Faculty Grants

Faculty Research Grants

We are committed to research excellence within the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs. Our grants provide vital support to faculty members for innovative research projects. 

Opportunity 1: Geisel Grants for Community Impact 

Proposal Submission Portal Link

 

The purpose of Professor Emeritus Paul Geisel’s gift is to “enhance research opportunities on issues affecting municipalities across Texas and the US Southwest region.”  CAPPA aims to advance Dr. Geisel’s vision by encouraging continued community engagement by our students and faculty in addressing challenging issues that impact our local and regional communities, particularly those affecting underserved communities. Projects may include, but are not limited to, providing technical assistance; engaging in community design work to address a specific issue (flooding, housing, parks, etc.); or developing plans identified by the community to resolve a particular need (zoning, economic revitalization, historic preservation, etc.)
 
Each Geisel grant should be budgeted in the range of $3,000 ~ $5,000. Up to two proposals during this cycle will be awarded. Student and faculty engagement in a project that impacts a municipality or underserved community in Texas, or the US Southwest region is essential. The project may occur through a traditional course, a studio, a capstone project, or a partnership with external entities such as nonprofits. Faculty who are awarded the grant will be recognized as “Geisel Faculty Fellow.” The awards can be used to pay for student’s hourly wage, travel, data inquiry, etc. but not faculty salary.

 

 

Rural areas, neighborhoods and targeted communities, small towns, and cities of less than 150,000 are of particular interest. We are particularly interested in serving General Law cities (under 5,000 population with limited staff); rural areas outside the DFW Metroplex; small cities that are on the path of growth from metro areas and have limited staff/resources to prepare and respond.

 

Requirements:

  • All CAPPA faculty are eligible to apply (TT and NTT; while both full- and part-time are eligible, preference is given to full-time faculty).
  • The project team must include CAPPA faculty and students.
  • Projects must be comprised of a significant collaboration with a public entity such as a small town or city, regional authority, or nonprofit such as a community development corporation.
  • Recipients of the Geisel grants will submit a final report (3-5 pages) and one 36” X 42” poster that document the project process and outcomes. The final deliverables are due within a month after the contracted semester of the award ends. Deliverables will become CAPPA property.
  • Recipients agree to participate in future programs and events that feature the Geisel grants outcomes such as CAPPA Research Day.
  • Limit to one proposal per faculty member as PI and two proposals per faculty members as Co-PI.

 

Selection Criteria:

  • Research idea addresses UTA’s mission.
  • Research idea addresses CAPPA’s present mission.
  • Research idea has promising community impact.
  • Research plan is plausible within one semester.
  • PI is not on the delinquent list which documents past awardees who have failed to deliver their research result(s) and/or products as proposed.


 

Opportunity 2: Dean’s Interdisciplinary Research Initiative

Proposal Submission Portal Link

 

Description

The purpose of the Dean’s Interdisciplinary Research Initiative is to promote CAPPA’s interdisciplinary collaboration in research. Calls for proposals in two consecutive years are expected. This year, one $10,000 grant will be awarded to faculty members in CAPPA to conduct interdisciplinary, innovative research that has a potential to pursue external research funding opportunities in the near future (to position them for high-impact research and raise their chance to secure external funding). The award can be used to pay for student’s hourly wage, travel, data inquiry, faculty salary or faculty’s travel.

 

Requirements:

  • Principal investigator (PI) must be a full-time T/TT faculty and faculty with research assignment in CAPPA. Co-PIs can be full-time/part-time faculty. Collaborators can be post-docs or visiting scholars who are faculty members or post-docs in their respective unit at UTA. Preference will be given to PIs who are assistant and associate professors.
  • One PI and at least one co-PI are required for each interdisciplinary proposal. PI and co-PI(s) must be in different academic programs within CAPPA. Although collaborating with others outside of CAPPA is acceptable, the purpose of this research initiative is to promote collaboration across different disciplines within CAPPA.
  • Student involvement is highly encouraged.
  • Required deliverables include a report and one 36” X 42” poster that document the research process and outcomes. In lieu of a report, accepted or published conference papers are acceptable. The final deliverables are due within a month after the award ends as indicated in the proposal. The poster as deliverable will become CAPPA property.
  • PI/co-PIs agree to submit or co-submit a research proposal (resulting from this seed grant) to an external funding agency (state or federal) within two years after the research ends.
  • Recipients agree to participate in future programs or events that feature the research outcomes such as CAPPA Research Day.
  • Limit to one proposal per faculty member as PI.

