PNASH is offering Pilot Project funding during the 2026-2027 year.
Application Process
The PNASH Center is pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications for the 2026-27 Pilot Project Program in the Fall of 2026. These small grants aim to advance the health and safety of workers and communities in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) sectors across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
The PNASH Pilot Project Program provides funding for innovative research, intervention, and educational projects designed to make a meaningful impact on AgFF safety and health. Through a competitive process, one-year research projects will be awarded with a maximum total direct cost of $30,000. Projects should be planned for an 11-month duration, running from November 1, 2026, to September 29, 2027. All funded projects must be completed by September 29, 2027, with final reports due by November 30, 2027.
We encourage investigators to consider submitting a PNASH Pilot Project Program Application for a dedicated year of preliminary research before developing a full project proposal. This approach allows investigators to refine their research objectives, gather essential data, and strengthen the competitiveness of future grant applications.
We strongly encourage all qualified applicants to apply and invite you to share this opportunity within your professional networks. Note that: all pilot grant awards are contingent upon the continued availability of funds provided by NIOSH to PNASH.
PNASH Pilot Project Program Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
PNASH Pilot Program Project Application
Questions
Questions about the PNASH Pilot Program:
Judy Lysiak
judy13@uw.edu
(206) 616-1958
Past Pilot Project Awards (2007-2026)
2025-2026
- Autumn Dennistoun, DNP, RNC-OB, C-EFM/ONQS, University of Washington. Enhancing Opioid Overdose Knowledge and Naloxone Preparedness in the Commercial Fishing Workforce Through E-Learning.
- Eddie Kasner, PhD, MPH, CSP, University of Washington; Amelia Vaughan, MLIS, and Amanda Gladics, MS, Oregon State University. Health Navigation Barriers and Workforce Retention in Pacific Northwest Fishing Communities: A Needs Assessment for Community-Based Intervention.
- Christine Loftus, PhD, MPH, MS, University of Washington. Rapid Identification of Extreme Exposures Impacting PNW Agricultural Workers: Novel Tools and Methods for Time-Sensitive Research and Intervention.
2024-2025
- Maria Blancas, PhD, and June Spector, MD, MPH, University of Washington. Climate and Mental Health in Agriculture (CLIMA).
- Diana Ceballos, PhD, University of Washington. Development and evaluation of WISHA 10 cannabis training module.
- Denise Damewood, RN and Leann Cyr, PhD, Alaska Marine Safety Organization (AmSEA). Evaluating an Opioid Overdose Program for Commercial Fishermen Using the CDC Program Evaluation Framework and a Systems Theory Approach (Project Gabe).
2023-2024
- Karie Boone, PhD, Washington State University. Planning for the "New Normal": Assessing Farm Work Service Organizations' Climate-Related Impacts and Promoting Resiliency to Support Workers.
- John Flunker, PhD, University of Washington. Refining Estimates of Spatiotemporal Variation Crop Worker Exposures to Heat and Wildfire Smoke in Rural Agricultural Regions.
- Leslie B. Hammer, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University. Evaluation of the Oregon Overtime Pay Legislation (HB-4002) among Latine Agricultural Workers.
- Julie Postma, PhD, Washington State University. Smoke hazards in the Agricultural Workplace; a bilingual survey for agricultural employers.
2021-2022
- Elena Austin, DSc, University of Washington. Stress and Anxiety in Latino Farmworkers – Modifiable Workplace Factors (StrAW).
- Marissa Baker, PhD, and June Spector, MD, PhD, University of Washington. Determinants of Stress, Fatigue, and Injury Risk in Loggers and Log Truck Drivers.
- Savannah D’Evelyn, PhD, University of Washington. CLEAN AIR–I CARE: Stressors of Balancing Childcare, Work & Concerns of Wildfire Smoke Exposures for Farmworker Parents.
- Jerry Dzugan, PI and Leann (Fay) Cyr, PhD, Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AmSEA). Improving Commercial Fishing Safety in Norton Sound: Knowledge from Alaskan Native Salmon Set Gillnetters.
- Carly Hyland, PhD, Boise State University. Pesticide Exposures and Risk Perceptions among Male and Female Latinx Farmers in Idaho.
2019-2021
- Jody Early, PhD and Victoria A. Breckwich Vásquez, PhD, University of Washington. ¡Basta! Prevent Sexual Harassment in Agriculture.
- Edward Kasner, PhD, University of Washington. Smoke Monitoring for Agricultural Safety and Health (SMASH).
- Jay Kim, PhD, Oregon State University. Systemic Evaluation of Exoskeletons in Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders in Manual Timber Felling.
- Kevin Lyons, PhD, Oregon State University. Use of Unexpected Events and Management Requiring Conditions in the Training and Management of Loggers.
2018-2020
- Elena Austin, DSc, University of Washington. Nitrate Well Water Testing in Agricultural Communities: Improving Environmental Health Communication with Health Behavior Theory.
- Cynthia Curl, PhD, Boise State University. Recognizing and Reducing Risks in the Northwest Potato Industry.
- Robert Keefe, PhD, University of Idaho. Evaluation of Wearable-Based Activity Recognition Modeling Applications for Loggin Safety.
- Christopher Simpson, PhD, University of Washington. Respiratory Health and Indoor Air Quality in Washington's Cannabis Industry.
2015-2016
- Michael Yost, PhD, University of Washington. Injury and Illness Surveillance in the Pacific Northwest for the Dairy Industry.
2014-2015
- Laurel Kincl, PhD, Oregon State University. Non-Fatal Injuries among Commercial Fishing Workers in Alaska, Washington and Oregon.
- Debra Cherry, MD, University of Washington. Total Worker Health in Salmon Fishermen from Cordova, Alaska.
2013-2015
- Gabriel Garcia, PhD, University of Alaska. Fishing Industry Filipino Migrant and Immigrant Work in the Subarctic.
- Alexandra Lewis-Lorenz, PhD, AJL Productions, LLC. GRAS2P Food Safety Video.
- Peter Rabinowitz, MD, MPH, University of Washington. Transmission of Microorganisms in Dairy Farms.
2013-2014
- Susan Searles Nielsen, PhD and Christopher Simpson, PhD, University of Washington. Parkinsonism among Washington State Agricultural Pesticide Handlers.
2012-2013
- Jeff Bethel, PhD, Oregon State University. Risk Factors for Heat-Related Illness in Among Oregon Farmworkers.
2011-2013
- June Spector, MD, MPH, University of Washington. Study of Risk Factors for Heat-Related Illness in Agricultural Workers.
2011-2012
- Diane Rohlman, PhD, Oregon Health & Sciences University. Development of a Work Stress Survey for Farmworkers.
2010-2011
- Robin Baker, PhD, Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program. Occupational Safety and Health of Forest Workers.
- Janice Camp, PhD, University of Washington and Terry Hammond, Oregon Health & Sciences University. Oregon Crab Fisherman Safety and Personal Flotation Device Survey.
2009-2011
- John Garland, PhD, Oregon State University. Reducing Workloads for Older Loggers in Physically Demanding Logging Tasks with Synthetic Rope.