Announcement of opportunity: CZO SAVI International Scholars Program

In recognition of the global nature and continuing success of Critical Zone (CZ) science, the U.S. NSF has provided funding to the CZ Observatory (CZO) Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) project to enable travel to CZ sites or pre-eminent laboratories overseas to further the investigation of the CZ. This announcement is an open solicitation for applications by graduate students or postdoctoral scholars (US citizens or green card holders at US universities only) to receive funds for international travel during 2019.

A major goal of the SAVI project is to develop international collaborations, including young scientists who will advance CZ science throughout their careers. Toward this end, applications to this program should stress the interdisciplinary as well as international aspects of proposed work. Applicants can propose CZ research activities at any sites or laboratories globally. Proposals applicable to research themes of the 2016-2018 international CZO working groups will be viewed favorably: concentration-discharge relations, carbon flux balances for soil organic matter, and measuring and predicting spatial variations in CZ architecture; and, those stressing societal relevance and solutions to challenges facing humanity will be prioritized. Ongoing and future collaborations with and connections to existing CZOs, and those proposals advancing cross-site science at multiple CZOs and LTER sites will be prioritized. We strongly encourage proposals to work at OZCAR, TERENO and UK/China CZOs. Applicants are free to propose scientific endeavors associated with other sites too.

We anticipate funding up to 10 applicants with amounts ranging from ~$3000-$8000 each to support travel and research-related expenses; no overhead or stipend costs can be included in the proposed budgets. This funding is not for travel to conferences. Successful applicants will be obligated to provide a no-more-than 4-page report documenting the overall results of the work as well as a description of how the activity will help to advance their career, and to provide confirmation that they have obtained necessary research agreements and any legally required collecting, import, and export permits for samples, instrumentation, and data.

Applicants should send a 3-page proposal describing the proposed research activities, budget and anticipated outcomes. The single-pdf-file application packet should also include a C.V., letter of recommendation from the applicant’s primary advisor, and a letter of support from the appropriate contact person at the overseas host institution. Applications should be sent to Tim White (tsw113@psu.edu) by March 15, 2019.