GUIDELINES:ApplyingforanIFSIndividualResearchGrant

1.1TitleofyourresearchprojectKeepthetitleoftheprojectshortandsimple,butinformative.Thetitleshouldclearlydescribethebasicobjectivesoftheproposedprojectandbeunderstandablebyascientistwhoisnotanexpertinyourfield.Donotuseacronyms.1.2ShortsummaryoftheprojectGiveashortsummary(maximum250words)oftheproposedproject,sufficientlyinformativeforotherscientistswhoarenotnecessarilyinyourfieldofexpertise.Thesummaryshouldcontainanoverviewoftheproject,includingashortbackgrounddescription,theobjectivesandabriefdescriptionofhowthesewillbeaccomplished,andexpectedoutputs.Considerableattentionshouldbegiventothepreparationofthisitem.Itissuggestedthatyouwritethisitemlast.1.3DurationEntertheexpectedtotaldurationofyourprojectinmonths(minimum12months,maximum36months),notincludingthewritingofyourreport.

Iftheadministeringinstitutionisthesameasyourhomeinstitution,checkthelittlebox.Wewillthentaketheinformationfromyourpersonaccount.2.1Ifdifferentthanyourhomeinstitution,enterinformationontheinstitutionthatwilladministeryourIFSgrant(thismustbeinaneligiblecountry).ProvidedetailsifyourIFSgrantwillbeadministeredbyaninstitution/organizationotherthanyourhomeinstitution.2.2Ifyouwillbecarryingouttheresearchatadifferentinstitutethananyoftheabove,pleaseenterinformationbelow(countrymustbeeligible.)Forexample,youmaybecarryingoutyourresearchatafieldstationawayfromyourhomeinstitution,oryoumaycarryoutpartofyoursampleanalysisatalaboratorythathasaccesstomoreadvancedscientificequipment.2.3Ifyouwillspendtimeduringtheplanning,implementationandcompletionstagesofyourIFSprojectatanyadditionalacademicInstitution,providedetails.Providedetailsifyouaretemporarilystayingatanotherresearchinstitutionforfurtheracademicstudies.Forexample,youmaybeenrolledinasandwichPhDprogrammeataforeignuniversity.Describeforwhatpurpose,whenandatwhichstage(s)ofyourprojectyouwillbelinkedtothisInstitution.

3.3Pleaseselectfromthedrop-downlistwhatbestdescribesyourskillsinEnglishandFrench,thetwoofficiallanguagesofIFS.

Provideinformationaboutyourmostrecentscientificeducation,especiallycoursesanddegreesyouhaveobtainedsincethetimeofyourpreviousapplication(onlyforrenewalapplicants).BesidesthenameandcountryoftheInstitutions,alsogivethedatesofthecourses,thename(s)ofyoursupervisor(s),andfullinformationabouttheacademicdegreesyouobtainedduringtheseperiods.Alsogiveinformationaboutanyfellowshipsyouhavereceived.4.1Listyouracademicdegrees.Pleasestartwiththemostrecentdegree.

4.1.1Enterthestartdate,usingthecalendar4.1.2Entertheenddate,usingthecalendar4.1.3NameandcountryofeducationalestablishmentPleasegivethenameandcountryoftheInstitution.Givethefollowingdetails:Department,FacultyorInstitution,University,City,Country.DONOTABBREVIATEORUSEACRONYMSFORINSTITUTIONNAMES.4.1.4DegreeHereyoushouldchoosethedegreeyoureceivedatthiseducationalestablishmentfromanyofthedropdownlists.Ifthedegreeyoureceivedisnotlistedhere,butisequivalenttoonelistedasanEnglish,FrenchorSpanishdegree,choosethat.IfyoudonotknowwhatyourdegreeisequivalenttoregardingEnglish,FrenchorSpanishdegrees,usesection4.4.4.1.7SubjectofyourdegreePleaseindicatethescientificfieldofyourdegree.Forexample:“microbiology”,“politicalsciences”,“integratedcontrolofcroppests”.Alsogivethetitleofyourlatestthesis.4.1.8ScientificSupervisorPleaseprovidenameandcontactdetailsofyourscientificsupervisor(s)forthisdegree.4.1.9Fellowship/StudygrantGiveinformationaboutanyfellowshipsorstudygrantsyoureceivedtogetthisdegree.

