Science Alliance Annual Report—2008–2009
UT-ORNL Joint Directed Research and Development
Joint Directed Research and Development (JDRD) projects establish and build complementary areas of UT-ORNL research. The research is selected for its potential to simultaneously advance the university research agenda and make independent contributions to the scientific goals of a specific Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at ORNL. While both programs and projects are independent, as research results develop the two teams collaborate on publications and research proposals to national funding agencies. JDRD teams reported a total of six planned or submitted proposals to the National Science Foundation or the Department of Energy during FY09; three of these were funded.
Relatively small, JDRD grants concentrate on problems at critical developmental stages, where research results can provide strong arguments for increased awards and fruitful UT-ORNL connections. Proposed by some of UTK’s most imaginative and able scientists, JDRD projects move the research on to the next, most optimal steps in finding solutions.
Proposals are solicited from the faculty following ORNL’s fall LDRD awards announcement. UT Knoxville faculty members and LDRD team leaders interact and determine how the two projects are complementary. Proposals, including a letter of support from the LDRD team leader, are submitted to the Science Alliance in late fall. Selections are recommended by a review committee to the Science Alliance director, who makes the final decision. The awards are announced in January.
In 2009, the Science Alliance funded 15 JDRD projects; eight first-year and seven second-year projects.