as much as $350,000 per year.

The deadline for the first two types of proposals is Jan. 24, 2003; proposals for young-investigator awards is April 7. Funding decisions will be made between June and August 2003, according to the NSF.

Flush from a "recent infusion of funds," the NSF said these new awards will "support basic research" and "accelerate … new technology and innovative approaches to plant genomics." The agency is "especially looking for proposals that are conceptually new and different from many of the already well-supported ongoing projects. …"

According to the NSF, virtual-center awards would go to "large-scale collaborative research" groups; individual and small-group awards would support "individual laboratories or small groups of investigators;" and young-investigator awards will continue the YIA program that began in FY2002.

Click here http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/nsf02187/nsf02187.htm for more information about the awards.

http://www.genomeweb.com/articles/view-article.asp?Article=2002927125146