Faculty Seed Grants Awarded for 2026-2027
August 17, 2026
Each year, the Global Change Center (GCC), along with the Institute for Society, Culture and Environment (ISCE) at Virginia Tech, invites proposals from its faculty to support interdisciplinary research aimed at generating collaborative submissions for extramural funding. We look for projects that connect multiple faculty programs, harness unique combinations of expertise at VT, have societal implications or a policy component, address emerging global change issues with regional significance, and have strong potential to attract external resources.
Congratulations to the teams awarded GCC and GCC-ISCE seed grants for the 2026-2027 year!
Integrating Flood Monitoring and Nature-Based Wastewater Solutions for Climate Resilient Arctic Communities
INVESTIGATORS:
- Dr. Natasha Bell, Biological Systems Engineering
- Dr. Brian Badgley, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Elinor Benami, Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis, Biological Systems Engineering
- Monamie Bhadra Haines, Science, Technology and Society
- Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq, Center for Sustainable Engagement in the Arctic
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General Item
2026 | Integrating Flood Monitoring and Nature-Based Wastewater Solutions for Climate Resilient Arctic CommunitiesThe Arctic faces compounding, interconnected challenges driven by rapid climate change, including worsening coastal flooding and failing wastewater systems. This seed project will lay the foundation for an externally funded program to develop climate adaptive wastewater management strategies in challenging contexts.
*Jointly funded by ISCE and the GCC
How is AI reshaping the hydroscape of Northern Virginia? Characterizing impacts on land, water and people
INVESTIGATORS:
- Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis, Biological Systems Engineering
- Dr. Korine Kolivras, Geography
- Dr. Julie Shortridge, Biological Systems Engineering
- Dr. Shilai Hao, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. John Ignosh, VA Cooperative Extension
- Dr. Erin Ling, VA Cooperative Extension
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General Item
2026 | How is AI reshaping the hydroscape of Northern Virginia? Characterizing impacts on land, water and peopleThe rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has been accompanied by the growth of data centers. The goal of this research is to quantify recent data center driven physical and societal changes to the hydroscape of Loudoun County, VA.
Assessing The Global Biodiversity Standard in the U.S. Context
INVESTIGATORS:
- Dr. J. Leighton Reid, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Natasha Bell, Biological Systems Engineering
- Dr. Shannon Bell, Sociology
- Dr. Erich Hester, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Dr. Rachel Reid, Geosciences
- Dr. Haldre Rogers, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
- Dr. Stella Schons, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
- Dr. Tess Thompson, Biological Systems Engineering
- Dr. Jessica Taylor, History
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General Item
2026 | Assessing the Global Biodiversity Standard in the US ContextThe Global Biodiversity Standard has recently emerged as a certification program to assure that site-based restoration projects have a net positive impact on biodiversity. This project seeks to evaluate this standard in a US Context.