4.2–4.3OlderDegreeEnterinformationaboutyourolderdegreesaccordingtotheinstructionsin4.14.4OtherdegreenotequivalenttoanyoftheaboveIfyoudonotknowwhichEnglish,FrenchorSpanishdegreeyourdegreeisequivalentto,entertheinformationaccordingtotheinstructionsin4.1,andthenthenameofthedegreehere.4.5OtherstudiesandtrainingcoursesEnterinformationonanyothercoursesortrainingprogrammesyouhaveattendedinthefieldoftheproposedresearchproject.Giveyear,place,durationandsubjecttitle.

5.1YourpresentpositionProvideinformationaboutyourpresentpositionatyourInstitution;startingdate,ifpermanentortemporary,enddate.Ifyouarenotemployedbyyourorganisation,pleasespecifythepreciserelationshipyouhavewithit.Beasspecificaspossibleregardingtheresearchareasyouareworkinginandaboutyourresponsibilities.Describehowmanypeopleinthelistedcategoriesyousupervise,andhowyouwoulddistributeyourtime(inpercentage)ifyourproposalisapprovedasanIFSgrant.5.2YourpreviouspositionsProvideinformationaboutyourpreviouspositions.

6.1Providefulldetailsofyourownpublications.Groupthemasjournalpublications(includingmanuscriptsinpreparation),conferencepapers,posters,reportsanddegreetheses.Startwiththemostrecentonesforeachgroup.Listallyourmajorpublications,especiallythoserelatedtoyourproposedresearchproject,givingauthor(s),yearofpublication,titleofthearticle,nameofjournalorbookandpagenumbers.Alsogiveallinformationavailableaboutarticlesinpress,inparticulartowhichjournaltheyhavebeensubmitted.Listalsothetitle(s)ofyourthesis/theses.Youmayincludereports;markthemwithan"R".6.2Summarizeyourresearchexperiencedemonstratingyourscientificcompetence,relevanttotheproposedresearch.Provideinformationaboutthescientificexperienceyouhaveobtainedwhichpreparesyoutocarryouttheproposedresearchproject.6.3DescribeongoingresearchatyourInstitutionfocusingonthecapacities(e.g.skills,experienceandcapacitiesofyourcolleagues)whichyoucouldcalluponforyourproject.ProvideinformationaboutanyscientificworkatyourInstitutionrelatedtotheproposedresearchproject,indicatingpossibleinstitutionalback-upyoumayreceiveduringyourproject.6.4Alreadyestablishedscientificcontacts.Providedetailsofscientificcontactsalreadyestablishedbyyouwhocouldprovideadviceonyourproject.Givename,fieldofspecialization,institutionalaffiliationande-mailaddress,and(ifapplicable)thespecificroleinthisIFSproject.6.5Additionalscientificcontactsyouwouldliketoestablish.Providedetailsofadditionalscientificcontactsyouwouldliketoestablish,inadditiontothoseyoualreadyhave.Givename,fieldofspecialization,institutionalaffiliationande-mailaddress.Youcanalsomentionscientificareasinwhichyouwouldliketoestablishlinkswithseniorscientists.

