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Call for proposals: CLIFF-GRADS

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The CLIFF-GRADS program invites applications from students from developing countries currently enrolled in PhD programs for short-term scientific training and research stays on topics related to measurement and management of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage in agricultural systems.

Applicants should have a background in agriculture and climate change research and be pursuing graduate research related to agricultural greenhouse gas quantification.

Selected students will be sponsored in the amount of 10,000-12,000 USD for short-term (4-6 month) scientific training and research stays to collaborate with projects associated with CCAFS and GRA. Specific topics will depend on the student’s and host institution scientists’ interests. A list of projects seeking to host students is included below under “List of research opportunities.”

The grants will be used to support living and research costs at the host institution. Grants may not be used for tuition or unrelated personal expenses.

Background

CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change (CCAFS) low emissions agriculture flagship and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). CLIFF-GRADS aims to build the capability of early career agricultural students in developing countries to conduct applied research on climate change mitigation in agriculture. CLIFF-GRADS integrates the GRA’s new Development Scholarship and the Climate Food and Farming (CLIFF) Research Network with the common goal of providing grants to graduate students to expand their knowledge and experience in quantification of agricultural greenhouse gases. Funding for CLIFF-GRADS is provided by the Government of New Zealand and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.

Application requirements

The application must include the following documents merged into one pdf file:

  • 1-2 page motivation letter (described below)
  • 1-page curriculum vitae that includes your contact details
  • Letter of support from your university supervisor
  • All applications must be in English

The motivation letter, which must be no more than two A4 pages, must include the following:

  1. Your name, citizenship and the country where you are conducting your graduate study
  2. The objectives of your graduate research
  3. The specific research opportunity to which you are applying (see list below)
  4. Research experience with greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture or soil carbon storage in agricultural systems (especially if you are applying to work with a project with ‘”preferred skills or experience”)
  5. A description of how scientific training with CCAFS/GRA scientists will improve your graduate research

Submission and process for selection

  • Deadline for applications: 31th of December 2017.
  • Please submit your application by email to Meryl Richards, Science Officer for CCAFS Low Emissions Agriculture (meryl.richards@uvm.edu)
  • Please also contact Meryl with questions.
  • Successful applicants will be matched with a project and notified by email in late January of 2018.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be currently enrolled PhD students in a field related to quantification of greenhouse gas emissions or carbon sequestration in agricultural systems.
  • Applicants must be students from a developing country. (Includes all countries NOT listed as “high income economies” by the World Bank http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups)
  • Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Requirements of grant recipients

  • Grant money should be used to finance the short-term scientific visit, including living and research costs at the host institution and all costs associated with that research, including travel, housing, meals, and research materials and services. Funding is not to be used for tuition, fees, or unrelated personal costs.
  • Scientific visits must take place during 2018.
  • Each CLIFF-GRADS recipient will work directly with a research supervisor at the host institute. The activities to be conducted by the student and a budget for the scientific visit, will be agreed upon between the student and research supervisor in a Managed Contract.
  • The research supervisors will assess the quality of the CLIFF-GRADS recipient’s science performance and monitor the achievement of milestones and deliverables set out in the Managed Contract.
  • At the end of the research stay, the CLIFF-GRADS student will submit a Final Report describing the activities undertaken. Final payment to the CLIFF-GRADS recipient is dependent on this Final Report being approved by CCAFS and GRA.

More information

For the list of research opportunities, have a look at the attached pdf document above.