Call for nominations to the 2023 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Young Researchers Award | €5,000 cash prize

On behalf of the National Participant Network, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat is pleased to invite nominations for the 2023 Graduate Researcher Award. This annual program aims to encourage and recognize innovative research and discoveries in biodiversity informatics made by graduate students whose master’s and doctoral studies are based on data from GBIF.

About Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Requirements

• Citizens of a GBIF participating country. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
• Students from an institution located in a GBIF participating country.

Nominations can come from the GBIF Delegation or Node of the candidate’s country of citizenship or the country of the candidate’s host institution.

A jury organized by the GBIF Scientific Committee will select two winners from the pool of applicants whose names are received by the GBIF Secretariat by June 19, 2023 . The GBIF Secretariat will announce the winners in early fall 2023 and present the winners at the 30th meeting of the GBIF Governing Board (GB30) scheduled for Canberra, Australia in October 2023.

• Originality and innovation
• The use and strategic importance of the data accessible by GBIF
• Measurable effectiveness and impact to advance biodiversity informatics and/or biodiversity conservation.

Documents Required for Application

1. A research summary ( 200 words )
2. A project description ( 5 pages maximum, Arial 12 points ) that describes
   a. The need for the research and the question(s) it answers.
   b. The role of data accessible through GBIF in answering these questions . Research proposals must clearly demonstrate how the study incorporates data mobilized by GBIF. Students who have questions about the data mobilized by Global Biodiversity Information Facility should work with their Academic Advisors, Global Biodiversity Information Facility National Node, GBIF Secretariat or Scientific Committee members to improve their understanding.
   vs. The scope of the research, plan, methodologies, citations of relevant literature and timeline.
   d. If applicable, a description or excerpt of a data management plan describing how research-related data is published or will be prepared for publication through the GBIF network on GBIF.org.
3. Curriculum vitae of the candidate student including full contact details of the home institution.
4. Supporting documents
   a. An official letter from the student’s mentor/supervisor certifying that the applicant is a student in good standing in the university’s graduate program.
   b. At least one, and no more than three, letters of support from established researchers active in a field that encompasses and integrates biodiversity informatics (e.g., genetics, species composition and traits, biogeography, ecology, systematics, etc.)

How to Apply

Students seeking nomination should approach the Head of Delegation or Head of Communications Node of a GBIF Participating Country, whether Voting or Associate (see full list ). National participants are responsible for establishing their own timelines and processes for receiving and processing student applications.

Therefore, young students who wish to be nominated should consult the websites of their national Global Biodiversity Information Facility participants or contact the Head of Delegation or Node Leader directly.

Student proposals are first reviewed and prioritized nationally. Global Biodiversity Information Facility National Nodes are encouraged to work closely with academic communities and higher education institutions in their countries and reach out to relevant academic programs and research groups.

Heads of National Delegations and/or Heads of National Nodes may submit a maximum of two nominees per country to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat at [email protected] by the submission deadline: June 19, 2023 . Heads of Delegation and Heads of Communication Nodes will ensure that submissions are complete and include all of the items listed below. Incomplete proposal submissions will not be considered.

Application Deadline