Seed Grant Projects
Through a competitive proposal review process, the Institute awards Seed Grants to promising research projects proposed multidisciplinary teams of ESDRI-affiliated faculty from across the KSU community.
These grants are intended to support early research or creative activity efforts in acquiring preliminary results, upon which the team can build further work, propose more robust projects, and apply for external funding. If you are interested in serving on the review committee, please contact esdri@kent.edu.
View 2026 proposal details and guidelines
Proposals due February 2, 2026 by 5 pm
Previous Awards
Seed Grant projects awarded in 2025:
Seed Grant projects awarded in 2024:
Seed Grant projects awarded in 2022:
Seed Grant projects awarded in 2021:
Role of Reactive Fe and Mn Availability in Lake Erie Internal Nutrient Cycling
Dr. Allyson Tessin, (College of Arts and Sciences, Earth Sciences) Dr. David Costello, and Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello (College of Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences)
Seed Grant projects awarded in 2019:
Local Environment-based Authentic Discovery Research and Outreach on Lead
Dr. Bridget Mulvey (College of Education, Health, and Human Services) and Dr. David Singer (College of Arts and Sciences, Earth Science)
Bio-receptive Porous Concrete Substrate Made from Dredged Material for Living Architecture
Dr. Rui Liu and Dr. Reid Coffman (College of Architecture and Environmental Design)
In Silico et In Situ: Chimney Swift Tower
Margarita Benitez, MFA (School of Fashion) and collaborator Markus Vogl, MFA (Myers School of Art)
Removal of Water Pollutants with Green Algae
Dr. Qunxing Ding, Dr. Xiaozhen Mou, and Dr. Haiyan Zhu (College of Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences)
Seed Grant projects awarded in 2018:
Enhancing Climate Preparedness Through Geodesign of Urban Green Space
Dr. Scott Sheridan (College of Arts and Sciences, Geography) and Theresa Schwarz (College of Architecture and Environmental Design)
Designing a Sensor Network to Investigate How Redox Regimes Control Iron and Phosphorus Biogeochemistry
Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello (College of Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences) and collaborator Dr. Elizabeth Herndon (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
FoSTERing Restoration Success at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Dr. Christie Bahlai (College of Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences), Dr. Bridget Mulvey (College of Education, Health, and Human Services), and Dr. Anne Jefferson
Biodiversity Roofs as Novel Ecosystems
Dr. Reid Coffman (College of Architecture and Environmental Design) and Dr. Christie Bahlai (College of Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences)