Interested in submitting a Strategic Research Project proposal?

Eligibility

Proposals must be led by a UC principal investigator (PI) and include collaborators from at least one other UC campus and at least one partner institution in Mexico. Alianza MX can assist with identifying collaborators across the UC system as well as at Mexican partner institutions.

Amounts

Proposal submissions can request up to $200,000 USD in seed funding over a period of up to 24 months. Funds can support field research, conferences and workshops, and project staff, but may not be used to cover overhead or indirect costs.

Proposals must be submitted with support from the PI’s campus Vice Chancellor of Research and Office of Sponsored Projects, and they must identify specific roles for collaborators from both another UC campus and a Mexican partner institution. A copy of the application form is available on the Resources page.

For questions on current Strategic Research Projects or inquiries regarding proposal submissions, please contact alianzaucmx@ucr.edu.

Strategic Research Projects

Zero Emission Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities for the US-Mexico Transportation Industry

This project supports the Mexico-US High-level Task Zero Emission Vehicles, established in 2022 to develop a managed industry transition that ensures prosperity, competitiveness, and inclusion for the US-Mexico auto industry.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Gil Tal, UC Davis

UC Collaborators: To be confirmed

MX Collaborators: Colegio de Sonora

Publications

Research report & Policy brief: "Implications of Global EV Adoption Targets for Mexico Light Duty Auto Industry," April 2023

Gil Tal, UC Davis; Francisco Pares, UC Davis; Pablo Busch, UC Davis; Minal Chandra, UC Davis

Policy brief: "US-Mexico Second-hand Vehicle Trade: Implications for Responsible EV End-of-Life Management and Material Circularity in North America," April 2023

Francisco Pares, UC Davis; Galym Iskakov, UC Davis; Alissa Kendall, UC Davis

Strategic Research Projects

Economics of US-Mexico Migration: Policies, Opportunities for Employment, and Economic Growth

This project proposes policies and actions that will maximize the growth and employment potential of immigrant workers, students, and professionals, as well as to evaluate their impact on the communities where they live. It is also creating a binational graduate program on the economics of international migration. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Giovanni Peri, UC Davis 

UC Collaborators: UC Merced, UC San Diego

MX Collaborators: Colegio de México, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Events/Publications

UC faculty members will present lectures on their research and students will present their own research ideas/draft to receive feedback from faculty. UC experts include the following:

    • Giovanni Peri, UC Davis: “Immigrants and labor markets”
    • Gaurav Khanna, UC San Diego: “Skilled immigration and Education”
    • Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes, UC Merced: “Policies and integration of immigrants”
    • Santiago Pérez, UC Davis: “Selection and economic success of migrants and second generation”

Working paper: "Changes in International Immigration and Internal Native Mobility after Covid-19 in the US," December 2022

    • Giovanni Peri, UC Davis
    • Reem Zaiour, UC Davis

Presentation: "International Migration and COVID-19," Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Economic Research Conference on Labor Markets During and After the Pandemic, November 2022

    • Giovanni Peri, UC Davis

Working paper: "Declining Mobility among Mexican-Born Workers in the U.S. Labor Force," October 2022

  • Julian Arteaga, UC Davis
  • Ashish Shenoy, UC Davis

Working paper: "International College Students' Impact on the US Skilled Labor Supply," September 2022

      • Michael Beine, University of Luxembourg
      • Giovanni Peri, UC Davis
      • Morgan Raux, University of Luxembourg

Strategic Research Projects

Water Resources Management: Improving Climate-Extreme Resilience in Mexico and the United States

This project uses case studies from California and Mexico to explore promising water management alternatives for agriculture, ecosystems, and communities in response to climate extremes, with a strong emphasis on groundwater.

 

Principal Investigator: Dr. José Medellín-Azuara, UC Merced

UC Collaborators: UC Davis, UC Los Angeles

MX Collaborators: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Universidad de las Américas – Puebla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Case Studies

Climate Data Science: Understanding the role of extremes in variability in water resources

John Abatzoglou, UC Merced

Community Resilience: Evaluating socio-ecological resilience to variable severity wildfires in Jalisco

Yosune Miquelejauregui, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

John Williams, UC Davis

John Abatzoglou, UC Merced  

Sustainable Groundwater Management: Managed aquifer recharge site selection, characterization, and monitoring

Tom Harmon, UC Merced

Roxana Nicte-Há Hughes-Lomelín, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Mario Alberto Hernández, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Graciela Herrera Zamarrón (UNAM)  

Sustainable Groundwater Management: Aguascalientes Valley Aquifer

Roxana Nicte-Há Hughes-Lomelín, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Tom Harmon, UC Merced

Mario Alberto Hernández, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Marco Antonio Martínez Cinco, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Sonia Tatiana Sánchez Quispe, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Integrated Water Management: Economic valuation of irrigation water in chinampas of Xochimilco and its effect on CO₂ fixation

Everardo Trujillo Moreno, Chapingo Autonomous University 

Integrated Water Management: Agricultural policy analysis in Irrigation District 023, San Juan Del Río Querétaro

Karen Lucero Cruz, Chapingo Autonomous University

Miguel Angel Martinez, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) 

Integrated Water Management: Management, productivity, and evaluation of the San Juan del Río Querétaro Aquifer

Ángeles Suhgey Garay, Chapingo Autonomous University

Ramon Valdivia, Chapingo Autonomous University

Integrated Water Management: Enhancing water sustainability for winery irrigation with treated domestic and internal wastewater in Napa, California and Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California

Marc Beutel, UC Merced

Leopoldo Mendoza Espinosa, Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC)

Clara Medina, UC Merced

Thomas Harmon, UC Merced

Josue Medellín, UC Merced

J. Andres Morande, UC Merced

 

Integrated Water Management: Dynamic modeling of groundwater storage in an arid zone considering the effect of a climatic index

David-Eduardo Guevera-Polo, University of the Americas, Puebla (UDLAP)

Carlos Patino, University of the Americas, Puebla (UDLAP) 

Strategic Research Projects

Bio-Regional Planning: Climate Action Research, Planning and Design in Cali-Baja

This project reinforces efforts to complete a bio-regional action plan for the Cali-Baja Bioregion spanning the US-Mexico Border and Tribal lands (the Cali-Baja BioREGPlan 2030). The Plan’s ultimate purpose is to identify and document transformational change that can benefit people and communities vulnerable to the climate emergency.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Keith Pezzoli, UC San Diego

UC Collaborators: UC Davis, UC Los Angeles

MX Collaborators: El Colegio de la Frontera Norte

Additional Information

Alianza MX is currently accepting proposals for additional Strategic Research Projects.
The application for Strategic Research Projects can be found here.
 

For questions on the scope and administration of ongoing Strategic Research Projects, or for inquiries regarding proposals, please contact Aaron Melaas, Alianza MX Associate Director for Research & Innovation.