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Research Projects

Research Projects

The Collaborative Research Projects program funds multi-year research and development projects collaboratively executed by TAMUS and LANL researchers. Funding for a typical research project would support one graduate student (stipend, tuition, and fees) and one month of time for a TAMUS researcher (typically the student’s advisor) per year for up to four 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.

Applicants are free to propose different allocations of approximately the same level of funding described above. Funding is provided jointly by the NLO and LANL. Expenses incurred prior to application approval will not be reimbursed.

Applications will be accepted from any full-time PI-eligible researcher (except those with postdoctoral appointments) from any TAMUS Member entity. Applications with the following characteristics have the best chance of receiving funding:

  • TAMUS and LANL researchers have a history of partnership.
  • LANL leadership sees value in a long-term relationship with proposed TAMUS researcher(s).
  • Proposed research and development improve a key LANL capability and/or address one of its mission needs and relates to a research area for which the laboratory has stable, long-term funding.
  • Proposed research and development have potential for high impact.
  • Project engages one or more graduate students with potential for LANL employment.
  • Proposed TAMUS researcher, or researcher’s group, appears likely to produce a steady stream of graduates with potential for LANL employment, for many years to come.

The application must name at least one LANL technical staff member who has agreed to partner with the TAMUS researcher(s) on the proposed effort, supervise funded student(s) during their stays at LANL and serve on the students’ research advisory committees. Funded partners must submit annual progress reports, except for the final year in which a final project report is required.

Reviewers chosen by the NLO and LANL will select applications for funding in accordance with joint TAMUS-LANL priorities, subject to availability of funds. The review process is described below.

Please note that a major goal of this program is to launch collaborations that have the potential to secure long-term funding from other sources, within or external to LANL.  This will not affect the technical evaluation of a proposal submitted by a previous program awardee, but given the limited number of awards per year it may affect the final funding decisions made by the Strategic Review Panel and LANL leadership.

Applying for Research Projects

Applications must be submitted via email to lanl-engage@nlo.tamus.edu by September 15th, 2020. The Review Committee will notify awardees by Winter Break 2020. Application materials should be submitted as PDF documents. Sponsored Research Services does not need to be involved at this initial stage.

The application should contain the following documents:

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

Document arrangement should be as follows:

  1. Section 1 of Personnel Document: Texas A&M System Applicant Information – Provide information about the TAMUS principal investigator (and co-principal investigators, if any), including:
  • Name
  • Title (e.g., Assistant Professor)
  • TAMUS entity and department (e.g., PVAMU Math)
  • Citizenship (e.g., U.S. permanent resident)
  • Email address and phone number
  • Student information: Explain how project leaders will ensure that students chosen for funding have the potential for LANL employment.
  • Pipeline information: Briefly discuss long-term prospects for TAMUS researcher’s program to produce future graduates with potential for LANL employment.
  1. Section 2 of Personnel Document: LANL Collaborator Information – Provide information about the identified LANL collaborator(s), including:
  • Name
  • Title (e.g., Engineer 4)
  • Division and group (e.g., CCS-2)
  • Evidence that the named LANL collaborator(s) have agreed to partner with the TAMUS applicant to execute the proposed effort, supervise the funded student(s) when at LANL and serve on the students’ research committees (e.g., an email from collaborator(s)).
  • Description of previous collaborative efforts between proposed TAMUS and LANL collaborators (e.g., joint publications, joint proposals, co-supervised students).
  1. Proposal Narrative Document – Describe the proposed research project and explain how it supports long-term LANL missions, capability pillars, or initiatives and the expected impact of the proposed project. Include the following sections, but do not exceed 10 pages total (including summary and references):
  • Summary: In one page or less, explain what is proposed, what motivates the research, and what the impact will be. Explanation should allow a technical person from a different discipline to understand.
  • Motivation: Explain the current state of the topic area with references to previous work and why improvements are needed.
  • Proposed activities: Describe what will be done, what new knowledge or technology will be gained, etc.
  • Expected impact: How will the research impact areas such as the technical field, key LANL capabilities, LANL mission delivery, etc.?
  • Roles: Who will do what?
  • LANL visits: List time periods planned for TAMUS personnel to be at LANL (with understanding that plans may evolve).
  • References
  1. Budget and Timeline Document – Provide a budget breakdown per year and an approximate timeline. A formal budget generated by research services will be required if the proposal is selected for funding. At application time, only an itemization of expenses is required. For example:
  • X salary support: one month plus benefits per year.
  • GAR support: $2,200/month + tuition + fees; Texas A&M College of Science.
  • 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.
  • Equipment: list and estimate costs.
  • Materials and supplies: list and estimate costs.
  • Other: list and estimate costs.

Do not included overhead costs at this stage. If selected these will be appropriately allocated at a later time.

  1. TAMUS researcher curriculum vitae (PDF document).
  1. LANL researcher curriculum vitae or resume (PDF document).

Review Procedure

The NLO’s Strategic Review Panel (SRP) will oversee and complete the final selection of all research project applications once the application window has closed. The SRP comprises researchers and executives from TAMUS members and departments, along with technical and administrative representatives from LANL.

Once the proposal has passed the initial screening (element completion, allowable citizenship, etc.), the proposal will move to the second step. In this second step, each proposal will be assigned multiple technical reviewers, some from LANL and some from TAMUS, who have expertise in the proposed area. Technical assessments and comments will be returned to the SRP based on the criteria below.

Collaborative Research Project Rating Criteria

SRP will focus its attention on the proposals with the highest technical assessments. For this group of proposals, the SRP will consider strategic factors such as alignment with mission, needs for strengthened capabilities and availability of long-term funding. Based on combined technical and strategic considerations, the SRP will form recommendations and present them to LANL leadership for approval.

Conflict of Interest Disclaimer: Should any member of the SRP have a biased interest in an application, submit an application themselves, or be unable to complete their duties, an alternative board member will be assigned in their place. Identifiable information about applicants and reviewers will not be released to anyone other than SRP members.

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 TAMUS-LANL Research Collaboration Program, the “Development Fellowship” element, provides a possible avenue for establishing such a history.