Latin American/Caribbean Conservation Research Grant  

The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is dedicated to the study and conservation of migratory and resident birds throughout the Americas and the full annual life cycle, and supporting the career development of young scientists. 

Accordingly, the AOS Conservation Committee is sponsoring a grants program to support early-career scientists from Latin America and the Caribbean conducting conservation-related research on either migratory or resident birds in those regions.

All grant nominees are expected to have a high standard of ethical and social behavior that is strongly aligned with the AOS Code of Conduct & Ethics.

Grant amount: Two grants of up to $5,000 USD each

Eligibility

• Limited to conservation-related research projects taking place in Mexico, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean.
• Strong preference will be given to innovative proposals that demonstrate the potential for actionable outcomes on species and habitats with immediate conservation needs.
• Grants will be provided to early career scientists with graduate degrees (either MS or PhD and within 5 years of graduating) from countries within Latin America and the Caribbean. Applicants who live and work in the region will be given priority. Current students will not be considered this year, but are encouraged to apply for other AOS student research grants.
• Awardees must be current members of the AOS or be willing to become a member.  Awardees may request a temporary, complimentary membership if financial hardship precludes being able to join. 

Use of Funds

• Grant funds may be used as stipend for the researcher and/or field assistants, equipment, supplies, and travel and living expenses related to field or lab work. 
• Funds may not be used for travel to meetings, publication costs, overhead, or indirect costs.
• Recipients will be asked to provide a brief financial report within one year of disbursement. 

Deadline & Application Procedure

• Applications are currently closed for Latin American/Caribbean Conservation Research Grants. Applications must be submitted via the AOS Member Portal. Applicants do not have to be an AOS member at the time of application submission. Announcement of awards will be made by 1 April 2024.
• Proposals may be submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French. Abstracts must be written in English.

Section I

• Name
• Current Institution/Affiliation
• Email address
• Phone number
• Permanent Country of Residence
• Highest degree, and date obtained
• AOS membership status
• Certification that applicant has obtained all of the necessary permits to successfully, ethically, and legally conduct the proposed research Y or N (copies of permits are not necessary at the time of application but must be provided before funding can be released to awardees)

Section II

• Title of proposal
• Abstract in English (200 words maximum) 

Section III

Research narrative (Can be in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French (Word limit = 1,500 for Introduction through conservation implications, excluding the literature cited, timeline and budget).

• Introduction: Should include the relevant context, conservation problem(s) that the work will address, and the gaps in knowledge that the work will fulfill.
• Project objectives:  Articulate the specific questions to be investigated, and associated hypotheses and predictions.
• Approach and Methods: Provide information sufficient for the selection committee to evaluate the appropriateness of the methods in relation to study objectives.
• Conservation implications: How the results of your research will contribute to avian conservation
• Literature cited: Any format is fine. 
• Project timeline: Approximate start date and end date of fieldwork, data analysis, manuscript preparation and submission. 
• Budget: For the entire project, indicating what this grant would be used for; show in-kind or cash matching funds if available. Please include the following budget categories: Salary/Stipends, Housing/Food, Travel, Equipment and Supplies, and Other Expenses. Clearly indicate what is being requested in each category. All amounts should be in U.S. dollars.

Additional supporting documents:

• Curriculum vitae

Other requirements:

• Grantees must submit an interim report describing project progress and grant expenditures to date within one year of the receipt of funds, and, if appropriate, thereafter at regular intervals based on the approved schedule of activities. 
• Within one year of the completion of the funded project, grantees must submit a full report, including introduction, methods, main results, final breakdown of expenditures, and how study results contributed to avian conservation.  
• Publications resulting from the research project must acknowledge the support of the AOS Conservation Committee grant. Publications will be listed on the AOS website and made available in accordance with journal copyright restrictions. 

Questions?

For assistance with grant proposal submission or any other questions, please contact AOS Conservation Committee Co-Chair Anna Chalfoun: achalfou@uwyo.edu.

Past Latin America and Caribbean Conservation Research Awardees