Through our Seed Grants program, MnDRIVE Environment supports research and partnerships that develop sustainable solutions to environmental grand challenges, enhancing quality of life and economic vitality in Minnesota and beyond. Our funding programs support research that advances sustainable solutions to three major environmental grand challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. 

2023 Seed Grant Program

MnDRIVE Environment is requesting proposals for new and innovative Seed Grant projects. Seed Grant solicitation requests proposals that address one or more of the following goals:

1. Reduce climate change and its impacts by increasing carbon sequestration.
2. Enhance nature’s benefits to people by conserving or restoring biodiversity.
3. Clean the air, soil, and/or water by preventing or reducing environmental contaminants.

Together, these goals help address the greatest environmental challenges, focus on research strengths at UMN, and complement other ongoing efforts (e.g., to support climate adaptation or emissions reduction). They also align with UMN’s systemwide strategic plan, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, IPCC and IPBES reports, and many external funding opportunities. Our current goals expand the scope of work previously supported by MnDRIVE Environment while also building on its past successes in advancing remediation solutions.

Seed grants provide support for either postdoctoral or graduate student researchers. Project teams must also include a local partner external to UMN (e.g., a company, Indigenous partner, governmental or nongovernmental organization).

Due Dates
Letter of intent: January 27, 2022, 5 p.m. CDT
Full proposal: March 3, 2023, 5 p.m. CDT

For more information please contact
Forest Isbell, Director, MnDRIVE Environment
Jeff Standish, Associate Director, MnDRIVE Environment