[Coral-List] Coral Bleaching RCN: call for Early Career Training Program applicants

[Zac Forsman]

4 awards available to early career researchers wanting to learn a new
skill relating to coral bleaching:

Temperature stress is the single largest threat to coral reefs
globally and is the focal topic of the newly established Coral
Bleaching RCN. In July 2016, coral scientists from across the US
participated in a workshop and recognized that in order to most
effectively improve the rate of coral bleaching discovery, we would
need to explore ways to increase efficiencies in how we conduct
research, bring together researchers that do not traditionally work
together, and create an interdisciplinary collaborative network. To
this end, the Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network (Coral
Bleaching RCN) is inviting applicants for the Early Career Training
Program.

The Coral Bleaching RCN Early Career Training Program is designed to
give early career researchers (i.e., post-candidacy PhD students and
post-docs) an opportunity to learn a new skill such as a laboratory or
field method, data analysis tool, or other skill relevant to the study
of coral bleaching within the 2019 calendar year. By learning a new
skill, it is expected that individuals selected to participate in this
program will be better able to incorporate inter-disciplinary
approaches into their research. We seek input and participation from
researchers across a broad range of disciplines (i.e., biology,
physiology, geology, ecology, biogeochemistry, physical oceanography,
etc.) who are interested in learning new approaches to apply to coral
bleaching studies. Applicants need not be US citizens / permanent
residents, but the award support is limited to travel within the USA,
living costs associated with spending a training period at another
institution, and research supplies.

We invite interested individuals to submit an application (using the
required Early Career Training Program application form) by 29 March,
2019 from which 4 awards will be offered to the top ranked applicants.
Each award will be a flat amount of $2,000 USD to support their
proposed exchange with a PI from an institution other than their own
for at least one month. All participants of the first Coral Bleaching
RCN workshop (listed at
https://u.osu.edu/grottoli.1/coral-bleaching-rcn/workshop-1-experimental-design-22-24-may-2019/
) are potential mentors, although applicants are not limited to this
group. The application form is included with this notice, and is also
available for download from the Coral Bleaching RCN website
(
http://u.osu.edu/grottoli.1/coral-bleaching-rcn/early-career-training-program/
). Completed forms must be accompanied by the additional required
documents including two letters of support: one from the host
outlining their commitment to the applicant and a second from the
current supervisor giving permission for successful applicants to
participate.  Late or incomplete applications, and those without the
required letters of support at the time of submission will be
ineligible.  Award recipients must also agree to submit a 2-page
post-award report within 30 days after completing the training that
outlines the experience and value of the exchange to the applicant.
Any publications or presentations resulting from the Early Career
Training Program are asked to acknowledge the NSF Coral Bleaching RCN.

Completed applications following the attached application checklist
should be sent via email to Dr. Rob Toonen at rjtoonen at gmail.com no
later than midnight HST on 29 March, 2019 for consideration, and
successful award recipients will be notified before the end of April.
Additional information about the RCN, workshops and Early Career
Training Program can be found at
http://u.osu.edu/grottoli.1/coral-bleaching-rcn/ or by contacting Dr.
Toonen directly.

Application forms are available here:
https://u.osu.edu/grottoli.1/files/2019/03/Coral-Bleaching-RCN_Early-Career-Application-Form-vd8pl7.docx