13. Research Grants

The objective of the grants is to provide financial support for the biological study of animal behavior in the broadest sense, including studies at all levels of organization using descriptive and/or experimental methods under natural and/or controlled conditions. The Chairperson will attempt to maintain a diversity of research interests and experiences on the Research Grants Committee when appointing new members. In addition, no more than one member of the committee should come from any one institution. (Revised at 1999 E.C. meetings.)

The Chair of the Research Grants Committee shall see that there is no conflict of interest concerning the judges and the applicants. (Enacted at the 1987 E.C. meetings.)

Only members of the ABS who are enrolled in a graduate program may apply (see exception in 13 d). Current members of the Executive Committee or the Research Grants Committee are ineligible. Grant awards may not exceed (U.S.) $2000 (revised by EC eVote September 2007), and no individual may receive more than one award per year. Awards will not fund salaries, stipends, tuition, single items of equipment exceeding (U.S.) $500, or indirect costs. The committee may recommend funding at a level less than the amount requested and may award less than the entire amount of money allocated by the Executive Committee (Bylaws Art. IV, Sec. 10B) if the proposals are deemed to be not of sufficient quality. (Revised at 1992,1993 & 1996 E.C. meetings.)

Grants will be available annually for members of the ABS who are residents of a developing nation and are conducting research at an institution in a developing nation. The following nations shall not be considered as developing nations: the United States, Canada, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal. (Enacted at 1996, revised at the 1998, 2006 E.C. meetings.).

The following priorities will be used as guidelines by the committee in awarding grants:

Announcement of the availability of grant awards, where the applications and guidelines can be obtained, and the application deadline will be published in the two issues of the NEWSLETTER preceding application deadline. An announcement of the awards (Recipients' names, Project titles and Amount of awards) will be published in the next available issue of the NEWSLETTER following the awards.

The letter that announces the research grant should include copies of the written reviews. The following points should be included in the letter: (a) acknowledgment of the award should be included in publications and talks. (Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings, revised at the 1998, 2003 E.C. meetings.).

To provide continuity, a folder and diskette that contains copies of documents and the lists of previous awardees should be sent to the incoming Chair. (Enacted at 1996 E.C. meetings.)

Subsequent to consideration by the Research Grants Committee, research proposals and reviews shall be sent to the ABS Historian. They will be available for statistical studies, but no details on content may be revealed for 30 years following their receipt. (Enacted at 1986 E.C. meetings; revised at 1990 E.C. meetings.)

Individuals may receive only one ABS research award during their lifetime. (Enacted at 1999 E.C. meetings.)

Animal Behavior Society Handbook