 

Selection Criteria:

  • Research idea addresses UTA’s mission.
  • Research idea addresses CAPPA’s present mission.
  • Research idea has embraces interdisciplinary activities.
  • Research idea is innovative.
  • Research has high potential to open up new areas of research and lead to future external funding opportunities. (New areas of research are highly encouraged if they lead to future external funding opportunities)
  • Research plan is achievable within one-year time frame.
  • PI is not on the delinquent list which documents past awardees who have failed to deliver their research result(s) and/or products as proposed.

 

Evaluation of Proposals:

The review committee members for both opportunities include Austin Allen (chair), Karabi Bezboruah, Shadi Nazarian and Qisheng Pan. Committee members are not eligible to serve as PI in both opportunities but could serve as co-PI. In such case they would recuse themselves to avoid any conflict of interest. The committee members have an advisory role, and CAPPA dean will make the selection of winning proposals.

 

Deadline for submissions is Friday, February 16th 5pm. Please address any questions you may have to the chair, Austin Allen austin.allen2@uta.edu

 

Grant Proposal Template 

 

Opportunity 1: Geisel Grants for Community Impact 

Proposal Submission Portal Link

 

The purpose of Professor Emeritus Paul Geisel’s gift is to “enhance research opportunities on issues affecting municipalities across Texas and the US Southwest region.” CAPPA aims to advance Dr. Geisel’s vision by encouraging continued community engagement by our students and faculty in addressing challenging issues that impact our local and regional communities, particularly those affecting underserved communities. Projects may include, but are not limited to, providing technical assistance; engaging in community design work to address a specific issue (flooding, housing, parks, etc.); or developing plans identified by the community to resolve a particular need (zoning, economic revitalization, historic preservation, etc.)

 

Each Geisel grant should be budgeted in the range of $3,000 ~ $5,000. Up to five proposals during this cycle will be awarded. Student and faculty engagement in a project that impacts a municipality or underserved community in Texas, or the US Southwest region is essential. The project may occur through a traditional course, a studio, a capstone project, or a partnership with external entities such as nonprofits. Faculty who are awarded the grant will be recognized as “Geisel Faculty Fellow.” The awards can be used to pay for student’s hourly wage, travel, data inquiry, etc. but not faculty salary.

 

Rural areas, neighborhoods and targeted communities, small towns, and cities of less than 150,000 are of particular interest. We are particularly interested in serving General Law cities (under 5,000 population with limited staff); rural areas outside the DFW Metroplex; small cities that are on the path of growth from metro areas and have limited staff/resources to prepare and respond.

 

Requirements:

  • All CAPPA faculty are eligible to apply (TT and NTT; while both full- and part-time are eligible, preference is given to full-time faculty).
  • The project team must include CAPPA faculty and students.
  • Projects must be comprised of a significant collaboration with a public entity such as a small town or city, regional authority, or nonprofit such as a community development corporation.
  • Recipients of the Geisel grants will submit a final report (3-5 pages) and one 36” X 42” poster that document the project process and outcomes. The final deliverables are due within a month after the contracted semester of the award ends. Deliverables will become CAPPA property.
  • Recipients agree to participate in future programs and events that feature the Geisel grants outcomes such as CAPPA Research Day.
  • Limit to one proposal per faculty member as PI and two proposals per faculty members as Co-PI.

 

Selection Criteria:

  • Research idea addresses UTA’s mission.
  • Research idea addresses CAPPA’s present mission.
  • Research idea has promising community impact.
  • Research plan is plausible within one semester.
  • PI is not on the delinquent list which documents past awardees who have failed to deliver their research result(s) and/or products as proposed.


Opportunity 2: Dean’s Interdisciplinary Research Initiative

Proposal Submission Portal Link

 

Description

The purpose of the Dean’s Interdisciplinary Research Initiative is to promote CAPPA’s interdisciplinary collaboration in research. Calls for proposals in two consecutive years are expected. This year, four $10,000 awards will be awarded to faculty members in CAPPA to conduct interdisciplinary, innovative research that has a potential to pursue external research funding opportunities in the near future (to position them for high-impact research and raise their chance to secure external funding). The awards can be used to pay for student’s hourly wage, travel, data inquiry, faculty salary or faculty’s travel.

 

Requirements:

  • Principal investigator (PI) must be a full-time T/TT faculty and faculty with research assignment in CAPPA. Co-PIs can be full-time/part-time faculty. Collaborators can be post-docs or visiting scholars who are faculty members or post-docs in their respective unit at UTA. Preference will be given to PIs who are assistant and associate professors.
  • One PI and at least one co-PI are required for each interdisciplinary proposal. PI and co-PI(s) must be in different academic programs within CAPPA. Although collaborating with others outside of CAPPA is acceptable, the purpose of this research initiative is to promote collaboration across different disciplines within CAPPA.
  • Student involvement is highly encouraged.
  • Required deliverables include a report and one 36” X 42” poster that document the research process and outcomes. In lieu of a report, accepted or published conference papers are acceptable. The final deliverables are due within a month after the award ends as indicated in the proposal. The poster as deliverable will become CAPPA property.
  • PI/co-PIs agree to submit or co-submit a research proposal (resulting from this seed grant) to an external funding agency (state or federal) within two years after the research ends.
  • Recipients agree to participate in future programs or events that feature the research outcomes such as CAPPA Research Day.
  • Limit to one proposal per faculty member as PI.

