Deadline- 11 November, 2012
Countries/Region- Jordan, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic, Samoa, Fiji, China, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Suriname, El Salvador, Gabon, Paraguay, Bolivia, Maldives, Mongolia, Moldova (Republic of), Philippines, Egypt, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Uzbekistan, Micronesia (Federated States of), Guyana, Botswana, Syrian Arab Republic, Namibia, Honduras, Kiribati, South Africa, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, VietNam, Nicaragua, Morocco, Guatemala, Iraq, Cape Verde, India, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia, Swaziland, Bhutan, Solomon Islands, Kenya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Angola, Myanmar, Cameroon, Madagascar, Tanzania (United Republic of), Papua New Guinea, Yemen, Senegal, Nigeria, Nepal, Haiti, Mauritania, Lesotho, Uganda, Togo, Comoros, Zambia, Djibouti, Rwanda, Benin, Gambia, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Guinea, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Chad, Mozambique, Burundi, Niger, Congo (Democratic Republic of the)
Biodiversity International invites research Proposals for 2013 to carry out research, from 3 to 12 months, on a wide range of biophysical, economic and social themes related to the conservation and use of of genetic resources in developing countries. Multi-disciplinary research is particularly encouraged.
Fellowships call focuses on the following themes-
- Use of agrobiodiversity as an instrument for climate change adaptation
- Research to enhance the conservation of genetic resources of a tree species important to the livelihoods of the rural poor
- Sustainable diets for improved nutrition and health
- Policy research in support of implementation of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- Gene discovery in crop wild relatives
- Facilitating better use of genebank materials
- Researching neglected and underutilized species for food and nutrition security
- Applying economics to agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable use and policy analysis
- Management of Musa diseases through a better understanding of specific host-pathogen interactions and co-evolution
Criteria–
- The research proposal should address one of the Research Themes in the Call for Research Proposals.
- The research should have a clear benefit and linkage to the home institute or home country or other developing country. Applicants must show in the proposal how the research opportunity will be applied after the Fellowship in the framework of a national or regional programme or in a developing country.
- The research proposal should be no more than 2000 words, not inclusive of the bibliography. The proposal should be typed in a serif font (e.g. Times or Palatino) of 12 point size, with double line spacing, and should include the following sections-
- Problem statement (issue, research question or problem to be investigated).
- Justification and rationale (importance and significance of subject, why is it important to be addressed? how does it relate to the objective of the Vavilov–Frankel Fellowship?)
- Literature review (review of work that has been done on this issue).
- Main objective and specific objectives (candidate’s proposed contribution).
- Hypotheses or research questions (statements which applicant will test through experimentation).
- Materials and methods (materials needed to accomplish the research and research design, data sources, procedures and analytical techniques to be employed).
- Expected outputs (product(s) resulting during/from the research).
- Beneficiaries and impact (intended audience for the product and outcome of the research in terms of plant genetic resources conservation and use, potential application of results and social/economic benefits for the home institute or home country or other developing country).
- Innovativeness (what is novel in the identification of the problem or approach and what would this proposal add to the knowledge base).
- Application of results (show how the training, knowledge or skills will be applied after the Fellowship in the framework of ongoing research in the home institute or in a national or regional programme or in another developing country).
- Work plan for the proposed period of the fellowship
How to apply?
- Applications should be submitted in English, French or Spanish
- The Application form and Guidelines can be downloaded from website or requested by email.
- The successful applicants will be informed by 30 April 2013 and are required to take up their Fellowships before 31 December 2013.
Eligibility-
- Eligibility for this call is determined on the basis of applicants meeting a number of general criteria and additional criteria for the GRDC-supported fellowship.
- Applicants should be nationals of low and medium income countries, according to the Human Development Index
- Applicants should be no more than 35 years of age.
- Applicants should hold at least a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area.
- All applications must address one of the Research Themes
Applications must include–
- Cover letter
- Completed application form
- Full curriculum vitae (with a list of publications)
- Research proposal prepared following the Guidelines for Preparation of Research Proposals
- Letter of acceptance from the proposed host institute (should follow the Guidelines)
- Letter of support from an institute in a developing country (preferably the home institute) which should specify why the research is important to the institute and should also identify the support that will be provided to the applicant upon return.
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