Applications are now open for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Upjohn Research Initiative Grants 2020. The AIA Upjohn Research Initiative supports applied research projects that enhance the value of design and professional practice knowledge.
Research should be relevant and applicable to practicing architects. Upjohn Research grant funding will be allocated to projects related to the priorities outlined in AIA’s 2020 Climate Action Plan. These include a drive toward sustainable design that helps mitigate or adapt to climate change.
Focus Areas
More specifically, research projects must address one or more of these areas:
Mitigation: Address the building industry’s footprint as a source of operational and embodied carbon; advance carbon-neutrality.
- Embodied carbon accounting for existing buildings
- Embodied carbon opportunities in different regions and scales
- Distributed energy and grid-integrated buildings
- Net-zero carbon buildings (i.e., design strategies, materials, technology)
Adaptation: Address the impacts of climate change in our spaces, buildings, structures, and communities in order to become more functional and high performing.
- Durability and sustainability of materials (e.g. low carbon, non-toxic, resource-efficient)
- Building vulnerability assessment processes to address shocks and stresses
- Hazard mitigation building/retrofit design strategies for climate hazards
Grants
This AIA program funds up to six research grants of $15,000 – $30,000 annually for projects completed in a 6 to 18-month period. The funds must be fully matched with hard dollars, with a maximum of 10% allocated for overhead. Grant recipients’ research findings and outcomes are published online by AIA.
Eligibility Criteria
- International applications are eligible;
- You may submit more than one proposal;
- The following are encouraged: New projects, related but distinct previously funded projects, and unfunded projects from prior Upjohn grant applications. The AIA will determine whether a project previously funded through the Upjohn program is eligible.
- Research should be relevant and applicable to practicing architects.
- Upjohn research grant funding will be allocated to projects related to the priorities outlined in AIA’s Climate Action Plan.
Selection Criteria
The jury evaluates each submission and selects the grant awardees based on the following criteria and weighting. Please consider these when preparing your application.
- Demonstration that the research enhances the value of design and/or professional practice knowledge (30%)
- Innovation (25%)
- Evidence of collaboration/partnership (20%)
- The validity of research method (15%)
- Strength of projected outcomes related to alignment with the theme (10%)
Call for Submissions
Candidates applying for the grants should submit the following details:
- Project title
- Abstract (250-word max; include project concept and a brief description of methodology)
- Budget
- Summary of projected outcomes (300-word max; include a brief description of how the project would help mitigate or adapt to climate change)
- Clients and knowledge communities served (250-word max)
- Approach to collaboration/partnership (250-word max)
- Images (optional)
- Principal investigator(s) with institutional affiliation(s) and contact information
- Contact information for three references
How to Apply
To apply online, click here.
Application Deadline: September 1, 2020.
