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Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science

Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS-NEI) is pleased to invite early career African academics of postdoctoral standing to apply for the second round of the AIMS Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science.

Introduction

Applications are currently closed

These Grants will support projects that are at the upper limit of the research-innovation value chain — i.e. projects that are likely to make a tangible impact. Such projects could be industry-led, community-driven, or policy-led, among other possibilities. These projects should make substantive use of mathematical concepts to provide solutions to climate change issues in Africa. Projects will be supported for a period of 6 to 12 months at a non-recurring maximum cost of USD 10 000 per Grantee.

This Small Research Grants Program in Climate Change Science is made possible by a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, www.idrc.ca, and financial support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), www.international.gc.ca, under the Mathematical Sciences for Climate Change Resilience Program administered by the AIMS Global Secretariat.

The Program is part of a broader effort by AIMS-NEI to build the intellectual capital required to increase our understanding of the causative factors of climate change, and address the myriad challenges to Africa’s development arising from climate change.

Six outstanding scientists have already benefited from this program. Meet the first cohort of Grantees and learn about their research.

Current call for applications

AIMS Small Research Grants in Climate Change Science for AIMS Graduates

Did you do your AIMS research essay on climate-related topics? Are you working on a climate-related topic? We have good news for you.

You can apply for up to USD 3,500 from AIMS Small Research Grant Program in Climate Change Sciences to partially cover any of the following;

  • travel to a host institution where the project will be executed
  • participation in a workshop or conferences
  • cost for a field trip or data collection
  • travel and board to an AIMS Centre
  • publication fees
  • bursaries for post AIMS studies
  • cost for basic project equipment
  • basic project running cost

What do you need to do?

You are advised to familiarize yourself with the following ‘Terms of References’;

  • The Grantee may elect to work under the supervision of a more senior researcher or to be self-directed.
  • The project should make substantive use of mathematical science concepts.
  • Projects involving human and/or animal subjects shall adhere to the highest applicable ethical standards. The Grantee shall request and receive permission from their home or host institutions and share the approvals with AIMS for final validation before embarking on such projects.
  • AIMS, IDRC, GAC, and the government of Canada should be duly acknowledged in all communications (publications, presentations, etc.) concerning work done by the Grantee. Publications should carry the following acknowledgment: “This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, www.idrc.ca, and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC), www.international.gc.ca under the framework of the Mathematical Sciences for Climate Change Resilience (MS4CR) program administered by AIMS.’’
  • The Grantee releases AIMS-NEI and its supporters from all liability for any injury or other type of harm that the Grantee or their dependents may suffer while holding the Grant.
  • The Grantee shall provide a report six months upon the receipt of the Grant by sending it to ms4cr-smallgrants@nexteinstein.org 
  • Grantees are responsible for complying with applicable tax laws.

Submit the following documents by October 31st, 2021, 23:59 CAT, to the email          ms4cr-smallgrants@nexteinstein.org

  • A proposal document that includes how the funds are to be used. The budget should be clearly defined and justified in the budget section.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • A letter of motivation.
  • Any other relevant documentation

Applications shall be considered complete if AIMS receives all the documents listed above on or before the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

Program Background

Duration

  • This is a non-recurring grant tenable for a period of 6 – 12 months at a maximum cost to AIMS-NEI of USD 10 000 per Grantee. The exact grant amount approved for the Grantee’s project will be specified in the grant agreement letter.
  • In exceptional cases, the project timeline can be extended by an additional 6 months at no additional cost to AIMS-NEI. Grantees are to submit a formal request for extension at most one month before their agreed project end date.
  • AIMS may decide to terminate a specific grant if the Oversight Committee deems the Grantee’s progress to be unsatisfactory.

Financial support

  • Allowable costs under this Grant include:
  • travel to a host institution in Africa where the project will be executed;
  • bursaries for Master’s and/or PhD students (applicable for Grantees who are setting-up a research team);
  • participation in one international scientific event (workshop, conferences or summer school);
  • cost for field trip or data collection;
  • cost for basic project equipment;
  • basic project running cost;
  • travel and stay at an AIMS Centre.
  • The actual amount provided to each Grantee will depend on the budgets submitted when applying.
  • An initial lump sum, determined by the approved budgets, will be paid to each Grantee within a month of the project start date. The balance will be paid in two installments per a schedule defined by AIMS-NEI and contingent on the receipt of satisfactory progress reports from the Grantee.
  • Grantees are responsible for complying with applicable tax laws.
  • Grantees and members of the Grantee’s project group/team may be eligible to apply to AIMS for additional funding in the form of mobility grants, internships, and highly prestigious research fellowships for women in climate change science.
  • At the discretion of the Selection and Oversight Committees, Grantees maybe expected to provide ‘match funding’ to cover some of their proposed project activities.
  • Non-allowable costs include:
  • overheads to the Grantee, home or host institution;
  • salary or salary supplement for the Grantee, project advisor or other project members;
  • bench fees;
  • office space;
  • vehicle hire – the most economical means of travel should be used at all times.

All budget categories should be clearly defined and justified in the budget section. A descriptive basis for each budget category and the basis used for the calculations should be provided in order to help the various Committees understand the Grantee’s financial requirements.

