Eder Family Fund for Dungeness Crab Research

Dungeness crab is an important part of the Northwest’s seafood heritage. Commercially harvested since the 1800’s, Dungeness crab is Oregon’s most valuable ‘single species’ fishery. The Eder Family Fund for Dungeness Crab Research supports research related to this iconic species.

  

Marine Studies Initiative

Request for Proposals- Eder Family Dungeness Crab Research Fund

Summary:

  • Proposals Due: Friday, April 20, 2018, before 5:00 p.m. PST
  • Individual Requests: $10,000-$30,000
  • Required Match: 50% minimum 
  • Anticipated Funding: One to three projects
  • Project Duration: One or two years starting June 1, 2018

Purpose:

With the support of a generous private gift, the Marine Studies Initiative invites proposals for innovative and potentially transformative research related to the Dungeness crab fisheries. This seed funding is available to support faculty and students in any academic or research unit at OSU for research or scholarship support (or combination of both) as long as the project purpose is directly related to an aspect of Dungeness crab and/or its commercial fishery.  Proposals are invited that test new ideas to address issues including for example, but not limited to, effects of ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms and domoic acid, neurotoxin testing, crab handling and crab mortality.

Example Research Areas:

Proposals may include, but are not limited to, research in the following examples areas:

  • Crab natural mortality, i.e., the life cycle of the crab in the absence of fishing.
  • Crab movement, e.g. via tagging studies. 
  • Ocean acidification and hypoxia effects.
  • Gear alterations to improve the system, including further reducing bycatch. 
  • Long-term ecological study akin to the Newport Hydrographic Line studies.

Proposals that involve the Oregon fishing community are especially encouraged.

Timing:

Proposals are due electronically to the Marine Studies Initiative office by Friday, April 20, 2018, before 5:00 p.m. PST. Submit an electronic PDF to [email protected] with the subject line “Eder Family Dungeness Crab Research Fund proposal.” Decisions will be communicated within approximately 4-weeks. Projects may start on June 1, 2018, and may be for 1-2 years in duration.

Funding:

Requests may be in the range $10,000-$30,000 and must show a minimum 50% match. Eligible match may come from state, federal, and private sources. It is anticipated that one to three projects will be funded.

Eligibility:

Faculty and students in any academic or research unit at Oregon State University. Proposals that involve the Oregon fishing community are especially encouraged.

Process:

All proposals will be reviewed by members of the Marine Studies Initiative leadership team (http://marinestudies.oregonstate.edu/about/msi-leadership-team). Comments from other reviewers may be solicited. Final funding decisions will be made by the MSI Executive Director based on available funds. Please contact Marine Studies Initiative Executive Director, Jack Barth ([email protected], 541-737-1607) if you would like to discuss your proposed project ideas before submitting a proposal.

Review Criteria: 

  • Degree that the proposed work relates to some aspect of Dungeness crab and/or its commercial fishery,
  • Clearly described objectives, plans and outcomes,
  • Alignment with the Marine Studies Initiative’s mission and vision (http://marinestudies.oregonstate.edu/),
  • Degree of involvement of the Oregon fishing community,
  • Clear evidence of 50% cost share.

Proposal guidelines:

Your proposal, based on the outline below, should not exceed four pages (12-point type, single-spaced, not including figures and references). The budget request, budget justification, principal investigator(s) biographical sketch, and letter(s) of support/collaboration (optional) are not counted in the four-page limit. Please include the following information:

  • Title
  • Principal Investigator(s) names, institutional affiliation, and contact information including email address.
  • Requested amount and project start date and duration
  • Proposal Narrative:
    • Describe the problem or opportunity that is to be addressed. A clear and precise statement establishing the significance, relevance, timeliness, generalizability, and benefits of the project is essential. Indicate the current status of knowledge concerning the problem or opportunity to be addressed, including a summary of previous applicable work with relevant references.
    • List Objectives. Provide your specific objectives in a numbered list format. You should ask yourself whether these objectives, as stated, will result in outcomes that will allow you and the Marine Studies Initiative to discern this project has been successful, and not just completed.
    • Describe how you will approach this problem or opportunity. Concisely present information on your approach and the general methodology that will be employed.
    • Discuss who will use the findings of the proposed project and who will be affected by or benefit from the findings of this project. What would be the best way to communicate or demonstrate the project results?

    • Answer the perennial question: "So what?" What will happen as a result of this project? Describe the potential outcomes or impacts that might be seen and measured. How soon after project completion might these impacts occur? Will the anticipated benefits of the project have practical applications?

  • Project Personnel Information. Who will be involved in the project? List names and institutional affiliations, and briefly explain specific roles and qualifications. Please submit a one-page biographical sketch for each PI and for other significant contributors to your project. List all formal project partners. Letters of support may also be included. 
  • Budget and Budget Justification. Please use this budget outline to show how much, to the nearest dollar, is requested. Please note that indirect costs and permanent equipment costing over $5,000 are not eligible.
  • Personnel Salary or Wages (name, FTE or months, and dollars requested for each project member)
  • Personnel Benefits (rate and dollars requested for each project member)
  • Supplies and Services (give a total and explain in general in the Budget Justification)
  • Travel (note, international travel requires special approval)
  • Publication Costs
  • Other Costs (subcontracts, tuition, or costs not included in any category above. Explain in the Budget Justification)
  • Total Requested
  • Budget Justification. Please explain the following: How will the requested funds be used? Please detail the need for any supplies and services, travel, subcontracts, tuition, or any other items.
  • Match Documentation: Itemize and explain the sources and amounts of the minimum 50% matching contribution. 
  • Dataset Description(s) (required answer): What data will be produced by this study and how will it be documented (e.g., descriptive details on data types, inclusion of metadata, data format(s), and collection times/date ranges, etc.)? Who will own the dataset, if not the lead PI? What are your plans for using, sharing and preserving any data produced in this study? Are there any legal, access, retention, etc. issues anticipated for the dataset? If yes, please explain. Are there any additional comments related to the data that will result from your study?

Contact:

If you have questions about the proposal submission process please contact Marine Studies Initiative Administrative Assistant Virginia Neylon ([email protected], 541-737-2780).