UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant offers up to $120K for Competitive Research Grant

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & SG) has announced the opening of its competitive research grant application process. This opportunity aims to support research projects that address critical challenges facing Micronesia’s coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies.

Researchers from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States are encouraged to submit proposals for two-year projects focused on the following areas:

• Healthy coastal ecosystems
• Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
• Resilient communities and economies
• Environmental literacy and workforce development

“We are looking to fund 6-7 research projects through the region for two years, for up to $120,000 for the total project term or $60,000 each year,” explained Brett Taylor, Ph.D., the UOG CIS & SG Research Coordinator. “We are really encouraging researchers from all over Micronesia from all different disciplines to submit their application.”

Previous funded research has been conducted on Guam, the CNMI and Palau according to Phillip Cruz, the UOG CIS & SG Program Leader. 

According to Cruz, there has been an increase in the funding amount of the grants to help with higher costs in the region and other changes to expand the research competition’s ability to build capacity with students.

“We’re excited to announce that UOG Sea Grant has increased the funding this year by an additional $20k per 2-year cycle. This will increase the capacity for researchers to fund projects that tend to cost more here in Micronesia due to high shipping fees,” said Cruz.  “Additionally, we’ve added tuition as an allowable cost to provide more opportunities for students of our region to participate in research projects.”

The deadline for full proposal submissions via the new ESeagrant submission portal is Friday, February 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM CHST. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.  The project period will be February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2028.  

For more information on eligibility, application guidelines, and submission details, please visit the UOG CIS & SG website at uog.edu/seagrant or contact Taylor at taylorb@triton.uog.edu via email.