Energy, environmental seed grants awarded to 21 interdisciplinary teams

Photograph of Old Main surrounded by summer foliage

The Institutes of Energy and the Environment awarded seed grants to 21 groups of interdisciplinary researchers for the 2021–22 cycle.

Credit: Michelle Bixby

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE) awarded seed grants to 21 groups of interdisciplinary researchers at Penn State for the 2021–22 cycle.

Since 2013, IEE has awarded grants to nearly 200 interdisciplinary projects across 15 Penn State colleges and campuses.

“The return on investment of this program has been outstanding, demonstrating proof-of-concept for novel approaches to discovery and innovation, and resulting in high-profile publications and large external grants,” said Tom Richard, IEE director and professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

IEE’s Seed Grant Program fosters basic and applied research addressing five research themes: Climate and Ecosystem Change; Health and the Environment; Integrated Energy Systems; Urban Systems; and Water and Biogeochemical Cycles.

“This kind of seed grant funding allows researchers to build an interdisciplinary team, work together on critical questions and further their impact,” said Lara Fowler, IEE assistant director and senior lecturer for Penn State Law.

The 2022 projects — along with their principal investigators, co-investigators and affiliated colleges/organizations — that were awarded seed grants are:

Climate and Ecosystem Change

Health and the Environment

Integrated Energy Systems

Urban Systems

Water and Biogeochemical Cycles

The Institutes of Energy and the Environment is one of seven interdisciplinary research institutes at Penn State that connects and supports interdisciplinary teams of researchers to solve some of the world’s most difficult energy and environmental challenges.

For more information about the seed grant program or the Institutes of Energy and the Environment, visit iee.psu.edu or email [email protected].