Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Young Researchers Awards 2018 – (€5,000 prize)

Application Deadline: 15 June 2018

The GBIF Young Researchers Awards is an annual programme aimed at fostering innovative research and discovery in biodiversity informatics. The YRAs provide prizes to two graduate students—generally one Master’s candidate and one Ph.D candidate—nominated by GBIF Participant countries.

On behalf of the network of national Participants, the GBIF Secretariat is pleased to invite nominations for the 2018 Young Researchers Award. This annual programme aims to foster innovative research and discovery in biodiversity informatics by graduate students whose master’s and doctoral studies rely on GBIF-mediated data.

The 2018 programme will provide €5,000 prizes recognizing the work of two graduate students—preferably, one master’s and one PhD candidate—nominated by GBIF Participant countries.

Award recipients will be selected from the pool of nominees whose names are received by the GBIF Secretariat by 15 June 2018. The winners will be announced just prior to the 25th GBIF Governing Board meeting, to be held in Kilkenny, Ireland, in October 2018.

Eligibility

• Candidates must be enrolled in a university graduate programme to be eligible for the award.
• Candidates must be either citizens of a country participating in GBIF or students at an institution located in a GBIF participant country.
• Nomination can come either from the country of citizenship or from the country of the candidate’s host institution.

Award nomination packet

Candidates should prepare their proposal and nomination packets to include:

1. Research summary (200 words)
2. Project description (maximum 5 pages, 12-point Arial) that describes
   a. The need for the research and the question(s) it addresses.
   b. The role of data accessed through GBIF in addressing these questions. Research proposals must clearly demonstrate how the study incorporates data mobilized through GBIF. Students with questions about GBIF-enabled data should work with academic advisors, their GBIF national node, the GBIF Secretariat or members of the Science Committee to increase their understanding.
   c. The research scope, plan, methodologies, relevant literature citations and timetable.
   d. If relevant, a description or an excerpt from a data management plan that outlines how data related to the research is published or will be prepared for publication through the GBIF network to GBIF.org.
3. Budget (1 page), itemized and justified. NOTE: budgetary items are restricted to academic fees, essential equipment, supplies (e.g. hardware, software) and travel; salary support is not permitted.
4. Curriculum vitae of the student applicant including full contact information at the home institution.
5. Supporting documents
   a. An official letter from the student’s faculty mentor/supervisor certifying that the applicant is a student in good standing in the graduate programme of the university.
   b. At least one, and no more than three, letters of support from established researchers active in a field that encompasses and incorporates biodiversity informatics (e.g., genetics, species composition and traits, biogeography, ecology, systematics, et al.)

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the GBIF Young Researchers Awards 2018