FACULTY RAPID & RISE PROGRAMS

RAPID & RISE PROGRAM

GROWING FACULTY RESEARCH

funding agencies require preliminary data to show the feasibility of the proposed research, the RAPID grant serves as an essential means to collect needed data to successfully pursue larger external funding.

While the Year 2020 proved to be a time of awakening for the world, it also became a call to action for several faculty researchers at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). From civil unrest and racial injustices, the ongoing COVID19 global pandemic to economic hardships and virtual education. America faced waves of crises that paralyzed many. However, several PVAMU researchers saw these challenges as unique opportunities for them to propose solutions. Vice President Magesh Rajan understood the need to address these matters quickly and supported the faculty’s desire to explore solutions for evolving challenges. So, the Division of Research & Innovation launched new funding initiatives to support researchers looking to address pressing issues with a short turnaround time: the Rapid-Response Grant Program (RAPID) and the Faculty-Research and Innovation Success and Excellence (Faculty-RISE).

The RAPID program supports research studies to help understand and address complex national needs and challenges. RAPID grants are generally for a limited time. This grant program encourages PVAMU faculty, research staff, and doctoral students from all disciplines to broaden their research or jump-start new research in relevant areas to current national needs. It helps mobilize scholarly researchers and, particularly, deepen understanding and develop ways to respond to the recent national challenges. The RAPID Program funded research projects based on university priorities and societal needs.

During the first two years of the RAPID program, the Division for Research & Innovation funded over 40 research and innovation projects to faculty researchers with a $3,000 - $5,000 funding support. Because many federal

Here are the themes/focus areas for the recent RAPID-Research awards:

o Race, Inequality, and Social Justice: Studies focused on race inequalities, social justice, recent national events, and activities related to race inequalities

o COVID-19 Research: Scientific or technology-oriented non-medical research to address or mitigate COVID-19 risks and related issues

o COVID-19 Impact Studies: Research studies focused on understanding the impact of COVID-19 or the resultant economic stress on African-American communities or broadly, including but limited to, food security, economic- stress, and gaps, nursing homes and professionals, youth/adult mental health, K-12 +++++++++++++++ education, international affairs, etc. +++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ o Interdisciplinary Research: Interdisciplinary projects relating to one or more of the major themes listed above. +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++

The second initiative, Faculty-RISE, strategically invests in high-priority areas of research and innovation clusters identified for the university. The Faculty-RISE program provides needed support in disciplines that can lead to the formation of renowned scholarly and research centers and institutes. Faculty-RISE will serve to push the boundaries of knowledge and be critical points of convergence for the university and cultural experience for students and faculty, encouraging multi- and inter-disciplinary collaboration.