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Exploratory Research

The call for Exploratory Research invites proposals that utilize highlighted Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) capabilities to advance scientific understanding of biological, environmental, and computational sciences. The highlighted capabilities vary year-to-year. Accepted projects have access to EMSL instrumentation, resources, and expertise for up to 9 months. This call generally opens each year in June, with decisions announced at the end of November. Projects begin in January. 

Past Calls

Proposal Announcement: Exploratory Research

Call for Exploratory Research Proposals, FY 2025

Microscopic image of pink and orange Anatase anatase mineral

Proposals must employ one or more of the capabilities highlighted below to advance scientific understanding in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory’s (EMSL’s) three science areas …

Letters of Intent Due

Full Proposals Deadline

How
Proposals must be submitted via EMSL User Portal
Submissions open
Past Proposal Call: Exploratory Research

Call for Exploratory Research Proposals, FY 2024

soil samples in test tubes

*Updated: January 20, 2024 The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory awarded 17 projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 call. Proposal Call Overview Proposals must employ one or more of the…

Letters of Intent Due

Full Proposals Deadline

How
Proposals must be submitted via EMSL User Portal
Submissions open

Selected Projects

Web Feature

Ten Months, Twenty Projects, and Countless Scientific Advancements

researcher in gloves holds a transparent sample
EMSL awards 20 projects through Exploratory Call
Publish Date
News

EMSL Awards Exploratory Research Funding to 17 Projects

ocean pollution
Research focuses on global climate change, plastic pollution, and methane production  
Publish Date
Web Feature

New EMSL Double-blind Pilot Makes Research Proposal Review Anonymous

anonymized proposals
Process shown to facilitate greater equity and diversity in proposals selected 
Publish Date

Research Highlights

Science Areas
Functional and Systems Biology
Research Highlight

Cells Shown to Multitask in Bacterial Biofilms

These images show top-down views of colonies of Bacillus subtilis grown on agar plates. The image on the left is a brightfield image while the one on the right shows false-color fluorescence of this colony. These bacterial cells contain two reporter constructs that cause the cells to produce two distinct fluorescence signals (shown as green and pink) when one or both of those genes are expressed.
A recent study revealed that current concepts of cellular heterogeneity oversimplify bacterial cells’ ability to differentiate into specific cell types and perform tasks. 
Publish Date