|
[PDF
version of the 2011 C-DEBI Research RFP]
The NSF Science and Technology Center for Dark Energy Biosphere
Investigations (C-DEBI) invites proposals up to $50,000 for
projects that are relevant to deep biosphere research and
in particular complement the scientific program of recent
or scheduled IODP drilling expeditions. C-DEBI encourages underrepresented
groups to apply.
C-DEBI seeks to support deep biosphere
research concerning life in marine sediments and life in the
ocean crust. There are four central research themes:
- Activity in the deep biosphere: function &
rates of global biogeochemical processes
- Extent of life: biomes and the degree of connectivity
(biogeography & dispersal)
- Limits of life: extremes and norms of carbon,
energy, nutrient, temperature, pressure, pH
- Evolution and survival: adaptation,
enrichment, selection, and cell repair
C-DEBI seeks to integrate across these
disciplines and encourages knowledge transfer and collaborations
across different laboratories. Although proposals are not
limited to these areas, they should clearly state how they
contribute to advance our knowledge within these themes.
In its initial phase, C-DEBI targeted three geographic locations
(Juan de Fuca, South Pacific Gyre and North Pond - Mid-Atlantic
Ridge) through deep-biosphere drilling projects, which are
recent IODP drilling expeditions. The scientific rationale
for these sites and projects has been emerging within the
community for several years.
Details on these cruises and their scientific programs can
be found at http://www.iodp.org/expeditions/.
While these locations continue to be major foci of C-DEBI,
other appropriate locations and related field, laboratory,
and theoretical studies of the deep subsurface biosphere are
also among the Center's objectives.
C-DEBI pays special attention to the specific challenges
that accompany microbiological investigations and the study
of biogeochemical processes in the deep subsurface. These
may require, for example, timely analyses of perishable samples,
experiments with live samples, refining or adapting challenging
techniques, or applying well-established methods to the analysis
of substantial sample sets.
Proposed projects should be innovative and aim to answer
current fundamental research questions, as well as developing
new hypotheses and goals for future studies of the deep sub-seafloor
biosphere. The proposal should specify the relevance of the
research project to C-DEBI, provide information about varying
degrees of collaboration with C-DEBI investigators, indicate
sources of samples if necessary, and specify the qualifications
of the applicant.
The proposal should also clearly state how it will meet C-DEBI
research goals. Proposals will be considered for pre- and
post-cruise research, as well as for shipboard work and shore-based
investigations. On the one hand, proposed projects may focus
on theoretical and experimental deep biosphere studies in
a broader sense: This may include testing novel approaches
to deep biosphere research, lab-based experiments with deep
biosphere organisms, model development, and shore-based pre-cruise
research that requires subsurface samples (for example, from
site surveys or analogous habitats) before an IODP cruise.
On the other hand, research projects can be directly linked
to IODP cruises, via shipboard participation, sample requests,
or shared samples and collaborative projects with cruise participants.
Here, applicants who wish to use IODP samples or data must
be sure that their proposed projects do not conflict with
existing expedition-related projects (e.g., shipboard scientists’
projects). Proponents and their intended advisors should resolve
this issue by contacting expedition co-chiefs and shipboard
scientists before they submit their proposals..
Please note, receiving research support from C-DEBI does
not guarantee access to samples or data that are not available
to the community at large. A moratorium period of one year
is granted to members of the expedition science party to conduct
drilling project-related research before core samples and
data are made available to the general scientific community.
Applicants for C-DEBI support are responsible for securing
access to all samples and data needed to complete proposed
work. For the IODP Sample, Data and Obligations Policy and
other sample and data access information, visit http://www.iodp.org/access-data/.
| Application and Submission |
Proposals should include a cover page form (PDF
form), a short project summary of 200 words maximum, a
project description of not more than 5 pages (font size not
smaller than 11 points), a reference section, a detailed budget
and budget justification including institutional overhead,
as well as NSF-style 2-page CVs of all participating researchers.
The home institution must be a US institution able to receive
NSF funding as a subaward. The
next deadline for this semiannual call will be in the Spring
of 2012.
Please submit your proposal by email
to C-DEBI at submissions@darkenergybiosphere.org
to the attention of:
Rosalynn
Lee Sylvan
Associate Managing Director
Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations
If you have any questions regarding proposal submissions,
you may also contact one of the four theme team leaders:
Theme 1 (Activity): Wiebke
Ziebis (wziebis@usc.edu)
Theme 2 (Extent of Life): Andreas
Teske (teske@email.unc.edu)
Theme 3 (Limits of Life): Tom
McCollom (tom.mccollom@lasp.colorado.edu)
Theme 4 (Evolution and Survival): Bill
Nelson (wcnelson@usc.edu)
> What research projects have been funded?
|
