C-DEBI Request for Research Proposals

[PDF version of the Spring 2013 C-DEBI Research RFP]

The NSF Science and Technology Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) invites proposals up to $50,000 for projects that are relevant to deep biosphere research and in particular complement the scientific program of recent or scheduled IODP drilling expeditions. These grants are intended to provide ‘seed’ money, and we strongly encourage grant awardees to seek out further funding opportunities as appropriate. C-DEBI encourages women and members of underrepresented groups to apply.
 

C-DEBI seeks to support deep biosphere research concerning life in marine sediments and the ocean crust. There are four central research themes:

1. Activity in the deep biosphere: function & rates of global biogeochemical processes
2. Extent of life: biomes and the degree of connectivity (biogeography & dispersal)
3. Limits of life: extremes and norms of carbon, energy, nutrient, temperature, pressure, pH
4. Evolution and survival: adaptation, enrichment, selection, and cell repair

C-DEBI seeks to integrate across these disciplines and encourages knowledge transfer and collaborations across different laboratories and institutions. Although proposals are not limited to these areas, successful proposals will clearly state how they contribute to advance knowledge in the context of these themes.

C-DEBI’s objectives include support of research activities related to the study of subseafloor life in the deep ocean, including analysis of samples and data from past expeditions; participation in upcoming expeditions; and field, laboratory, theoretical and synthesis studies.

C-DEBI has a deep appreciation of the specific challenges that accompany microbiological investigations and the study of biogeochemical processes in the subseafloor biosphere, and encourages research that addresses these challenges through approaches such as timely analyses of perishable samples, experiments with live samples, refining or adapting difficult sampling or analytical techniques, or applying well-established methods to the analysis of substantial sample sets. C-DEBI also encourages basic research on biogeochemical processes that will lead to better understanding of subsurface microbial activities, and marine hydrogeological studies performed in the context of C-DEBI research themes.

Proposed projects should be innovative and aim to answer current fundamental research questions and/or contribute to the development of new hypotheses and goals for future studies. Successful proposals will clearly articulate the relevance of proposed research for C-DEBI, indicate sources of samples and/or data (where necessary), and describe the qualifications of the applicant(s). Entrainment of new researchers previously not funded by C-DEBI will be a major consideration in the decision process. See the Grants Programs FAQs for additional review details.

Proposals will be considered for pre- and post-expedition research using samples and data, and/or participation on upcoming expeditions. Proposed research can also focus on theoretical, experimental and/or modeling studies of the deep biosphere in a broader sense, e.g., testing novel techniques for deep biosphere research, lab-based experiments with deep biosphere organisms, model development, or metabolic studies of growth under deep subsurface conditions. Fundamental studies of microbial metabolism that can be applied to subseafloor conditions will also be considered.

In addition to the general call which targets all appropriate C-DEBI research, the current proposal call includes a special focused topic for funding projects that involve field, experimental, or theoretical approaches related to an oceanographic expedition to the Dorado Outcrop. This expedition is scheduled for 6-27 November 2013 to explore for and sample from springs discharging cool (5 to 20°C) hydrothermal fluids on 23 m.y. old seafloor on the eastern flank of the East Pacific Rise (PIs Wheat (UAF), Fisher (UCSC), and Hulme (MLML)). The expedition will include multi-beam mapping with a surface ship and the AUV Sentry, and seafloor exploration, sampling, and measurements using the ROV Jason [more on the Dorado project and the NSF proposal]. Opportunities, including limited berths, exist for C-DEBI "add-on" science that can be completed without diverting significantly from primary operations. To avoid potential conflicts please consult with a PI prior to submittal. C-DEBI anticipates that a third to a half of funds will go to support high quality proposals on this topic.

Applicants who wish to use samples or data collected as part of IODP or other oceanographic expeditions must ensure that their proposed projects do not conflict with existing expedition-related projects (e.g., shipboard scientists’ projects). Proponents and their intended advisors should resolve this issue by contacting expedition co-chiefs and shipboard scientists before they submit their proposals. In this respect, it should be noted that receiving research support from C-DEBI does not guarantee access to samples or data that are not available to the community at large. Applicants for C-DEBI support are responsible for securing access to all samples and data needed to complete proposed work, and should provide evidence of access to the samples in the proposal, if appropriate. For the IODP Sample, Data and Obligations Policy and other sample and data access information, visit http://www.iodp.org/access-data/.

Proposals should include a cover page form (PDF form), a short project summary of 200 words maximum written for a broad audience, a project description of not more than 5 pages (font size not smaller than 11 points), a reference section, a detailed budget and budget justification including institutional overhead, and NSF-style 2-page CVs of all participating researchers.

This request for proposals is open to all interested researchers at US institutions able to receive NSF funding as a subaward. A principal goal of C-DEBI is to recruit scientists from related fields to deep biosphere research and to build a well-connected future community of deep-biosphere researchers. C-DEBI encourages women and members of underrepresented groups to apply.

The next deadline for this semiannual call is April 1, 2013.

Please submit your proposal by email, preferably as a single PDF document, to C-DEBI at submissions@darkenergybiosphere.org to the attention of:
- Rosalynn Sylvan (rosalyyl@usc.edu), C-DEBI Co-Managing Director
 

If you have any questions regarding proposal submissions you may also contact one of the four theme team leaders or the PIs of the Dorado Expedition:
- Theme 1 (Activity): Beth Orcutt (borcutt@bigelow.org)
- Theme 2 (Extent of Life): Andreas Teske (teske@email.unc.edu)
- Theme 3 (Limits of Life): Tom McCollom (mccollom@lasp.colorado.edu)
- Theme 4 (Evolution and Survival): Bill Nelson (william.nelson@pnnl.gov)
- Dorado Expedition: Geoff Wheat (wheat@mbari.org), Andy Fisher (afisher@ucsc.edu), Sam Hulme (shulme@mlml.calstate.edu)

> Read our Grants Programs FAQs to understand how C-DEBI proposals are reviewed and more!
> What research projects have been funded?