7.1Whatis/aretheproblem(s)yourresearchprojectseekstoaddress?Provideabackgroundandjustificationforyourresearch.Identifyrelevantstakeholdersandpotentialbeneficiariesforyourproposedproject.Formulateyourproblemstatementandsupportitwithfacts,citingreferences.Forexample:“VitaminAdeficiencyaffects63%ofchildrenundertheageoffiveintheXregionofcountryZ(Smithetal.,2009)”.7.2Whatisthecurrentstateofscientificknowledgethatyourresearchisbuildingon(globallyaswellaslocally)?Provideashortandup-to-datesummaryofthepresentstatusofscientificknowledgerelevanttotheresearchyoupropose.Acriticalanalysisofthescientificliteratureshouldhelpyoutoidentifyexistingknowledgegaps.Makereferencetolocalandworld-wideliterature(e.g.Johnsonetal.,2008).Thesummarymustshowhowyourresearchisbuiltonpreviousknowledgeandhowitisinnovative,inthewaythatitrepresentsthenextstep.Thereareseveralfreescientificliteraturedatabasesavailableontheinternet.Youmayalsowanttocontactyourlibrarianforassistanceinfindingrelevantscientificpublications.7.3Publications/literaturequotedinsections7.1and7.2(providefulldetailsofreferences).Makealistofreferences,providingfulldetailsofthemostimportantreferenceswhichsupporttheinformationin7.1and7.2.Pleasemakethelistinaformatusedbymajorscientificjournals,sothattheoriginalpublicationcanbetraced.(Author(s),year,title,journal/book,volume/publisher,pages).Forexample:“SmithA,BJonesandCBrown.2009.EffectsofvitaminAdeficiencyincountryZ.JournalofExamples,3(1):6-12”).7.4Statetheresearchobjective(s)oftheproject.Statetheobjectivesofyourresearchwhichwillcontributetofilling(someof)theknowledgegapsyouidentifiedinsection7.2.Yourobjectivesshouldbeasspecificaspossible.Avoidgeneralisations.7.5Stateyourscientifichypothesesorresearchquestion(s).Youshouldformulateyourresearchquestion(s)insuchawaythatit/theycanbetestedandultimatelyeitherconfirmedorrejectedthroughtheproposedexperimentsor

observations.Agoodhypothesisdoesnotpredictageneralorobviousoutcome.Anexampleofapoorhypothesiswouldbe:“Doestheadditionofmanureincreasecropyields?”Thisisalreadyknownoranear-certainty.Abetterhypothesiswouldbe:“CanadditionofmanureXXbecompetitivewithcurrentfertilizerregimesformaizeproductioninregionYwithregardtoeconomicfeasibilityandenvironmentalsustainability?”7.6Statetheexpectedoutputsoftheproject(itsdeliverables,i.e.whatwillbeachievedattheendoftheproject).Describewhatyouexpecttobeachievedthroughtheactivitiesofyourproject(incontrasttooutcomes,see7.7below).7.7Statetheoutcomesoftheproject.Howwillyourresearchresultsberelevanttosociety?Mightyourresearchresultsbeputintouse,andifsohow?Howmighttheoutputsofyourprojectleadtopotentialoutcomes?Outcomesaretheconsequencesofyourprojectwhichmayleadtoe.g.awarenessraising,changesinbehaviouroractionsofstakeholders.Usually,outcomesarebeyondthereachoftheresearchprojectitself.7.8Researchdesignanddataanalysis.Applicantsarestronglyadvisedtocontactastatistician/biometricianduringtheplanningstageoftheresearchprojectinordertomakesurethattheprojectdesignpermitsappropriatestatisticalanalysisandreliableinterpretationofthedatathatwillbegenerated.Indicatewhetheryouhavecontactedsuchaperson,andifyes,enterhis/hernameandinstitution.7.9Describeyourprojectdesign,makingreferencetotheliteraturefromwhichyoutakeyourmethodologiesforexperimentaldesign,samplecollectionanddataanalysis,orforqualitativeresearchandcase-studyapproaches.Summarizeandmakereferencetoliteratureregardingtheexperimentaldesignorplansfortrialsandobservations,case-studies,etc,thatyouwilluseinyourproject.Alsodescribethestatisticalmethod(s)tobeusedtoanalysethedata.Refertoanysoftwareyouwillbeusing.7.10Yourresearchplan-describeclearlythestructureandorganizationofyourresearchprojectTheresearchplanisanimportantpartoftheproposal.Thissectiondescribesspecificdetailsoftheworkyouwillcarryout(observations,surveys,experiments,etc).Makesureitcoversallobjectiveslistedin7.4.ItshouldcovertheentiredurationofyourIFSresearchproject(1-3years).Describeindetailwhatwillbedone.Presentalogicalsequenceoftheresearchactivities.Donotsimplyprovidealistofactivities.Thedescriptionoftechniquesandmethodologiesusedmustbedetailedenoughsothatotherresearcherscouldrepeatyourwork,ifsodesired.Describewheretheresearchwillbecarriedout,givecriteriaforchoosingsitesandsamples,samplingmethodsandsamplesizes.Latinnamesmustbeprovidedofallspeciesstudied,whereknown.Providedetailedreferencesforanyspecialmethodologiesused(thereisnoneedtodescribemethodologieswhicharewellknownbyresearchersingeneral,e.g.nitrogenanalysisbyKjeldahl).

