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<td><img alt="University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering Office of the Dean" width="600" height="183" style="" src="https://www.egr.uh.edu/sites/ccoe.egr.uh.edu/files/enews/images/email_template_header.jpg">
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Dear Cullen College Faculty:</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">The NSF just issued the Gen-4 Engineering Research Center call for the upcoming funding cycle </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">with
a letter of intent (LOI) due date of Sept 2, 2020. Learn more here:</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt"><a href="https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20553/nsf20553.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id="LPlnk587673" style="margin:0px; font-size:16px; font-family:Times; background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><span style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20553/nsf20553.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click</span></a><br>
</span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">In an effort to develop high-quality and competitive pre-proposals and eventually winning full proposals, and in
order to receive college and university support for your proposal development efforts, I invite you to submit internal LOIs and provide the information below as follows:</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
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<li><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">PI name:</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">PI department:</span></li><li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">Names of collaborators from UH and their affiliation:</span><br>
</li><li><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt">Names of other university collaborators and the 3 faculties from each university that will be part of your team and their affiliations:</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Which institution will serve as the one that meets the NSF requirement as stated below:</span></li></ul>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px 18pt"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><i>"serves populations of traditionally underrepresented students interested in STEM (defined as
minority serving institutions, women's colleges, or institutions where the majority of the students are students with disabilities"</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px 18pt"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">The draft LOI that will be submitted to NSF using the NSF format shown below.</span></p>
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</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><b><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">The NSF 2-page</span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">biosketch
and current and pending for the PI only.</span></b></p>
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</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><u>Format of the NSF LOI</u></span><span style="margin:0px"><br>
</span></p>
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</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Project Title:</b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">The
title should begin with "NSF Engineering Research Center for (</span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">insert the rest of the title and the Center's acronym</span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">)"".
The title should reflect the system focus of the proposed ERC.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>ERC Director and/or Lead PI and Point of Contact for NSF Inquiries:</b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Please
include the Director's name, university, department, phone number, and e-mail address. Please also include the Lead PI's information, if the Lead PI and the Director are different individuals.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Anticipated ERC Non-Lead PIs:</b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Identify
up to four Non-Lead PIs. Include their names, universities, departments, and locations (city, state, country). The participating team will be limited to the lead PI and Non-Lead PIs who may come from any or all the domestic core partner universities.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Anticipated Core Partner Universities:</b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">The
lead university (not PI) is binding throughout the process. Other partners may change. This section should include only the anticipated core partner universities. For each core partner include the name and location (city, state and country). Each core partner
entry can have up to 76 characters (including spaces) to show all requested information.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Synopsis</b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">(max
2,500 characters in this section, including any spaces): Provide brief statements of the vision and goals of the ERC, its potential for societal impact, and an integrated plan for the Center. Include an overview of the research program, such as research thrust
titles, goals, and fundamental gaps or barriers in knowledge/technology that it meets. Although the engineering workforce development, diversity and culture of inclusion, and the innovation ecosystem are critical foundational components of an ERC, they do
not need to be described in detail in the LOI.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Other Comments</b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">(an
additional max 2,500 characters including any blank spaces): Continue Synopsis as needed in this section.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14pt; color:rgb(200,38,19)"><b>Your Internal LOI should be submitted as a single pdf document to:</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14pt; color:rgb(200,38,19)"><b><a href="mailto:egrgrant@central.uh.edu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin:0px"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">egrgrant@central.uh.edu</span></a></b></span><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14pt; color:rgb(200,38,19)"><b> </b></span><span style="margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14pt; color:rgb(200,38,19)"><b>before
5 pm on March 31, 2020.</b></span></span><span style="margin:0px"></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">You will be contacted by our offices as to next steps by April 14, 2020.</span></p>
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</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">All questions regarding this email or the solicitation should be directed to Hanadi Rifai, Associate
Dean for Research and Facilities (rifai@uh.edu).</span><span style="margin:0px"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin:0px"><span style="margin:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">I look forward to your ideas and a winning ERC for our College.</span></p>
<div><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.6667px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0); font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; background-color:rgb(255,255,255); display:inline!important; font-size:11pt"></span></span></font></div>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:1.5em; margin:15px 0px">
<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Thank you and warm regards,</span><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:1.5em; margin:15px 0px">
Joseph W. Tedesco, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE <br>
Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean<br>
Cullen College of Engineering<br>
<a href="https://www.egr.uh.edu" id="LPlnk531623" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color:rgb(200,16,46)">www.egr.uh.edu</a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:11px; line-height:1.5em; margin:15px 0px">
<em>This is an official message sent by the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering Dean's Office.</em></p>
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