The Iowa Water Center (IWC) seeks research proposals that address the most pressing water resource concerns in our state. Grant funds are provided through a federal-state partnership through the Water Resources Research Act — Section 104 (b) — in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Targeted Seed Grant Research Competition (Funding for up to $40,000 per project)

Three research priority focus areas, determined by the IWC Advisory Board, are:

  • Water related hazards and society – exploration of the intersections of land/water use, and water hazards, climate change, or drought response. Research emphasizing social and environmental justice regarding these topics is preferred.
  • Exploration and advancement of our understanding of harmful algae blooms (HABs). Proposals are sought with a focus on innovations in monitoring the occurrence of HABs and algal toxins, factors that result in algal toxin production, and improvements in near-real time modeling and forecasting of toxin-producing blooms.
  • Emerging contaminants: research on the fate, persistence, transport, and impacts of contaminants on water resources and ecosystem dynamics. Research can include social and/or economic assessment of the spread, detection, impacts, solutions, and management. Contaminants include per-and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances, E. coli, and other physical, chemical, and biological contaminants.

Graduate Student Supplemental Research Competition (Funding of up to $5,000)

This program is designed to allow students to complete additional research objectives or products beyond the scope of a current water-related funded project. Funding is available to graduate students nearing completion of their program of study or those with well-established, active research projects. (The readiness of the student to embark on additional research is subjective, and students should consult with their major professor before deciding to apply.) The proposed budget must include funds for publication costs. Students will be required to submit their research to peer-reviewed publications.

General Information

The following information and instructions apply to the application process for the FY26 competitive water research grants through the USGS 104 (b) program.

Funding and Project Period

If chosen for funding, investigators will be required to provide documentation of committed matching funds. The U.S. Geological Survey requires a 1:1 nonfederal to federal funds match.

The project period is one year. At this time, project start and end dates are not known. The funding timeline and funding availability are determined by the allocation process of the U.S. Congress and varies from year to year. The IWC will post a link to the official USGS 2026 RFP once it is published.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include faculty, staff, and graduate students at Iowa’s accredited colleges and universities. Priority will be given to proposals that engage early-career faculty and/or graduate and undergraduate students.

Deadline

Please email the proposal as a Word file with accompanying Excel spreadsheets to iowawatercenter@iastate.edu with the subject line: 104 b Research Competition – [Your Last Name]. The deadline to apply is end of business day April 8, 2026.

Application Contents

Proposals must include the information listed below in the order presented and identified by the corresponding number. The body of the proposal (items 12 through 18) should not exceed six (6) single-spaced pages in 12-point, Times New Roman font.

  1. Title: Be concise but descriptive.
  2. Principal Investigator(s): Provide name, academic rank, university, email address, and phone number of the principal investigators. Graduate students should list their advisor as a co-investigator.
  3. Project Title
  4. Project Type: State “Research.”
  5. Congressional District of the university where the work is to be conducted.
  6. Water Resources Research Institutes (WRRI) National Science Priorities: Choose the one category that most closely applies from the following: Water Scarcity and Availability, Water Hazards and Climate Variability, Water Quality, Water Policy, Planning, and Socioeconomics, Watershed and Ecosystem Function, Water Technology and Innovation, or Workforce Development and Water Literacy.
  7. Primary Cross-Discipline Science Topic: Choose one that most closely applies from the following. Climate, Energy, HABs, Indian Water Rights, Natural Hazards, Oceans/Coastal/Great Lakes, STEM, Water Challenges, Other.
  8. Keywords: Choose a maximum of three focus categories from the list provided below, with the most preferred focus category first.
  9. Training potential: Estimate the number of graduate and undergraduate students, by degree level, who are expected to receive training in the project.
  10. Start Date: TBD (after the USGS RFP is released).
  11. End Date: TBD (after the USGS RFP is released).
  12. Abstract: Provide a brief (one-page) description of the problem, methods, and objectives.
  13. Plain-language summary. Provide a brief (150 word) description of the study that could be understandable by the public.
  14. Statement of regional or state water problem: Include an explanation of the need for the project, who wants it, and why.
  15. Statement of results or benefits: Specify the type of information that is to be gained and how it will be used.
  16. Nature, scope, and objectives of the project, including a timeline of activities
  17. Methods, procedures, and facilities: Provide enough information to permit evaluation of the technical adequacy of the approach to satisfy the objectives.
  18. Related research: Show by literature and communication citations the similarities and differences of the proposed project to be completed or ongoing work on the same topic.
  19. Budget breakdown: EXCEL fillable form that may be downloaded from https://iastate.box.com/s/x42juxnv1aj94m7l3jchywwi1t79xsna
  20. Budget justification: fillable form that may be downloaded from https://iastate.box.com/s/s9sqrm7tjdcf2amuagc4i9vyb6py5n98
  21. Investigator’s qualifications: Include resume(s) of the principal investigator(s). No resume shall exceed two pages or list more than 15 pertinent publications.
  22. Cost Share Documentation. Cost share letters to support the budget and budget justification. If you are a PI at a non-Iowa State University institution, a transmittal letter from your Department of Sponsored Programs is required.
  23. Data Management Plan (DMP): This brief supplementary document (3-5 sentences) should describe how the proposal will conform to USGS policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results and associated data. A valid DMP may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed (e.g., “No data are expected to be produced from this project”), as long as the statement is accompanied by a clear justification. This supplementary document may include:
  • the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced during the project
  • the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies)
  • policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements
  • provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives
  • plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products
  • NEW FOR 2026: The DMP will need to describe how data collected with federal funds will be released to the public free of charge. The IWC will share details of this new requirement from the USGS as we receive them.

