2020 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

OUTLINE

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 40,000 euros spread over four years. The grants are aimed at emerging researchers on the threshold of their research career.

Qualification Criteria:

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying[1] in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy[2],
2. have completed their PhD and have an established record of published research in the subject area of the application - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

[1] See FIG Definition of the Functions of the Surveyor  http://www.fig.net/about/general/definition/index.asp 
[2] See World Bank Country & lending Groups http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups 

Grants will be awarded to a focussed research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant may provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

There are two rounds to the competition. In the first round, applicants will provide the documents listed below. Second round applicants will provide a detailed application using the designated template, in a format similar to the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) or Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) requirements. Potential applicants should view both videos on How to Apply for FIG Grants on the FIG Foundation web page under Grants & Fellowships at: http://www.fig.net/figfoundation/index.asp

Applications will be judged on the quality of the application and need. In the event that two excellent applications are judged to be of equal quality, applications from low-income and lower-middle income countries will be preferred.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation Academic Research Grant Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation members individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

FIRST ROUND DOCUMENTATION

Deadline 31 March 2020.

Applicants should submit the following set of documents in English as a single file in PDF format using. A4 size paper using 25 mm (1” margins). Each item should begin on a new page. Ensure that you adhere to the requirements to avoid disqualification. :

1. A cover sheet showing the candidate’s personal details and those of his/her institution
2. A brief description and argument as to how the applicant’s academic programme addresses the “teaches surveying and graduates surveyors” component of Qualification Criterion 1 above. Provide web links to programme descriptions, course outlines and details of courses.
3. A 200 word abstract. This should be written in terms understandable to the lay person; similar to a press release and which the FIG Foundation could actually use as a press release in the event of a successful application.
4. A one page research proposal as per the template below on A4 size paper using 25 mm (1” margins). Note that the one page limit will be strictly enforced; material that extends beyond one page will be deleted.
5. A list of peer reviewed journal publications over the last 6 years using the International Journal of GIS reference list format. Use the following headings: Peer Reviewed Journal Papers, Peer Reviewed Conference Papers, Non- Peer Reviewed Conference Papers, Non- Peer Reviewed Journal  Papers, Books, Book Chapters and so forth. See Notes for Authors on the IJGIS website.
6. A list of research funding obtained over the past 5 years, indicating which grants are peer reviewed or not.
7. A list of highly qualified personnel whom the applicant has supervised over the last 6 years, Postdoctoral, PhD, Masters, senior undergraduate.
8. A description of research compliance, the research account and activity auditing structures and processes in their institution. For example, if a scientist spends money inappropriately, are there structures in place to refund the granting agency? Provide the names and web addresses of the administration departments and official organisation descriptions dealing with research compliance.
9. A description of the structures and processes in their institution that pertain to research ethics, in particular ethics relating to research involving human subjects, if that is relevant to the grant application. Provide the names and web addresses of the administration departments and/ or descriptions dealing with research ethics.
10. A preliminary budget and a one page justification of the budget. The grant is aimed primarily at emerging researchers. It should be clear in the budget that the applicant will do the bulk of the work on the project. Postgraduate students may assist in the research. Travel to FIG Conferences to present results may be included in the budget. Per diems for field work will not be funded, but reasonable actual costs of field work are refundable. Applicants’ salaries will not be funded. Student residence accommodation will not be funded.
11.  For transparency purposes, successful proposals, grantees’ final reports and progress reports on their activities and use funds will be published on the Foundation web page, and elsewhere, where appropriate. Please indicate your consent or otherwise for your proposal(s) and reports to be published. Grantees should provide compelling reasons for these documents not to be published.

In a separate PDF document, provide a comprehensive academic CV.

PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

Section 1 below, should be a maximum of one A4 page, typed in single spaced Times New Roman 12 point font using the stipulated headings. Any additional pages will be deleted from the proposal. Use layman’s language; evaluators are unlikely to be familiar with jargon.

RESEARCH PROJECT TITLE – new page - (maximum one line Times New Roman 12 point capitals)

Research Objective:
State in a sentence or two the central objective of the research.

Significance of the Research / Problem:
Why is this research worth doing? What problem or situation does it address? What are the practical applications of the research? What does it contribute to knowledge?

