Six seed grants to launch EEB faculty initiatives

Release Date: May 3, 2023

Six early-stage research projects with potential for significant external funding are getting a boost by the MSU Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB) Program Seed Grant Initiative, strengthened by partnerships with Michigan AgBioResearch and BEACON.

The grants, totaling $87,248, will support a range of costs associated with launching competitive proposals for significant external resources, including new research collaborations envisioned by EEB members. This is the third year of competition for EEB seed grants, with a fourth slated for next academic year.

“EEB is committed to giving our core faculty members room to take their great ideas to the next level,” said EEB Director Elise Zipkin. “Now three years into this program we’re starting to see tremendous returns on this support. It is a great partnership with AgBioResearch and BEACON, which we look forward to making even better in the future.”

This year’s funded projects are:

“Neural mechanisms of infrared sensation in snakes” led by Heather Eisen in integrative biology. This seed grant is funded in partnership with BEACON.
“Why do parasites vary in their ability to castrate their hosts? A mechanistic, multi-scale approach” led by Nina Wale in microbiology and molecular genetics and integrative biology. This seed grant is funded in partnership with BEACON.
“Building an evidence base for best practices in the communication and implementation of ecological science” led by Scott Peacor in fisheries and wildlife. This seed grant is funded in partnership with AgBioResearch.
“Eco-evolutionary dynamics of host-parasite interactions in a novel environment” led by Henry Chung in entomology. This seed grant is funded in partnership with AgBioResearch.
“Evaluation of risk to marine and terrestrial biodiversity from climate change and climate intervention” led by Phoebe Zarnetske in integrative biology.
"Back from the brink: Harnessing genomics to reverse declines in an emblematic Andean harlequin frog" led by Sarah Fitzpatrick in integrative biology at Kellogg Biological Station.

The committee was co-chaired by Lars Brudvig and Catherine Lindell. Other members include Jean Tsao, Emily Dolson, and Alex Lewanski.

The next round of EEB Seed Grant Proposals will initiate in early winter, available to EEB core faculty members.