 

Selection Criteria:

  • Research idea addresses UTA’s mission.
  • Research idea addresses CAPPA’s present mission.
  • Research idea has embraces interdisciplinary activities.
  • Research idea is innovative.
  • Research has high potential to open up new areas of research and lead to future external funding opportunities. (New areas of research are highly encouraged if they lead to future external funding opportunities)
  • Research plan is achievable within one-year time frame.
  • PI is not on the delinquent list which documents past awardees who have failed to deliver their research result(s) and/or products as proposed.

 

Evaluation of Proposals:

The review committee members for both opportunities include Austin Allen (chair), Karabi Bezboruah, Shadi Nazarian and Qisheng Pan. Committee members are not eligible to serve as PI in both opportunities but could serve as co-PI. In such case they would recuse themselves to avoid any conflict of interest. The committee members have an advisory role, and CAPPA dean will make the selection of winning proposals.

 

Deadline for submissions is November 17th at 5pm. Please address any questions you may have to the chair, Austin Allen austin.allen2@uta.edu

 

Grant Proposal Template 

 

Geisel Grants 

   
Date Activity
Feb 21, 2022 Spring funding deadline
April 1, 2022 Summer funding deadline
June 1, 2022 Fall funding deadline
Sept 7, 2022 New Fall deadline

 

OVERVIEW

 

The focus of Professor Emeritus Paul Geisel’s gift is to “enhance research opportunities on issues affecting municipalities across Texas and the US Southwest region.”  The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) seeks to advance Dr. Geisel’s vision by encouraging continued engagement by our students and faculty in addressing challenging issues that impact our local and regional communities, particularly those affecting underserved communities.  Projects may include, but are not limited to, providing technical assistance; engaging in community design work to address a specific issue (flooding, housing, parks, etc.); or developing plans identified by the community to resolve a particular need (zoning, economic revitalization, historic preservation, etc.)

 

The Geisel grants will provide up to $5,000 per project to engage students and faculty in a project that impacts a municipality or underserved community in Texas or the US Southwest region. This project may occur through a traditional course, a studio, a capstone project or a partnership with external entities such as nonprofits.  

Rural areas, small towns and cities of less than 150,000 are of particular interest, although projects targeting small communities within a larger city will also be considered.  We are particularly interested in serving general law cities (under 5,000 population with limited staff; rural areas outside the MSA; small cities that are on the path of growth from metro areas and have limited staff/resources to prepare and respond. 

 

Terms and eligibility:

  • Projects must be comprised of a significant collaboration with a public entity such as a small town or city, regional authority, or nonprofit such as a community development corporation.

  • The leadership team must include CAPPA faculty and students. All faculty are eligible to apply (TT and non-TT, both full and part-time)

  • Recipients of the Geisel awards will submit a final report (3-5 pages) which may include copies of the deliverables expected as part of the project. The final report and deliverables are due at the end of the next long semester. A summary of the project outcomes will be shared on CAPPA’s webpage and through social media.

Submission Requirements

   1. Project proposal (no more than 1000 words/4 pages double-spaced maximum): 

  • Describe the municipality, city partner, or collaboration between a public entity and a nonprofit, and the specific problem or issue the project will address. 
  • Will the work be conducted by an individual with student assistance (GRA), or through a class, studio, or other?
  • What is the expected deliverable and what impact will the deliverable have in helping this community/city/town to advance its goals?
  • What methodologies will be used? How specifically will student(s) be engaged in this project?
  • What is the timeline for completion of this project?

   2. CV (1 page) of UTA project leadership and expertise in this area of research/work.

   3. Budget (1 page)- itemize how you intend to use the Geisel grant of $5,000. Additional funds may be available depending on the number of applications.

