Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2021 STAR C2
This EPA funding opportunity, offered through the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, supports research that improves how air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern are measured and monitored in the atmosphere. The focus is strongly methodological: the agency is looking for projects that push the state of the science in detecting and quantifying problematic air pollutants, especially in ways that are useful for real-world monitoring, exposure assessment, and emissions characterization. Awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements under CFDA 66.509, and the opportunity is framed as a discretionary environmental research competition.
The solicitation lays out two main technical priorities. First, EPA wants advances in measurement techniques that enable real-time, continuous monitoring of pollutant concentrations. A key performance expectation is sensitivity: proposed approaches should be capable of achieving minimum detection limits that are below typical background concentrations or below health risk-based thresholds, which signals an interest in tools that can detect subtle concentration changes relevant to human health and community exposure. This emphasis points toward innovations in sensors, instrumentation, sampling strategies, calibration/validation methods, and data processing techniques that can support continuous monitoring without sacrificing accuracy at very low levels.
Second, the RFA prioritizes near-source monitoring methods that can quantify emission rates from fugitive emissions, using either stationary setups or mobile platforms. “Fugitive emissions” generally refers to releases that are not captured by a stack or vent, such as leaks, evaporative losses, or intermittent releases from industrial facilities and other sources. EPA is therefore encouraging research that improves the ability to measure emissions close to where they originate and to translate concentration observations into emission-rate estimates. This could include better mobile monitoring strategies, improved plume characterization methods, refined inverse modeling techniques, or integrated measurement and analytics approaches that make emission quantification more reliable and defensible.
A notable administrative feature of the solicitation is that it allows projects that may involve human subjects research, but it also makes clear that such work is tightly regulated under EPA’s human subjects protections at 40 CFR Part 26. The announcement highlights that EPA follows the Common Rule (Subpart A) and includes additional protections and prohibitions for research involving pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children (Subparts B, C, and D). In particular, any research that meets the definition of intentional exposure research is prohibited for pregnant women, nursing women, and children. Observational research involving pregnant women/fetuses or children is not automatically prohibited, but it triggers additional protections and review requirements. Regardless of whether an applicant believes their work involves human subjects, every application must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS). If the proposed project does involve human subjects research, it will undergo an added level of review before EPA makes final funding decisions. The notice also points applicants to EPA guidance and training resources related to human subjects requirements.
This competition also includes an early career component, designed specifically to fund smaller-scope, smaller-budget projects led by early career principal investigators. The program’s intent is not simply to have an early career PI listed on the application, but for early career investigators to carry out most of the research and receive a significant share of the project resources. The detailed eligibility rules for what qualifies as “early career” are referenced as being in Section III of the full Request for Applications, meaning applicants need to verify their status and structure the project team, roles, and budget to align with that expectation.
From the funding details provided, the opportunity number is EPA G2021 STAR C2. The award ceiling is $400,000, and EPA anticipated making about two awards. The original closing date listed is June 2, 2021, with a note that applicants should consult the full announcement for any additional deadline information. Eligibility is described broadly as “Others,” with clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the RFA, so prospective applicants would need to confirm whether their institution type and project team meet EPA’s specific eligibility conditions.
Overall, the grant is aimed at early career researchers who can deliver practical, high-sensitivity air monitoring advances, especially those enabling continuous measurements and credible near-source emission-rate quantification for fugitive emissions. The underlying theme is actionable measurement science: tools and methods that can detect very low concentrations in real time and methods that can better attribute and quantify emissions close to sources, all while meeting EPA’s administrative and, where applicable, strict human-subjects compliance requirements.Apply for EPA G2021 STAR C2
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Career: Measurement and Monitoring Methods for Air Toxics and Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Atmosphere" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 26, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 02, 2021 See Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for additional close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this EPA funding opportunity about?
This opportunity, offered through EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, supports environmental research focused on improving how air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern are measured and monitored in the atmosphere. The emphasis is strongly methodological: projects are expected to advance the science of detecting and quantifying problematic air pollutants in ways that are useful for real-world monitoring, exposure assessment, and emissions characterization.
What is the program name and funding mechanism?
The solicitation is under EPA's STAR program. Awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements, and the competition is framed as a discretionary environmental research competition.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing (CFDA) number provided is 66.509.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is EPA G2021 STAR C2.
What technical areas does EPA prioritize in this solicitation?
The solicitation identifies two main technical priorities:
- Advances in measurement techniques that enable real-time, continuous monitoring of pollutant concentrations, with an emphasis on high sensitivity and low minimum detection limits.
- Near-source monitoring methods that can quantify emission rates from fugitive emissions using stationary or mobile approaches, including methods that translate concentration data into emission-rate estimates.
What does EPA mean by "real-time, continuous monitoring" in this context?
