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Research Projects

Overview

The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) National Laboratories Office (NLO) has developed a multi-element program to help the Texas A&M System researchers:

  • develop collaborative ties with researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL);
  • execute the Texas A&M System and LANL collaborative research projects; and
  • formalize long-term relationships where appropriate, such as through joint appointments.

The goal is to increase the number and depth of research[1] collaborations that benefit the A&M System, LANL, and the individuals involved. A key strategy toward that goal is to encourage the Texas A&M System’s researchers to spend time at LANL and learn about the laboratory’s missions that are supported by research in their areas of interest. Spending time at LANL, establishing relationships with its staff, and learning about its missions and key unsolved problems greatly increase the likelihood of long-term funded collaborations that benefit all parties. This document describes the “Research Projects” element and explains how to apply.

Research Projects

The Research Projects program element funds multi-year research and development projects collaboratively executed by The Texas A&M University System and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) researchers. Funding levels are sufficient to support one graduate student and one month of A&M System researcher time. Applications with the following characteristics have the best chance of receiving funding:

  • Proposed A&M System-LANL researchers have a history of partnership;[2]
  • LANL leadership sees value in long-term relationship with proposed A&M System researcher(s);
  • The proposed research and development improves a key LANL capability and/or addresses one of its mission needs, and is in an area for which the laboratory has stable, long-term funding;
  • Project engages one or more graduate students with potential for LANL employment;
  • Proposed A&M System researcher, or researcher’s group, appears likely to produce a steady stream of graduates with potential for LANL employment, for the foreseeable future.

A typical research project would support one graduate student (GAR stipend, tuition, and fees) and one month of time per year for an A&M System researcher (typically the student’s advisor) for up to four years.  Applicants are free to propose different allocations of approximately this level of funding. Funding is provided jointly by the A&M System’s National Laboratory Office (NLO) and LANL, with the laboratory office bearing most costs for the first year and LANL bearing most for subsequent years. Funded students are expected to spend one or more summers (or similar time periods) at LANL under the supervision of a LANL co-advisor, who is typically a co-author of the proposal and co-executer of the research. Continued funding throughout the proposed project period is contingent upon satisfactory progress and availability of funds.

Expenses incurred prior to application approval will not be reimbursed. The application must name at least one LANL technical staff member who has agreed to partner with the A&M System researcher(s) on the proposed effort, agreed to supervise funded student(s) during their stays at LANL, and agreed to serve on the students’ research advisory committees. Reviewers chosen by NLO and LANL will select applications for funding in accordance with joint A&M System -LANL priorities, subject to availability of funds. Funded partners must submit annual progress reports, except for the final year, when a final project report is required.

Applying for Research Projects

Applications can be submitted via email to lanl-engage@nlo.tamus.edu by November 15th, 2019. The Review Committee will notify awardees by Dec. 2, 2019. Application materials should be submitted as PDF documents.

The application should contain the following documents:

  • Personnel description document
  • Proposal narrative document
  • Budget and timeline document
  • Curriculum vitae/resumes

with content as follows:

  1. Section 1 of Personnel Document: Texas A&M System applicant information –  Provide information about the A&M System principal investigator (and co-principal investigators, if any), including at least:
    1. Name
    2. Title (e.g., assistant professor)
    3. A&M System entity and department (e.g., PVAMU Math)
    4. Citizenship (e.g., U.S. permanent resident)
    5. Email address and phone number
    6. Student information: Explain how project leaders will ensure that students chosen for funding have the potential for LANL employment
    7. Pipeline information: Briefly discuss long-term prospects for A&M System researcher’s program to produce future graduates with potential for LANL employment
  2. Section 2 of Personnel Document: LANL collaborator information –  Provide information about the identified LANL collaborator(s), including at least:
    1. Name
    2. Title (e.g., technical staff member)
    3. Division and group (e.g., CCS-2)
    4. Evidence that the named LANL collaborator(s) have agreed to partner with the A&M System applicant to execute the proposed effort, to supervise the funded student(s) when at LANL, and to serve on the students’ research committees. This can take the form of an email from collaborator(s), for example.
    5. Description of previous collaborative efforts between proposed A&M System and LANL collaborators (e.g., joint publications, joint proposals, co-supervised students)
  3. Proposal Narrative Document: Describe the proposed research project and explain how it supports long-term LANL missions, “capability pillars,” or initiatives. Include the following sections but do not exceed 10 pages total (including references):
    1. Summary, up to one page (explains what is proposed and what motivates it in a way that a technical person from a different discipline can understand; explains what difference will it make if it succeeds)
    2. Motivation (current state of the topic area, with references to previous work, and why improvements are needed)
    3. Proposed activities (what will be done, what new knowledge or technology will be gained, etc.)
    4. Expected impact (how this will improve LANL capabilities and/or mission delivery)
    5. Roles (who will do what)
    6. LANL visits: list time periods planned for A&M System personnel to be at LANL (with understanding that plans may evolve)
    7. References
  4. Budget and Timeline Document: Provide a budget estimate and approximate timeline. A formal budget generated by research services will be required if proposal is selected for funding. At application time, only an itemization of expenses is required. For example:
    1. Dr. X salary support: one month/year (current salary $12k/month)
    2. GAR support: $2,200/month + tuition + fees; Texas A&M College of Science
    3. Travel: student travel once/year to Los Alamos, student lodging near LANL two months/year, Dr. X travel to LANL once/year, Dr. X and student travel to conference once/year
    4. Equipment: (list and estimate costs)
    5. Materials and supplies: (list and estimate costs)
    6. Other: (list and estimate costs)
  5. A&M System researcher curriculum vitae (PDF document)
  6. LANL researcher curriculum vitae or resume (PDF document)

Questions should be directed to lanl-engage@nlo.tamus.edu.

[1] In this document the term “research” includes a broad range of research and development activities.

[2] A separate element of the A&M System-LANL Research Collaboration Program, the “Development Fellowship” element, provides a possible avenue for establishing such a history.