U.S.-affiliated scientists who participate in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) may receive limited supplemental funding for post-expedition activities through the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) as managed by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. Post-expedition activity (PEA) awards are intended to help participants defray the costs associated with fulfilling their obligation to submit and publish the scientific results of their expedition-related research in IODP publications or in the open literature. PEA awards typically provide modest resources for short-term core characterization efforts or for pilot studies aimed at identifying promising avenues for future research. Funds are awarded on a competitive basis, and each eligible scientist may receive up to $15,000. Scientists who seek more substantial support for expedition-related research projects should apply directly to NSF for an Expedition Objective Research grant.

Eligibility

Eligibility for PEA awards extends only to those who participated on an IODP expedition as a U.S. scientist and who remain formally and primarily affiliated with a U.S. organization as an employee or student, and not as a short-term visitor, adjunct appointee, or self-employed contractor. Proposals from shore-based members of the science party require strong written endorsement from one of the co-chief scientists explaining the critical importance of the proposed work to the expedition objectives and why none of the shipboard scientists can do such work. Schlanger Fellowship recipients may apply for post-expedition activity funds only if their proposal differs significantly from the work proposed for the fellowship, and they must explicitly state their fellowship status in the proposal and briefly describe the fellowship research. In accordance with Ocean Leadership and NSF policies, federally employed scientists may receive funds to cover only the costs of travel deemed essential to participate as scientific party members. Ocean Leadership will not consider proposals from scientists who participated as members of the scientific party from other IODP member countries.

Required Materials

Please submit all of the following required materials in one email to: expeditions@oceanleadership.org. If for administrative reasons an eligible science party member, such as a graduate student, must submit his or her proposal through a surrogate staff member, they should explain these circumstances in a brief statement at the beginning of the proposal. Two or more applicants from different institutions may submit a joint proposal when a combined effort seems appropriate. Such proposals must clearly indicate what parts of the proposed project each applicant will conduct, and the budget must show the costs ascribed to each participating institution as well as the total cost of the proposed project. If approved for funding, Ocean Leadership will issue separate awards to each institution to minimize indirect costs.

1. Proposal Cover Sheet: Read and fill out the proposal cover sheet completely. To expedite the review process, applicants may submit advance copies of proposals without official institutional approvals on the proposal cover sheet; however, such proposals must otherwise be complete and in final form. Rough drafts or preliminary versions subject to substantial revisions are not acceptable and will not be reviewed. If the initial proposal is submitted without the official signatures, the applicant should forward the signed cover sheet to Ocean Leadership as soon as possible. Once complete, the proposal package will go forward to a review panel familiar with the expedition’s scientific goals. The package will also contain additional supporting information from the expedition to help reviewers evaluate the proposed research. Ocean Leadership anticipates announcing the awards within six to eight weeks after the proposal submission deadline.

2. Statement of Work: Approximately two to three pages (including text, figures, and references) explaining how the work relates to the scientific objectives of the expedition and to the studies proposed by other members of the scientific party. 

3. Budget and Budget Justification: The budget must not exceed $15,000, including institutional overhead.  As the nature and extent of the proposed work may vary widely, Ocean Leadership will decide on allowable costs. Acceptable examples include:

• Investigator salary
• Analytical services
• Preparation of thin sections
• Material costs for certain projects
• Instrument time such as SEM or microprobe
• Chemical analyses that are not routinely available through IODP
• Reduction and analysis of underway and drill site geophysical data
• Technician, research assistant, or student costs, to the extent that these services are required to complete work for the IODP reports
• Travel to consult with colleagues, if necessary and essential to complete the work
• Publication costs

    Unacceptable examples include:

• Support for any activity extending beyond completion of the PI’s obligations
• Travel to regularly scheduled IODP post-expedition meetings
• Travel to major meetings such as AGU, GSA, etc.

Note that Ocean Leadership will administer all approved travel funds directly; hence, the total costs specified on the cover sheet and administered by the investigator’s institution should not include any requested travel funding. Applicants should specify requested travel funds separately on the budget page.

4. Curriculum Vitae: Should include educational history (degrees and dates awarded), employment experience (including any internships), and any authored or co-authored journal articles, abstracts, or other publications related to the proposed research. 

5. Prior and Current Funding: A brief abstract, including references, describing results of any prior post-expedition research funded by USSSP and a brief summary of other relevant current support.

6. Demographic Information Form: This information will not be disclosed to external peer reviewers. If you do not wish to fill out any of the information (excluding your name), please check the appropriate box. 

Questions?

Contact expeditions@oceanleadership.org for more information.