Research

UTRC Research Initiative

1. PURPOSE

The primary purpose of this program is to fund novel and exciting ideas from faculty in the area of transportation. The projects funded should seek to promote excellent and innovative research projects on transportation problems relevant to U.S. DOT’s Region II.

2. THE PROGRAM

The UTRC Research Initiative is a competitive matching grant program for faculty-initiated research projects. Each spring, UTRC issues a Request for Proposals for projects to be funded in the following academic year. Proposals are evaluated by faculty at other University Transportation Centers outside Region II, as well as by UTRC's partner agencies within the region, and awarded on a competitive basis.

The objectives of the UTRC Research Initiative are to:

• Promote excellent and innovative research projects on transportation problems relevant to U.S. DOT’s Region II.
• Encourage multi-disciplinary and multi-university approaches to research on these problems.
• Provide practical and workable contributions and solutions to the region’s transportation community.
• Further the education of transportation students by involving them in scholarly research.
• Encourage faculty in the UTRC consortium to compete for research funds.

The grant is designed to initiate and promote research; it is not renewable at the end of the one year. However, based on their accomplishments and the promise of the research, UTRC may consider grantees for follow-up funding after the first year. No follow-up grants are guaranteed.

3. WHO MAY APPLY

Applications may be made by regularly appointed full-time faculty members at UTRC member academic institutions. Previous recipients of these grants are eligible to apply if they have completed the research project sponsored by their previous grant.

4. HOW TO APPLY

Prepare a proposal according to the UTRC’s proposal guidelines available here

Applications (including abstract) are to be submitted through the UTRC Online Submission System.

5. APPLICATION INFORMATION

The 2011-12 program is currently opened. Abstracts are due by April 1, 2011, and final proposals are due by April 30, 2011.

Click here to download the 2011-12 application instructions.

6. DEADLINES

The deadlines may vary every year. Please consult the UTRC Request For Proposals section on the UTRC website for the current-year details.

7. SELECTION PROCESS

None of the applicants will have an inside track towards selection. Proposals will be reviewed by peers and selected for funding by a committee from UTRC and local transportation agencies. Some of the important criteria for selection will be:

• Uniqueness of the concept proposed
• Relevance to the UTRC’s theme and USDOT goals and projected competitiveness of anticipated results
• Application potential 5 to 10 years

Please Note: Upon request, a review may be provided for those submissions which do not ultimately win a grant award.

8. CONTACT

For more information, please contact:

Ellen Thorson
UTRC – 910 Marshak Hall
City College of New York
New York, NY 10031
ethor (at) utrc2 . org

Previous Grants

A list of past grants made under this program appears below.