Agreements

SPRINT – 1st Edition 2020: Guidelines Texas A&M University

Informational Meeting

Texas A&M-FAPESP Workshop:
• February 13, 2020, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 310 Jack K. Williams Administration Building

GUIDELINES: Texas A&M University (https://u.tamu.edu/fapesp)

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil, and Texas A&M University (TAMU), signed a Cooperation Agreement for Research on May 22nd, 2017, aiming to implement scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from the Texas A&M, USA, and from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through the funding of joint research projects.

Under the referred Agreement, as a continuation of this fruitful collaboration, FAPESP and TAMU make public this Call for Proposals for the exchange of faculty and postdoctoral researchers under the terms and conditions of the SPRINT 1ST Edition 2020 (sprint/call12020) and hereinafter set forth.

One principal investigator is required from Texas A&M and the other from a public and/or private institution of Higher Education in the State of São Paulo.

1. Eligibility from Texas A&M side

1.1. Eligibility to submit proposals within the scope of this Call:

a. All PI-eligible investigators at Texas A&M University, as defined by SAP 15.01.01.M5.01 (http://rules-saps.tamu.edu/PDFs/15.01.01.M5.01.pdf). If you are not clear, please verify with your departmental or college business person regarding your employment Adloc.

b. Only one proposal per PI will be accepted.

c. PI may have only one active award.

1.2. Eligibility for the exchange activities within the scope of this Call

a. Principal and Co-Principal Investigators named on the project are eligible to participate in the exchange activities (primarily travel).

i. Other participants may include post-doctoral Fellows and PhD students where appropriate. Considering the principle of reciprocity, FAPESP exceptionally may either support PhD students from São Paulo state to take part in the scientific missions. In this case, the PhD student(s) must have an ongoing FAPESP fellowship during the planned exchange mission to the partner institution.

Note:

• The proposals must aim to respect the principle of reciprocity with regard to academic qualifications of those who will take part in the exchange activities. The number of participants from each side, the number of travels and the term of the visits must also be balanced between the teams.

• Eligibility of research partners in the State of São Paulo should observe Items 3.1 and 4.2 of the FAPESP call (sprint/call12020):

a. Eligible to apply are Principal Investigators of ongoing research projects funded by FAPESP within the following FAPESP funding modalities: Regular Research Awards (excluding mobility projects), Thematic Projects, Young Investigators, Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (CEPIDs/RIDCs), Public Education Research Program, Research in Public Policies, and Research Partnership for Technological Innovation (PITE). Co-Principal Investigators of ongoing Thematic Projects, CEPIDs/RIDCs and PITEs are also eligible to apply.

b. For the exchange activities within the scope of this Call, eligible are the team members of the related ongoing research award described above in Item 3, when previously defined in the ongoing research project as:

i. Principal or Co-Principal Investigators;

ii. Associated Researchers affiliates to Higher Education and Research Institutions in the State of São Paulo.

2. Fields of knowledge

This Call for Proposals invites research proposals in all disciplines and fields of knowledge.

3. Duration of the project for the exchange of researchers

The maximum duration of each project is 24 months.

4. Timeline

Call announced by FAPESP and TAMU

28 January 2020

Closing date for submission of proposals

15 June 2020

Successful proposals notified after

14 September 2020

5. Funding Principles

5.1. FAPESP will provide funding of up to the equivalent of US$10,000.00 (ten thousand dollars) per proposal per year and TAMU will provide funding of up to US$10,000.00 (ten thousand dollars) per proposal per year, for the duration of the grant to cover research-related mobility expenses, under the provisions of Clause 5 of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement established by the Parties (en/11028).

5.2. FAPESP and TAMU will fund a maximum of 5 (five) approved proposals in this call.

6. Proposal Characteristics for TAMU Researchers

The proposal shall be composed of:

6.1 A Research Project having a maximum of five (5) pages of scientific content, written in English jointly by the Principal Investigator at the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo and the Principal Investigator at TAMU. One copy of the Research Project shall be sent to FAPESP and an identical copy to TAMU. Research Project must include the items included in the item 6.1 at www.fapesp.br/sprint/call12020:

a. A substantive description of the exchange activities, emphasizing their relevance. The proposal must state clearly how the exchange activities to be carried out by each team will contribute to the ongoing research project funded by FAPESP and to the research being carried by the partner researcher at TAMU;

b. Detailed schedule of the exchange missions to be carried out by the partner team at the São Paulo institution and the São Paulo team at the TAMU;

c. Performance indicators for the planned activities, indicating the expected results;

d. A description of each candidate’s contribution to the mission, explaining their expertise to carry out the foreseen activities;

e. Foreseen actions that will add to the impact of the exchange for TAMU and for the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo, e.g. by means of seminars, short courses etc.;

f. Description of how the Principal Investigators in São Paulo and in TAMU intend to prepare a joint research project, resulting from the exchange activities developed from the proposal submitted to this Call, to be submitted to research funding agencies accessible in their regions in order to create a medium-long-term collaboration (up to one page).

6.2 The following additional documents required by TAMU:

a. Budget Sheet

b. Abstract: Maximum half page.

c. CV for TAMU PI and Brazilian PI (maximum 4 pages each)

d. Letter of Agreement with the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo to which the PI from São Paulo is affiliated. The same document is required by FAPESP in item 6.2.3 at www.fapesp.br/sprint/call12020. Upon notification of award, TAMU will initiate the Letter of Agreement with the Host institution in Brazil. The Letter of Agreement may be delivered after the notification of results of this call for proposals and before the grant agreement signature.

e. Please note: There are additional documents required by the Brazilian PI. Please refer to the FAPESP Call (sprint/call12020).

7. Submission of Proposals to TAMU

Submissions can only be accepted by using the online application system here or go: https://tamu.infoready4.com and select “TAMU-FAPESP SPRINT 1st Edition 2020” and click “Apply” on the right.

8. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Each submitted proposal will be reviewed based on the following major criteria:

• Team balance with regard to number of participants from each side, number of travels/trips, and the term/length of the visits.

• Qualifications and work balance between the PIs

• Scope of scientific or scholarly merit and binational impact from the proposed project

• The potential of the PIs to successfully complete the proposed project

• Potential for the Texas A&M-FAPESP award to be leveraged into a proposal for external funding, particularly to a federal agency

9. Result of the Analysis

The results will be announced on FAPESP (www.fapesp.br) and TAMU web portals and by means of a communication to the interested PIs.

10. Contract for Selected Projects by Texas A&M

Selected proposals will subject to the conditions as set forth in the letter of award.

11. Reporting Requirements

A final report of the seed grant activities will be expected at the end of the award period that summarizes the status of the project and presents evidence that they are seeking additional funding to continue the research program.

12. Grant Cancellation

FAPESP or TAMU may cancel funding if, during the grant timeframe, a significant event justifies its cancellation in the assessment of the Joint Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from Texas A&M and FAPESP, without prejudice of any other appropriate actions.

13. Information about this Call at Texas A&M

All questions related to this Call for Proposals must be directed to:

Monica Bruno Holder, MS
International Programs Coordinator
m-holder@tamu.edu; 979.847.9391


Page updated on 04/03/2020 - Published on 01/28/2020