• Ifyouuseaquestionnaireinyourresearch,youarerequiredtouploadacopyinthe“files”

sectionofyourapplication.Insomecasesyoumayalsowishtouploadadiagramofe.g.yourfieldtrialdesignorspecialexperimentalprotocol.Ifyoudo,pleaserefertothatdiagraminthisspace.

IMPORTANT!Ifyouwillsolicitinformationfromhumansubjects(usinginterviews,questionnaires,etc),orareworkingwithorproducinggenetically-engineeredorganisms,dangerousproducts,orarecarryingoutexperimentsthatmayotherwiseraiseethicalissues–e.g.regardingthecareanduseofexperimentalanimals–youshouldstatehowconfidentialityregardinginformationgatheredfromrespondentswillbeguaranteedandifandhowsafetyregulationsandinternationalstandardswillbeadheredto.

Inthesection“ProjectTimeline”weexpectyoutolisteachsignificantprojectactivitychronologically,e.g.relevantdetailsonthetiminganddurationoftheactivitieslistedandmethodologiesdescribedinmoredetailunder7.10.Indicatewheneachactivitywilltakeplaceandhowlongitwilllast.Forexampleasamplingperiodmaylastfrommonth1untilmonth5,partlyoverlappedbychemicalanalysiswhichmaylastfrommonth3untilmonth12.

Thisisanexampleofwhatitmaylooklike;

Whenyouhaveenteredactivities,therewillbealist,lookinglikethis:

8.1ListfacilitiesavailableatyourInstitution.Listfacilitiesincludingequipment,etc,necessaryforyourprojectwhichwillbeprovidedbytheInstitutionwheretheworkwillbecarriedout.Thisisimportantforaproperevaluationoftheapplication.Sparepartsoraccessoriesfortheseapparatusmayberequestedinthebudgetiftheyarenecessary.TheuseofequipmentincludedinthislistmustbeagreeduponbytheHeadofInstitution;thisisimplicitinhis/hersignatureofthefirstpage.8.2ListanyotherfundsforyourprojectthatyouoryourInstitutionhaveobtainedorappliedfor.Statefundingorganisation,timeframeforfundingandamount.8.3Ifyouhaveco-fundingforyourresearch,pleasegivedetailsofwhyIFSsupportisneededtocomplementyourothersupport.IFSpermitsco-fundingofprojects,butitmustbeclearlyexplainedwhatthefundsrequestedfromIFSwillbeusedforinrelationtothefundsavailableforthesameproject(orelementsthereof)fromotherdonors.

Thissectionisonlyforrenewalapplications9.1ProvidetheactualstartingandendingdatesofyourpreviousIFSsupportedresearchproject.Thesedatesshouldcorrespondtowhentheactualresearchworkwascarriedout.9.2InyourpreviousapplicationtoIFSyououtlinedanumberofobjectivesthatyourprojectshouldachieve.Comparetheresultsofyourresearchprojectwithyourinitialobjectives.Ifthereweredifferences,explainwhattheywereandwhytheyoccurred.Dothedifferenceshaveimplicationsforthecurrentproposal?Explain.

