Program Description
The Georgia Tech IEN is an Interdisciplinary Research Institute (IRI) comprised of faculty and students interested in using the most advanced fabrication and characterization tools, and cleanroom infrastructure, to facilitate research in micro- and nano-scale materials, devices, and systems. Applications of this research span all disciplines in science and engineering with particular emphasis on biomedicine, electronics, optoelectronics and photonics, and energy applications.  As there can be a learning curve associated with initial proof-of-concept development and testing using cleanroom tools, this seed grant program was developed to expedite the initiation of new graduate students and new research projects into productive activity.  Successful proposals to this program will identify a new, currently-unfunded research idea that requires cleanroom access to generate preliminary data necessary to pursue other funding avenues.

Program Eligibility
This program is open to any current Georgia Tech or GTRI faculty member as project PI.  The graduate student performing the research should be in the first 2 years of his/her graduate studies.  The student’s research advisor (project PI) does not need to be a current user of the IEN cleanroom/lab facilities.

Award Information
Each seed grant award will consist of free cleanroom access to the student identified in the proposal for 2 (consecutive) quarters.  Based on current access rates (https://cleanroom.ien.gatech.edu/rates/) and the academic cap on hourly charges, this comprises a maximum award of $6000 for the 6 month period. This maximum award amount is still in effect even if IEN non-cleanroom (lab) equipment or electron beam lithography (EBL) is required.  The designated user is expected to only utilize the cleanroom/tool access while working on the proposed project.  Members of the IEN Advanced Technology Team (ATT) will be available to consult during the project period. Up to three awards will be made for each proposal submission date.  A short report describing the research activities will be requested midway and at the completion of the award period.

Submission Schedule
This Seed Grant program is offered in two competitions each year with due dates on October 1 and April 1.  While it is expected that research activity will begin on December 1 and June 1, respectively, there is flexibility in scheduling the 2 quarters of research work, as long as they conform to the IEN billing quarters.

Proposal Requirements (2 pages max)
The proposal (submitted as a PDF file of no more than 2 pages) should include the following information:

1.   Identify the research problem and specify the proposed methods.

2.   Indicate the IEN research tools necessary to conduct the research.  If assistance is needed with this component, members of the IEN Advanced Technology Team are available for consultation.

3.   Describe the relationship of this research to the PI’s other research activity.

4.   Identify the PI and the graduate student involved, and if there will be a mentoring relationship with the PI’s other students.  Note if there are collaborative relationships with other Georgia Tech faculty that bear on this research project.

5.   Specify the potential for follow-on funding based on the results of this initial work.

Submit the PDF file by the specified due date to Ms. Amy Duke (amy.duke@ien.gatech.edu).

Review Criteria
Proposals will initially be reviewed by IEN staff for technical feasibility within the 6-month time frame. Final selection of awardees will be done by a review committee of Georgia Tech faculty. For more information, please contact David Gottfried, dsgottfried@gatech.edu, (404)894-0479.