Graduate Fellowship for Coral Reef Ecosystem Research

International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) Graduate Fellowship for Coral Reef Ecosystem Research

The International for Reef Studies (ISRS) is pleased to announce funding to support up to two Graduate Fellowships for Coral Reef Ecosystem Research in 2009. The ISRS Fellowships will provide up to US$6,000 to be used for salary, travel, fieldwork, or laboratory analyses, which contribute directly to the recipients’ PhD research. Applications are due Friday, July 10th.

1) Background and Fellowship Goals
Coral reef ecosystems around the world continue to be threatened by direct anthropogenic stresses and climate change. Scientists and reef managers are increasingly working together to develop sound management strategies that are based on rigorous science. There remain however, many unanswered questions about reef disturbances and reef resilience, climate change and adaptation, reef connectivity, marine protected areas, fishery impacts, and effective management practices. Many coral reefs are in poor condition, yet we do not fully understand the threats that are undermining their integrity or their interactions. What processes and mechanisms are causing differential mortality and how are some species still able to survive and indeed be successful in times of stress. Studies are needed that will combine management with process-level information. Research supported by the 2009 ISRS Fellowships should increase our understanding of processes on coral reefs that are relevant to management at local, regional, or global scales.

Conditions
A condition of each ISRS Fellowship is that recipients will report back to the ISRS on their research progress, outline their findings, and also publicize the research outcomes with appropriate acknowledgment for the support provided by ISRS. Reports are to be submitted to the recording secretary (Dr Morgan Pratchett: morgan.pratchett@jcu.edu.au) as requested and within 12 months of receipt of the award.

Who can apply?
The Fellowship is available to students worldwide, who are already admitted to a doctoral program at an accredited university. The intent of the fellowship is to help Ph.D. students develop skills and address problems related to relevant applications of coral reef ecosystem research and management. The Fellowship can be used to support salary, travel, fieldwork, or laboratory analyses.

Application materials
A five page proposal as a pdf document, using 12-point font, double-spaced, in English, is required from prospective fellowship candidates: proposals that do not meet these criteria may not be considered. The proposal should include the following sections:
1. Applicant’s details: The first page of the application should provide the Proposal Title, Author’s Name, Author’s Address, Major Professor’s Name, Major Professor's Address (if different than the Author's), and total amount requested.
2. Overview: The overview places the proposed research in context. We are looking for a clearly stated rationale, research objectives, a clear question that is driving the research, and the relevance of the study within the context of the literature.
3. Methods: The methods section includes hypotheses, methods, and experimental design, including details on field or laboratory techniques and how data will be analyzed.
4. Relevance & implications of research: This section will briefly outline expected outcomes, how the work is relevant to host country management and science issues and the implications of the research within a broader context. This section also includes evidence of host country coordination (e.g., identification of individuals or programs that will benefit from your results). Please also advise how the research outcomes are to be publicized.

The following three sections are also required but do not count against the five page limit:
5. Detailed Budget: The budget must not exceed $6,000. Evidence of cost-sharing is desirable for the application. Cost sharing might include, for example, additional funding, accommodation, the loan of equipment, or access to analytical facilities. Please outline all current sources of funding to be used to support the proposed project.
6. Literature Cited: Use the bibliographic format for the Society’s journal, Coral Reefs.
7. Applicant CV: 2 pages maximum, outlining publications, existing and previous funding, as well as relevant research experience.

Letter of support: The student's major professor must submit a support letter for the project based on his/her knowledge of the project, and familiarity with the student's background and abilities. If work will be conducted at another university, a support letter is required from the sponsoring Professor.

Submitting your application
ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY as follows:
a) All materials must be sent to Dr. Morgan Pratchett at: morgan.pratchett@jcu.edu.au
b) The completed proposal (items 1 – 7 above) must be combined into a single document and emailed as an attachment in pdf format. Please enter the subject line and your pdf file as in the following example: Smith proposal_ISRS09.pdf
c) The letter of support must come directly from the major professor as an e-mail attachment (pdf format). Please enter the subject line and pdf as: Smith support_ISRS09.pdf

Applications will be considered complete only when both the application and supporting letter have been received. You should ensure that your professors are aware of the deadline, and can get their letters submitted in a timely manner. Only completed electronic applications will be reviewed by the ISRS review panel.

EVALUATION CRITERIA INCLUDE: scientific merit, feasibility, support letter from major professor, and relevance to the Fellowship guidelines and ISRS objectives.

DEADLINE – All applications must be received by July 10th 2009, with awards to be announced in August 2009.

ISRS Mission Statement
The mission of the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) is to promote for the benefit of the public, the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and understanding concerning coral reefs, both living and fossil.