SUBMISSION PORTAL

Please submit your grant proposal as an attachment using the form here

 

 

 

GEISEL GRANT RECIPIENTS

 

Charles MacBride| Assistant Professor
Brad McCorkle| Adjunct Assistant Professor
School of Architecture
Proposal: "TINY-HOME DESIGN-BUILD: CREATING AN ARLINGTON MICRO-COMMUNITY"

Julia Lindgren| Assistant Professor
Dennis Chiessa| Assistant Professor
Lizzie MacWillie| Director of Urbanism, buildingcommunityWORKSHOP School of Architecture
HOUSING MORE: "PROPOSING INTERVENTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE DENSITY IN DFW NEIGHBORHOODS"

Julia Lindgren| Assistant Professor
School of Architecture
Proposal: "BLACK + BROWN ENGAGEMENT IN CIVIC PROCESSES AND THE SUBSEQUENT IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT"

Hannah Lebovits| Assistant Professor
Public Affairs and Planning
Proposal: "A SMART GROWTH ASSESSMENT AND POLICY PROCESS MAP FOR THE CITY OF LAVON, TEXAS"

Narjes Abbasabadi| Assistant Professor
Atefe Makhmalbaf| Assistant Professor
Dennis Chiessa| Assistant Professor
School of Architecture
Proposal: "A COMMUNITY ENGAGED APPROACH CRITICAL TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY SYSTEMS"

Joowon Im| Assistant Professor
Landscape Architecture
Proposal: “BLUE-GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION DESIGN GUIDELINES AND PILOT PROJECT – THE BOTTOM DISTRICT, DALLAS"

Oswald Jenewein | Assistant Professor
School of Architecture
Proposal: “VISUALIZING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE BUILD ENVIRONMENT”

Letora Anderson | Assistant Professor
Landscape Architecture
Proposal: "JJ. CULBERTSON FOUNDATION AND DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS"

Austin Allen| Associate Professor/ Interim Associate Dean
Alan Klein|Director of Urban Studies
Landscape Architecture | Institute of Urban Studies 
Proposal: "A NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION OVERLAY FOR THE JOPPEE COMMUNITY IN DALLAS, TEXAS”

Karabi Bezboruah | Associate Professor
Emily Nwakpuda|Assistant Professor
Public Affairs and Planning
Proposal: “REIMAGINING CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE ARLINGTON TEXAS CULTURAL DISTRICT"

Charles MacBride|Assistant Professor
Brad Mccorkle|Academic Lab Coordinator
School of Architecture
Proposal: “AN ARLINGTON MICRO-COMMUNITY: DOCUMENTING WYNN TERRACE"

Julia Lindgren| Assistant Professor
Dennis Chiessa| Assistant Professor
School of Architecture
Proposal: “AURORA - UNDERTAKING FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES :A STRATEGIC GROWTH FRAMEWORK FOR AURORA, TEXAS” 

 

Geisel Faculty Fellow

Ariadna Reyes-Sanchez and Evan Mistur (PIs)
Proposal: “Examining Environmental Injustices: Mapping hyper-local air quality in low-income informal communities in Dallas County.”

Dean's Interdisciplinary Grant Recipients 

Mahmoud Bayat (PI), Jianling Li (CoPI)
Proposal: “Enhancing Resilience: A Digital Twins Framework of Transportation Networks with a Focus on Economic and Socioeconomic Impacts.”
 
Oswald Jenewein (PI), Ariadna Reyes-Sanchez (CoPI), Michelle Hummel (CoPI)
Proposal: “Innovative Approaches towards Sustainable Cities: Integrating AI in Participatory Engagement Processes to Enhance Resiliency in the Built Environment.”

Geisel Faculty Fellow

Joowon Im (PI)
Dennis Chiessa, Letora Anderson, Diane Jones Allen (Co-PI(s)
Proposal: “Community-Based Comprehensive Plan for the Garden of Eden, FW: Protecting the community’s legacy through sustainable landscape planning.”
 
Julene Paul (PI)
Proposal: “Housing Precarity and Transit-Oriented Development in North Texas: Mobile Home Residents’ Perceptions of TOD in Tarrant County.”

Dean's Interdisciplinary Grant Recipients 

Mahmoud Bayat (PI), Jianling Li (CoPI)
Proposal: “Innovative Efficient Computational Structural Design for Affordable Housing Development (Phase 1).”
 
Julia Lindgren (PI), Hannah Lebovits (PI)
Proposal: “Design Playbook: Housing For Youth Aging out of Foster Care.”

Review Committee

Austin Allen

Interim Associate Dean

Associate Professor of Practice

School of Architecture

Austin Allen

Karabi Bezboruah

Professor

Director of PhD Programs

Public Affairs and Planning

Karabi Bezboruah

Email: bezborua@uta.edu

Phone #: (817) 272-3301

Office: 320

Shadi Nazarian

Professor

Endowed Ralph E. Hawkins Chair

School of Architecture

Email: shadi.nazarian@uta.edu

Office: CAPPA 426

Qisheng Pan

Professor of Planning

CTEDD Director

Public Affairs and Planning

Email: qisheng.pan@uta.edu

Office: CAPPA 322