The 2024 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Young Researchers Awards are currently accepting applications. The GBIF Secretariat, representing its network of national Participants, welcomes nominations for the 2024 Graduate Researchers Award. This yearly initiative is designed to promote and acknowledge pioneering research and breakthroughs in biodiversity informatics. It specifically focuses on graduate students undertaking master’s and doctoral studies that heavily depend on data mediated by GBIF.
In 2024, the program will award two prizes, each amounting to €5,000, to commend the contributions of two early-career researchers. Ideally, one recipient will be a master’s candidate, and the other a PhD candidate. To be considered for these awards, individuals must receive official nominations from the heads of delegation or node managers representing GBIF Participant countries.
The GBIF Young Researchers Award is an annual program designed to recognize and encourage the work of early-career researchers, particularly those engaged in master’s and doctoral studies that rely on data provided through GBIF. GBIF is an international organization that facilitates the access and use of biodiversity information from around the world.
Eligibility Criteria For The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Young Researchers Awards
Candidates must provide a support letter verifying their affiliation with a university graduate programme to be eligible for the award. In addition, candidates must be either
Nominations can come from the GBIF delegation or node of either the candidate’s country of citizenship or the country of the candidate’s host institution
Award Nomination Packet
Candidates should prepare their proposal and nomination packets to include:
- Research summary (200 words)
- Project description (maximum 5 pages, 12-point Arial) that describes
a. How the research advances biodiversity informatics and/or the conservation of biological diversity.
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. - Curriculum vitae of the student applicant including full contact information at the home institution.
- 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.)
Submission process and deadlines
- Students seeking nomination must apply to the Head of Delegation or node manager of a GBIF Voting or Associate Participant country (see the complete list). National participants are responsible for establishing their own deadlines and processes for receiving and processing student applications. As a result, graduate students who seek nomination should consult the websites of their national GBIF Participants or contact the Head of Delegation or node manager directly.
- Student proposals are first reviewed and prioritized at the national level. GBIF national nodes are encouraged to work closely with the academic communities and higher education institutions in their countries and to reach out to relevant university programmes and research groups.
- National Heads of Delegation and/or node managers may submit a maximum of two nominees per country to the GBIF Secretariat to gradresearchersaward@GBIF.org by the deadline for submissions: 24 June 2024. Heads of Delegations in cooperation with node managers will ensure that submissions are complete and include all the elements listed below. Submissions of incomplete proposals will not be considered.
Application Deadline: 24 June 2024.
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