Budget Justification

  1. Salaries and Wages: Provide estimated hours and the rate of compensation proposed for each individual (X hours @ $X). Tuition remission and other forms of compensation paid as or in lieu of wages to students performing necessary work are allowable, provided that the tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for the work performed and are conditioned explicitly upon the performance of necessary work.
  2. Fringe Benefits: Provide the overall fringe benefit rate applicable to each category of employee proposed in the project.
  3. Supplies: Indicate separately the amounts proposed for office, laboratory, computing, and field supplies. Be specific.
  4. Equipment: Identify non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of more than $5,000 per unit. If fabrication of equipment is proposed, list parts and materials required for each and show costs separately from the other items.
  5. Services or Consultants: Identify the specific tasks for which these services, consultants, or subcontracts would be used. Estimate amount of time required and the hourly or daily rate. Provide a detailed list (i.e., sample analysis: 1000 samples @ $8/sample.)
  6. Travel: Provide purpose and estimated costs for all travel. Travel opportunities must be specific (i.e., travel to XYZ conference in XYZ location on XYZ dates) and costs must be itemized (e.g., airfare, lodging, parking, per diem). No international travel is permitted.
  7. Other Direct Costs: Itemize costs not included elsewhere, including publication costs. Costs for services and consultants should be included and justified under “Services or Consultants” above.
  8. Indirect Costs: No indirect costs are associated with these grants. Please use forfeited (Federal and Non-Federal) indirect costs as part of the required match.

Evaluation Criteria

The IWC staff, external technical reviewers, and the IWC Advisory Board will rank and discuss proposals for quality and relevance. Review criteria include:

  1. Scientific and technical merit
  2. Applicability to the research, education, and training needs identified by the IWC Advisory Council (see above)
  3. Competence of the PI for carrying out the proposed study efficiently and effectively
  4. Appropriateness of submitted budget to the proposed study
  5. Student educational opportunities arising from the proposed study
  6. Potential for technology transfer via workshops, tech reports, journal articles, theses, etc.
  7. Feasibility of completing the work in the proposed timeframe
  8. Quality of proposal: grammar, structure, readability 

Award Expectations

Upon notification of award, IWC staff will work with the Principal Investigator (PI) to make budget and narrative adjustments in accordance with USGS requirements.

Funds are expected at the end of 2026. Once the USGS releases funds to the IWC, work on the project can begin. IWC staff will work with PIs and their home department/institution to set up the project account. IWC will periodically monitor project funding to ensure funds are spent in a timely manner, but budget management is ultimately the PI’s responsibility. It is the responsibility of the PI to oversee appropriateness and allowability of project expenditures.

PIs are required to submit a final report at the completion of the project. This brief report should include significant findings or accomplishments, awards, publications, and presentations, and the number of students involved in the project.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed toward the Program Contact:

Zita Quade: zquade@iastate.edu, (515) 210-5472

Focus Categories (Keywords)

Acid Deposition ACD

Agriculture AG

Climatological Processes CP

Conservation COV

Drought DROU

Ecology ECL

Economics ECON

Education EDU

Floods FL

Geomorphological Processes GEOMOR

Geochemical Processes GEOCHE

Groundwater GW

Hydrogeochemistry HYDGEO

Hydrology HYDROL

Invasive Species INV

Irrigation IG

Law, Institutions, & Policy LIP

Management & Planning M&P

Methods MET

Models MOD

Nitrate Contamination NC

Non-Point Pollution NPP

Nutrients NU

Radioactive Substances RAD

Recreation REC

Sediments SED

Solute Transport ST

Surface Water SW

Toxic Substances TS

Treatment TRT

Wastewater WW

Water Quality WQL

Water Quantity WQN

Water Supply WS

Water Use WU

Wetlands WL