The BSPP offers members a wide range of funding opportunities, including travel to conferences, junior and senior fellowships, student bursaries and support for postgraduate studies. These awards enable individuals to share the results of their research and gain experience of working with colleagues. We now want to expand our support to members through a new scheme to develop initiatives that increase our knowledge and general awareness of plant diseases.
The Small Project Fund (SPF) looks for:
Creative project ideas to fill gaps that may not be supported by other funding agencies. If the SPF is contributing to an existing project, applicants must explain how the SPF funds takes this project to a new level and why this is important.
Outcomes that contribute towards obtaining additional funds or generating other outputs, such as publications (prompt dissemination of data via preprints is encouraged), datasets for sharing with the scientific community (consider uploading data, posters and other output via Zenodo (https://zenodo.org), GenBank or other open access repositories), career progression etc. The project proposal should clearly explain how SPF outcomes will be disseminated and taken forward.
What the SPF will fund
Projects that have the potential to improve knowledge of plant pathology and/or the practice of disease control.
Design and testing of novel equipment, tests, and procedures.
Applicants must have been a continuous member of the BSPP for the last two years and have not been awarded the SPF within the last year.
Applicants must be group leaders and hold a PhD.
If applicants are employed on temporary contracts, such contracts should at least extend to the end of the 12-month period during which the project is carried out.
Funds and Project limits
A maximum of £5000 per project may be awarded. Except in exceptional circumstances, funds will only be paid to the recipient’s workplace or organisation.
Projects must be completed within one year.
Reporting
Upon completion of the project, applicants are expected to produce a report (max. 1000 words) for publication in the BSPP Newsletter. In addition, the applicant is encouraged to attend the next BSPP Presidential meeting and submit a poster/oral presentation; online attendance is acceptable if justified
Application and Selection Process
Application deadline 26th May 2023. Successful applicants will be contacted within four weeks and projects are to start as soon as possible. There will be one call per year. Three people from the Board will assess the submitted proposals and generate a draft list for funding for submission to the President for the final decision.