Based on the solicitation summary, EPA is looking for measurement approaches that can continuously track pollutant concentrations and provide results in real time (or near real time), rather than relying only on intermittent sampling or delayed laboratory analysis. The goal is practical monitoring capability without sacrificing measurement quality at very low concentrations.
How sensitive do proposed measurement methods need to be?
A key performance expectation is sensitivity. Proposed approaches should be capable of achieving minimum detection limits below typical background concentrations or below health risk-based thresholds. This signals that EPA is interested in tools that can detect subtle concentration changes that matter for human health and community exposure.
What types of methodological innovations are relevant under the first priority?
The solicitation points toward innovations such as sensors and instrumentation, sampling strategies, calibration and validation methods, and data processing techniques that support continuous monitoring while maintaining accuracy at very low pollutant levels.
What is "near-source monitoring" and why is it emphasized?
Near-source monitoring refers to measuring pollutants close to where they originate (for example, near industrial facilities or other emission sources). EPA emphasizes it because better near-source methods can improve emissions characterization and support more defensible estimates of emission rates, particularly for pollutants released outside of stacks or vents.
What are "fugitive emissions" as described in the solicitation?
Fugitive emissions generally refer to releases that are not captured by a stack or vent, such as leaks, evaporative losses, or intermittent releases from industrial facilities and other sources. The solicitation encourages research that improves the ability to measure these releases and quantify emission rates.
What kinds of approaches could fit the fugitive emissions priority?
Examples mentioned or implied by the solicitation include better mobile monitoring strategies, improved plume characterization methods, refined inverse modeling techniques, and integrated measurement plus analytics approaches that make emissions quantification more reliable and defensible.
Does EPA allow mobile monitoring platforms in proposed research?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly notes that near-source monitoring methods may use stationary setups or mobile platforms.
Are projects expected to translate concentration measurements into emission-rate estimates?
Yes. A central theme of the second priority is improving the ability to translate concentration observations into emission-rate estimates, especially for fugitive emissions near their source.
Is this opportunity intended for early career researchers?
Yes. The competition includes an early career component designed to fund smaller-scope, smaller-budget projects led by early career principal investigators.
What does EPA expect for the "early career" component beyond naming an early career PI?
The program intent is that early career investigators carry out most of the research and receive a significant share of project resources. It is not sufficient to simply list an early career PI; the roles and budget should align with the expectation that the early career investigator is substantively leading and resourced.
Where are the detailed "early career" eligibility rules located?
The summary indicates that the detailed rules for what qualifies as "early career" are referenced in Section III of the full Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants are expected to confirm their status and structure the team, roles, and budget accordingly.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $400,000.
How many awards does EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about two awards.
What is the listed application closing date?
The original closing date provided is June 2, 2021, with a note that applicants should consult the full announcement for any additional deadline information.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the RFA. Prospective applicants should confirm whether their institution type and project team meet EPA's specific eligibility conditions in the full announcement.
Are human subjects allowed in projects funded under this solicitation?
Yes, projects may involve human subjects research, but such work is tightly regulated under EPA human subjects protections at 40 CFR Part 26. Applications involving human subjects research will undergo an additional level of review before EPA makes final funding decisions.
What regulation governs EPA's human subjects requirements for this opportunity?
The solicitation cites EPA's human subjects protections at 40 CFR Part 26. It highlights that EPA follows the Common Rule (Subpart A) and includes additional protections and prohibitions for certain populations (Subparts B, C, and D).
Which groups receive additional protections under the human subjects rules described?
The announcement references additional protections and prohibitions for research involving pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children under Subparts B, C, and D of 40 CFR Part 26.
What does the solicitation say about intentional exposure research?
The notice states that any research meeting the definition of intentional exposure research is prohibited for pregnant women, nursing women, and children.
Is observational research involving pregnant women/fetuses or children allowed?
The summary indicates observational research involving pregnant women/fetuses or children is not automatically prohibited, but it triggers additional protections and review requirements under EPA's human subjects framework.
Do all applicants need to address human subjects, even if they believe their project does not involve human subjects?
Yes. Every application must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS), regardless of whether the applicant believes the work involves human subjects research.
What happens if a proposed project includes human subjects research?
If the proposed project involves human subjects research, it will undergo an added level of review before EPA makes final funding decisions.
Does the solicitation mention any human subjects guidance or training resources?
Yes. The announcement points applicants to EPA guidance and training resources related to human subjects requirements.
What is the overarching theme EPA is looking for in funded projects?
The underlying theme is actionable measurement science: practical, high-sensitivity air monitoring advances (especially continuous, real-time measurements at very low concentrations) and credible near-source emission-rate quantification for fugitive emissions, while meeting EPA administrative requirements and strict human-subjects compliance requirements where applicable.
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