The GIF Young  Scientists’ Program, initiated in 2000, supports young researchers born after 1.1.1971 and within 7 years after receiving their PhD or MD degrees. It is a new and unique funding source for young German and Israeli researchers in Medical Research, Life Sciences, Exact Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences. This program provides one-year grants, ranging between EURO 30,000 and 40,000,  for young investigators, to carry out initial research and present their results in the other country. The aim is to find suitable partners there, with whom they could subsequently prepare and submit proposals to the Regular GIF Program.

 

This is not a fellowship program, it provides seed money to support a research project. Applicants should be recognized staff members at universities or public research institutes. Each candidate may only submit one proposal, either to the Young Scientists’ or the regular GIF program. Those who have previously submitted a regular GIF proposal or have received a German-Israeli grant from another source are not eligible.

 

The research should be carried out at the institution to which the candidate is affiliated in Israel or Germany (except for field research). Applications are accepted once a year, in all academic areas.

 

 

Procedure:

 

The submission will be electronic, via Internet.  Please see the detailed instructions .

 

Israeli applicants are requested to approach their research authorities to receive a user name and password. 

German applicants please contact the GIF Main Office  for this purpose (gif-info@gif.org.il).

 

Please note:

1. Each candidate may submit only one proposal.

2. Applications must be submitted in English .

3. Unsuccessful applicants may make a second attempt in the following year (provided they still are within the limits of age and seniority).

4. The grant is not intended to supplement or be combined with a postdoctoral fellowship from another source. It is suitable for scientists on an academic tenure track, for MD’s also during their internship period.

 

 

The Proposal:

   

       The proposal should contain the following:

1. Abstract

2. Bioethical approval – optional (where relevant)

Bioethical approval for experiments on: Human, Animals,                       If currently you don’t have the approval you may submit it separately but please note that their absence might affect the reviewer's opinion for your project. 

This refers only to proposals which require these approvals.

 

3. Budget justification

4. Personal publications

5. Photocopy of M.D Diploma

6. Research proposal (4-5 pages):

- Scientific background

- Methods

- Work plan

- Preliminary results, figures, graphs, tables (optional)

- Relevant bibliography

 

Letters of recommendation are no longer required.  However, please list at least one potential collaborator; you do not need to approach him yet.

 

An integral part of the program will be a visit of at least 2-3 weeks to the partner country, to present research activities and results and to meet possible future collaborators. 

Please note: G.I.F. only funds travel of the applicant to Germany and Israel. Subject-related meetings in other countries are excluded from G.I.F. support.

Applicants may request up to EURO 40,000 for the one-year program, for project-related equipment, disposable materials, computer services, auxiliary personnel, foreign travel, reports and publications. They will not be entitled to use part of this grant to increase their salaries or their own fellowships.

The travel and per diem expenses may not exceed EURO 5,000.  The same limitation applies to the allocation for non-expendable equipment.

No overhead charges will be accepted.

Please keep in mind that the budget justification is indispensable and should contain a short explanation of every item listed.

The applications will be evaluated according to standard G.I.F. guidelines and approved during the annual G.I.F. Board meeting. The current program period will be one academic year – applications approved for funding in 2010 will be active from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

A no-cost extension of up to 6 months is permissible.

Note on Bioethics

It is an obligation of the grantee institution to assure that G.I.F.-supported research is conducted in accordance with the highest ethical standards and all applicable laws and regulations. The research must be carried out in a manner that minimizes detrimental effects on humans, animals, plants and the environment.

To be approved by the G.I.F., all research applications must fully comply with the Helsinki Committee standards and/or all rules, regulations, and ethical codes which have been enacted by the governments and/or empowered authorities in Germany and Israel.

It is the primary responsibility of the researchers and their institutions to assure compliance with restrictions in Israel and Germany and to obtain all necessary permits prior to the implementation of a G.I.F. grant. The G.I.F. will not be held responsible or legally liable in the event of non-compliance and/or negligence and/or any kind of violation of such regulations.

Since the regulations concerning research on human stem cells are still under discussion, P.I.’s whose applications involve this kind of research will have to keep themselves informed and submit the required documentation in full before the approved grant can be implemented.

Please keep in mind that all these documents must be submitted in English, on the stationary of the relevant authorities.

Regulations for Grant Recipients:

Payment Schedule:

 

1^st payment (50% of the total) at the starting date;

2^nd payment (25%) at the end of six months;

3^rd payment (25%), at the end of the program period, after visiting the country and after submission of the -mentioned financial and scientific reports. The latter must contain a description of the visit to the partner country and its results.

 

 

    Payments will be sent to the recipient’s affiliated institution – but if he/she changes institutions during the grant period, the remaining budget shall be transferred to the new institution.

 

At the end of the project period, G.I.F. will expect a scientific report, which should also refer to the contacts established during the visit in the partner country and to future joint research proposals in preparation, if any.  Since the extended visit to the partner country is one of the main aims of the program, receipt of the last payment is conditional upon such a visit. The participants in this program will also have to submit one comprehensive financial report approved by their institutions.