CLICK HERE
to go to
Text Navigation

Guidelines for Proposal

National Science Foundation/New England Wild Flower Society Fellowship Program in Conservation Biology

Guidelines for Proposal Preparation

Due date for all materials at the New England Wild Flower Society office: February 5, 2003  (proposals arriving after this date will not be reviewed)

Your proposal will consist of the following materials:

• A project proposal -- Not to exceed 5 pages total, this proposal must contain the following materials:
  
  
  1. A concise statement of the research problem that will be addressed. What is the significance of this question to the biology of the taxon, and how will your research inform conservation of this and other rare species?
  2. A clear list of the alternative hypotheses addressed by the research.
  3. Appropriate references from the scientific literature that inform the research.
  4. A clear description of all research methods. Because these studies will involve rare plant species, special attention must be paid to designing studies that are as non-invasive as possible and that will not lead to the destruction of plants or reduction of  populations in the wild.
  5. A list of the equipment needed to accomplish the field study. 
  6. A summary of the products expected from the research. What questions will this study answer? How will you analyze and interpret the results?

• A résumé or curriculum vitae -- This should especially highlight your relevant research experience, publications (if applicable), current research projects, in addition to summarizing your professional and academic history. Make sure you provide your full and current contact information.
  
• Letters of reference from two individuals who have worked closely with you and can attest to your capacity to carry out this project successfully. One of these letters should come from your academic advisor, who, in addition to reviewing your credentials, should comment specifically on the feasibility of your project with respect to the facilities and mentoring available at your home institution. 

Your proposal must address one or more of the plant species for which the New England Wild Flower Society has completed a Conservation and Research Plan. A full ist of taxa, background information on their biology, and the specific questions that need attention can be found at our website. (http://www.newfs.org/conplans.html), and the specific questions that need attention (http://www.newfs.org/questions.htm). Note that this list encompasses dozens of potential research topics, emphasizing those that can be addressed meaningfully in a single season of research. This provides a wide array of topics to choose from, allowing you a lot of latitude in designing your own original research.

All materials must be word-processed with 1-inch margins on 8.5 x 11-inch paper in 11-point type or larger, and submitted in hard copy.

Project proposals will be reviewed by NEWFS staff and other peer-reviewers for clarity of hypotheses, logic of methods, relevance, feasibility, originality, and qualifications of the applicant.

All applicants will be notified individually of the outcome of their proposal by early March, 2003. Funds for research will be disbursed as soon as possible thereafter.

 Please mail THREE COPIES of your proposal to:
Elizabeth Farnsworth
New England Wild Flower Society
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701

Due date for proposals: February 5, 2003. Notification of Fellowships will be made in early March, 2003.

For more information, please contact: Elizabeth Farnsworth (508) 877-7630, ext. 3207 or email: efarnswo@mtholyoke.edu

Back to the top.

Back to Conservation.

Back to Announcement.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the web author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.