Current State of Knowledge / Room for Improvement/Gaps:
What is the existing theory in the particular field? What aspects of existing theory are open to challenge or further development?

Research Methodology and Methods:
Describe the theoretical foundation of your work, the primary strategy of inquiry, and the methods of data collection and analysis.

Key Contribution:
Describe the key contribution(s) of this research project, both practical (i.e. to society at large) and theoretical.

References – new page -  in IJGIS format.

Sources of Useful Information for Writing a Proper Grant Proposal:

In addition to viewing the FIG Foundation videos, you should read up on how to write a good grant proposal. A simple internet search on how to write a good NSERC or SSHRC proposal should yield a number of useful articles and videos.

Send your proposal by email to: fig.foundation@fig.net

SECOND ROUND DOCUMENTATION

All second round applicants are to submit their application in 12 point Times New Roman font as a single PDF document, A4 size, minimum margin sizes 25mm / 1 inch, in the following order. Note that parts of your first round application have to be updated as the application may go out to external referees./p>

1.  FORM 1. Completed in full.
2.  FORM 2. You are strongly advised to search the internet for advice on how to complete these grant applications. The format is based on the Canadian NSERC and SSHRC grants systems.
3.  FORM 3. BUDGET provide a detailed budget and a justification for the budget. Note that as a general rule, equipment will not be funded. Travel to FIG Conferences to present results may be included in the budget. Per diems for field work will not be funded, but reasonable actual costs of field work are refundable. The FIG Foundation does not pay Administrative overhead costs or similar research costs.

FORM 1

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TITLE OF PROPOSED RESEARCH

KEY WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE THE PROPOSED RESEARCH

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH

In layman’s “press release” type language, communicate the objectives of the proposed research project, the scientific approach, the novelty and significance of the work as a scientific endeavour. Maximum number of words = 400.

PROVIDE THE NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS OF THREE POSSIBLE EXTERNAL REFEREES FOR THE APPLICATION

The FIG foundation may send the application to other referees.

CONTRIBUTIONS:  List your peer reviewed journal publications and edited book contributions over the last 6 years using the International Journal of GIS reference list format. See Notes for Authors on the IJGIS website.

DOES THIS RESEARCH PROJECT REQUIRE ETHICS APPROVAL OR OTHER FORMS OF CERTIFICATION (i.e. it involves humans or animals)? If your answer is yes, describe the structures and processes in your institution that pertain to research ethics. For guidelines on ethics approvals, the following may be useful:

Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans: PDF

Indicate if you have already obtained ethics approval

RESEARCH FUNDING

List your research funding obtained over the past 5 years, indicating which grants are peer reviewed or not.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

List the highly qualified personnel that you have supervised over the last 6 years, Postdoctoral, PhD, Masters, or senior undergraduate.

RESEARCH COMPLIANCE

Describe research compliance, the research account and activity auditing structures and processes in their institution. For example, if a scientist spends money inappropriately, are there structures in place to refund the granting agency? As a guideline, ensure that you have read the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide at:

www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/FinancialAdminGuide-GuideAdminFinancier/index_eng.asp

FORM 2

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1. DETAILED PROPOSAL (Max 5 pages):

Use the following headings. Assign an equal amount of text to each of the main headings. Leave lots of white space; i.e. do not cramp in the information. Do NOT go over 5 pages.

OBJECTIVES

Describe the specific outcomes you hope to achieve or questions you hope to answer.

CONTEXT or PROBLEM STATEMENT

Briefly describe the context or problem and then address the following:

• Literature Review
• Relevance of Proposed Research to Ongoing Research
• Significance of Proposed Research
• Theoretical Framework

METHODOLOGY

Describe your research methodology:

• Research Strategy

  Describe the specific programme of activities you will undertake

• Data Analysis
  Describe how you analyse the data and validate the results

2. REFERENCES (new page – maximum of 5 pages)

Provide references for the works cited in the detailed proposal.

3. COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS (maximum two pages)

Describe how you will communicate results to the scientific and professional communities. Note that the FIG Foundation expects journal publications to flow from funded projects.

FORM 3: BUDGET

.docx // .pfd 

Provide the following figures over the duration of the grant.

JUSTIFICATION FOR BUDGET

Max two pages. Justify the application of funds. Ensure you describe what you are going to do with the money, and do not merely repeat the figures in the budget.