Applicants may be eligible to apply to AIMS for additional funding in the form of internships, mobility grants, and highly prestigious research fellowships for women in climate change science:

Additional documents for Grantees:

Information For Applicants

Requirements

  • Applicants should be of African descent but could be residing anywhere in the world.
  • Applicants must hold a doctorate in a quantitative discipline including, but not limited to, applied mathematics, climatology, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistical ecology, or engineering.
  • Applicants not based in Africa must be able to hold the grant in an institution on the continent.
  • Applicants should demonstrate evidence of research in either climate change science with applications of mathematical concepts or in mathematical sciences with practical applications to climate change adaptation, mitigation or resilience.
  • Applicants should demonstrate expertise or ability to (co-)supervise Master’s and/or PhD students if intending to establish a research group/team. Such a research group/team could be established in collaboration with a senior project advisor. The Grantee must have a recognized (co-)supervisory role in the project.
  • Applicants should demonstrate an ability to translate climate change science research concepts to applicable solutions or recommendations. This is particularly important for proof-of-concept, pilot, industry-led, policy-, and community-driven projects.
  • Applicants must be willing to hold an affiliation at an AIMS Centre of their choice and spend a portion of their grant time in that Centre as a visiting researcher should the need arise.
  • Applicants should be willing to actively participate in a conference that will be organized as part of the Mathematical Sciences for Climate Change Resilience program.
  • Applicants must be willing to contribute to a non-technical publication/bulletin which will highlight their work.
  • Applicants should be able to take up the grant within four months of receiving the grant award letter.

How to apply

Applicants are advised to familiarize themselves with the ‘Terms of Reference’ documents for Grantees before starting the application process.

Applications could be submitted using the online application form which should contain the following supporting documents once the call of applications is open:

  • a completed personal details form;
  • a completed project proposal form;
  • a curriculum vitae;
  • a letter of motivation; and
  • an electronic copy of three significant representative publications in climate change science.

Three referees should email confidential letters of support directly to ms4cr-smallgrants@nexteinstein.org (with the subject line “MS4CR small grant application support letter – first and last name of applicant”) on or before the application deadline. Applicants should provide their referees with a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Small Research Grants and the Instructions for Referees.

Only complete applications received by the application deadline will be considered.

Before applying, candidates are strongly advised to read carefully and ensure they can abide by the following terms specified in the Terms of Reference for Grantees

Successful applicants may be required to provide duly signed copies of the Terms of Reference for Collaborators

Selection Process

Evaluation procedure

Applications will initially be screened for relevance and then evaluated by an international Review and Selection Committee based on the following criteria:

  • Quality of applicant: academic qualifications; quality of publications; experience in climate change (related) research or research uptake; real-world impact and recognition of prior work (e.g. through awards).
  • Quality of proposed project: relevance to climate change modelling, practice and policy; strength of connection to the mathematical sciences; experience of applicant in research or project topic; quality of project design; feasibility; suitability of proposed project environment(s); and quality and realism of budget projections.
  • Potential impact.

For more information about the selection process and the committees mentioned above, please consult the following documents:

Terms of Reference for the Oversight Committee

Terms of Reference for the International Selection Committee

Terms of Reference for Collaborating Institutions and Collaborators

Terms of Reference for Reviewers

Information for Grantees

Duration

  • This is a non-recurring grant tenable for a period of 6 – 12 months at a maximum cost to AIMS-NEI of USD 10 000 per Grantee. The exact grant amount approved for the Grantee’s project will be specified in the grant agreement letter.
  • In exceptional cases, the project timeline can be extended by an additional 6 months at no additional cost to AIMS-NEI. Grantees are to submit a formal request for extension at most one month before their agreed project end date.
  • AIMS may decide to terminate a specific grant if the Oversight Committee deems the Grantee’s progress to be unsatisfactory.

Financial support

  • Allowable costs under this Grant include:
  • travel to a host institution in Africa where the project will be executed;
  • bursaries for Master’s and/or PhD students (applicable for Grantees who are setting-up a research team);
  • participation in one international scientific event (workshop, conferences or summer school);
  • cost for field trip or data collection;
  • cost for basic project equipment;
  • basic project running cost;
  • travel and stay at an AIMS Centre.
  • The actual amount provided to each Grantee will depend on the budgets submitted when applying.
  • An initial lump sum, determined by the approved budgets, will be paid to each Grantee within a month of the project start date. The balance will be paid in two installments per a schedule defined by AIMS-NEI and contingent on the receipt of satisfactory progress reports from the Grantee.
  • Grantees are responsible for complying with applicable tax laws.
  • Grantees and members of the Grantee’s project group/team may be eligible to apply to AIMS for additional funding in the form of mobility grants, internships, and highly prestigious research fellowships for women in climate change science.
  • At the discretion of the Selection and Oversight Committees, Grantees maybe expected to provide ‘match funding’ to cover some of their proposed project activities.
  • Non-allowable costs include:
  • overheads to the Grantee, home or host institution;
  • salary or salary supplement for the Grantee, project advisor or other project members;
  • bench fees;
  • office space;
  • vehicle hire – the most economical means of travel should be used at all times.

All budget categories should be clearly defined and justified in the budget section. A descriptive basis for each budget category and the basis used for the calculations should be provided in order to help the various Committees understand the Grantee’s financial requirements.

Applicants may be eligible to apply to AIMS for additional funding in the form of internships, mobility grants, and highly prestigious research fellowships for women in climate change science:

Additional documents for Grantees:

Open Calls for Application

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