The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center is Seeking Research Proposals

The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) supports research that
advances the Center’s Strategic Directions and Objectives described in the HTIRC Strategic
Plan. Funding is available to support research proposals that directly address these priorities,
with particular interest in 1) mixed-species planting strategies that integrate companion species,
including nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs, with desired species (e.g., white oak and black
walnut) to improve growth, form, early pruning, and crown development; 2) optimizing nursery
stock quality for outplanting; 3) silvicultural approaches that mimic natural succession,
including systems that combine early successional species with later successional species (e.g.,
oaks) through underplanting and release; 4) silvicultural prescriptions to increase the abundance,
dominance, and timber quality of white oak and black walnut in natural forests; 5) strategies to
address existing and emerging invasive plants, insects, and pathogens, including the
development and deployment of planting stock with genetic resistance or tolerance to invasive
pests and pathogens. Multi-year proposals (up to a maximum of three years) can be submitted.
However, funding is awarded annually and funding in subsequent years is contingent upon the
availability of funds and satisfactory performance in previous years. An individual investigator
may only submit one proposal as PI per year and only one proposal as Co-PI per year. One
investigator may, therefore, be listed on a maximum of two HTIRC proposals in a given year.

Proposal are Due by May 15th. You can seed full details here.