Funding
CHPS supports interdisciplinary research, communication, mentoring, and external engagement across affiliated departments at the University of Michigan. Most center activities are driven by individual investigator-proposed ideas, complementary to center-defined activities.
Research focus
We focus initially on discipline-crossing research initiatives derived from the following overarching questions:
- How do solid materials, whether inherited from interstellar matter or condensed in circumstellar disks, evolve through temperature, pressure, and composition into the building blocks of planets?
- Where, when, and how do protoplanets form in primordial disks around young stars?
- How do planet formation outcomes (frequency as a function of mass, orbital separation, and stellar properties) test theories of origin?
- What information can we extract from planetary spectra to characterize their composition, structure, origin, and evolution?
- How do interactions between stars and planets (radiation, particle winds, magnetic fields) shape the structure, composition, and evolution of their atmospheres?
- How do interiors, crusts, oceans, and atmospheres of Earth-like planets interact to determine the long-term evolution of their climate?
Proposal sizes
CHPS accepts proposals of two sizes:
Large proposals (> $10K USD) are solicited once per year. Examples include grants for exploratory research (equipment, student summer support, postdoctoral cost-sharing), funds to support a distinguished sabbatical visitor for one full semester, or workshop sponsorship.
Small proposals (< $10K USD) may be submitted to the Director at any time. Examples include visits of a distinguished scholar, minor equipment, student activities, or outreach and educational activities.
Selection criteria
Successful proposals will meet some or all of the following:
- Scientific efforts that involve more than one unit
- Improvements to the intellectual climate enjoyed by center members
- Encouragement of new research directions
- Improvements to the education of undergraduates and graduates in (exo)planetary sciences
The responsibility for the scientific leadership and implementation of proposed activities lies entirely with the proposers, who must be faculty members in participating units. All proposals must use the CHPS proposal template, in 12pt font, and one page in length.
Active call: 2026
- Large Proposals due: TBD
- Small Proposals: Accepted any time
Submit proposals to Edwin Bergin, Director, [email protected], 311C West Hall. Please include "CHPS 2026 Call for Proposals" in the subject line.
Department contacts
Questions about center proposals and potential activities can be directed to the center representative in your department:
- Astronomy: Emily Rauscher
- CLaSP (Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering): Cheng Li
- EES (Earth and Environmental Sciences): Jackie Li
- Physics: Fred Adams