ForallapplicationsInthesection“Budget”youcanenterrequesteditems.Howtodothattechnicallyisexplainedinthedocument“HowtofillinyourApplication”.ThetotalbudgetshouldnotexceedUSD12,000.Thebudgetshouldcoverthecompleteprojectperiod(12-36months).Itisnotanannualbudget.Thebudgetitemsmustberelevanttotheproposedresearchplanandshouldbejustified.VehiclescannotbepurchasedfromtheIFSgrant.IFSDOESNOTFUNDINSTITUTIONALOVERHEADS,SALARIESORHONORARIA.Inthe“Budgetjustification”spaceprovidedforeachitem,givedetailsonthepurposeandfunction,andexplainwhytheyareneededintheprojectinrelationtotheactivitiesmentionedintheworkplan.Giveexplanatorydetailsandcalculationsforamountsrequested.Moredetailedinformationaboutthedifferentbudgettypesfollowsbelow:Equipment.ListeachitemofequipmentforwhichyourequestfundingthathasanindividualcostofUSD500ormoreandanexpectedlifespanofmorethan3years.Specifyanddescribeeachitem,andgivetothebestofyourknowledge:manufacturer,model/type,accessoriesifneeded.Givearealisticestimateofthecostforeachitem.Includefreightcharges,insurance,andtaxesforitemstobeimported.Consult,ifpossible,aseniortechnicianforadviceonthemostappropriateequipmentforyourproject.PleaserememberthatIFSmustfollowallinternationaltradeagreementsandtradeembargos.Inpractice,thismeansthatIFSdoesnotpurchaseandtransferequipmentormaterialsbetweencountrieswhensuchtransfersarerestrictedbyoneorbothcountries.Expendablesupplies.Listcategoriesandsignificantitemsofexpendablesupplies(glassware,solvents,feed,reagents,testkits,etc)andgiveacostestimateforeach.Includefreightcharges,insuranceandtaxesforitemstobeimported.Literature,documentation,information.Listcategoriesofliterature(e.g.books,reprints,andphotocopies)ordocumentation,andgiveacostestimateforeachcategory.Ifyouintendtopurchasebooks,providedetails.Literaturesearchesmaybeconsidered.IFSacceptsatotalstandardcostofUSD500fortheseitems.Ifyourestimationofthecostsexceedsthisamount,itmustbespecifiedandwellexplained.(Costsforpublishingscientificworkshouldnotbeincludedhere.Thiskindofsupportmaybeappliedforseparately.)Localtravel.Giveyourestimationoftheactualcostsforyourlocaltravel(accommodation,food,tickets,fuel,etc).Pleasenotethatonlycostsrelatedtolocaltravel(samplecollection,fieldvisits,participantobservation,surveysetc)mayberequestedunderthisitem.Iftheprojectrequiresadriver,interpreteretc,don’tforgettoincludetheirtravelcostsunderthispoint.Youmustexplaintheneedforlocaltravel,withadetailedcalculationofthecosts.Ifsitesarefarawayfromyourinstitute,thereasonwhytheyareselectedhastobeexplained.Exampleofcalculationfortravelcost:youareundertakingahouseholdsurveyinadistrict100kmawayfromyourhomeinstitution.“Calculation:100x2(return)xmileage(USD/km)xnumberofvisits=sumrequestedinthebudget.”

Unexplainedorinsufficientlyexplaineditemsmaybecauseforfailureoftheapplicationorreductionoftheapprovedbudget.(Costsfortraveltoconferences,scientificmeetings,etcshouldnotbeincludedhere.Thiskindofsupportmaybeappliedforseparately.)Fieldwork/Manpower.Extramanpowercostsmustbespecifiedandexplained.TheyshouldonlyincludemanuallabourcostswhicharenecessaryfortheexecutionoftheIFSproject;labourersforfieldwork,animalcare,translators,guides,etc.Theapplicantcannotbesubsidisedwithanhonorarium,salary,etc.Other.AnyothercostsnotmentionedabovewhicharenecessaryfortheIFSproject.

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