Despite significant cuts to scientific funding over the past year, now is a good time for University of Idaho faculty to submit grants to the National Science Foundation, according to Christopher Nomura, Vice President for Research and Economic Development.
Nomura was invited to the Faculty Senate meeting on April 14 to provide an update on the search for the new interim provost, who will take over the position currently held by Torrey Lawrence at the end of the semester, but was asked later in the meeting to provide insight on grants and research funding.
“The [grant] agencies, many of them, their staffing was cut between 30% to 60%,” Nomura said. “What the program directors are saying is they don’t have enough time to put out funding announcements, but they’re going to have to spend the money.”
According to Nomura, Congress increased federal funding to organizations such as the NSF in a recent bill, so there is money to support research. Currently, UI is down about 60% in funding decisions, which are formal commitments to back research projects, compared to the same time last year or two years ago.
“It’s okay to submit an unsolicited proposal to the NSF,” Nomura said. “This is an unusual circumstance, and I normally wouldn’t ever give this advice to anybody but it’s better at this point if you have an idea, to just submit the proposal and wait for panel feedback.”
Because of the staff shortages, few funding announcements are being made, and program officers can take between six months and a year to reply.
By submitting unsolicited proposals, which still must follow the proposal and award policies and procedures guide, Nomura said there was an actual opportunity to receive grant funding, though it may be slow.
Nomura commented that it would be beneficial to create an official university communication about this grant submission process.
Nomura gave an update on the search for a new provost. Lawrence, who has served as provost since April 2020, will be returning to his position at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the end of the spring 2026 semester.
According to Nomura, who is also the search committee chair, and UI Chief of Staff Sunny Wallace, the selection process has narrowed down the pool to four candidates. Each candidate will be invited to in-person interviews and stakeholder meetings in the coming week.
These interviews will offer the community the opportunity to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, Wallace said, which will be considered by President Scott Green, who will make the final decision.
The provost, also known as the executive vice president, is a member of the president’s core leadership team and serves as the chief academic officer. The provost serves as the chief executive officer at UI when the president is unavailable.
In the search timeline presented by Wallace, the appointment decision will be made by the end of April. More information on the provost search can be found at the interim provost and executive vice president website on the UI website.
Joshua Reisenfeld can be reached at [email protected].