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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY - FAPESP CALL FOR PROPOSALS

This call is published at www.fapesp.br/chamadas/goamazon

1. Introduction

The São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP announces this Call for Research Proposals and invites researchers associated to higher education and research organizations in the state of São Paulo to submit research proposals for “Collaborative Research in Support of GOAmazon Campaign Science”, in the form and conditions set out below.

This Call for Proposals is issued in coordination with funding announcements from the U.S. Department of Energy - DoE and the Amazonas Research Foundation - FAPEAM.

Applications must be in collaborations either between researchers from DOE and the State of São Paulo, Brazil, or from DOE, the State of São Paulo, Brazil and the State of Amazonas, Brazil .

The aim is to promote and strengthen collaborations in the field of Amazonian Tropical Ecosystems between researchers from the State of São Paulo, from the U.S., and from the State of Amazonas.

2. Research Themes

Research projects submitted to this Call for Proposals on Collaborative Research in Support of GOAmazon Campaign Science should be inserted into one of the following thematic areas:

2.1 Atmospheric System Research (ASR): The goal of the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) theme is to improve the treatment of clouds, aerosols, and radiative transfer processes in atmospheric models, that in turn are combined with ocean, terrestrial, and ice sheet models to make projections of climate change. For reference, background material on DOE/ASR science is available through the ASR Science Plan. The ASR utilizes the long-term cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and background meteorological data sets from the ARM Climate Research Facility, a unique climatic observational database that is in turn used to advance the predictability of regional and global climate models. For this solicitation, FAPESP will consider research proposals for tropically-relevant science in the context of the GOAmazon campaign.

ASR research emphasizes three overlapping subjects of scientific inquiry: cloud life cycle; aerosol life cycle; and cloud-aerosol-precipitation interactions. For cloud life cycle research, themes of research interest include retrieval of cloud micro and macrophysical properties in the context of long term climate records, and analysis of cloud properties and their interactions with atmospheric radiation from a climate perspective. For aerosols, ASR focuses on extending the science so that physical, chemical, and biogenic aerosol processes become sufficiently advanced so that they are adequately represented in climate models. The third subject is Cloud-Aerosol-Precipitation-Interactions, including the quantification of indirect effects of aerosols on clouds and associated processes such as precipitation. ASR strives to extend process level research towards improvement or development of formulations suitable for regional and global climate models. For this solicitation, ASR will consider research proposals for tropically-relevant science in the context of the GOAmazon campaign. ASR specifically encourages applications in the following specific Science Areas:

• Improved understanding of the life cycle of aerosols in the Amazon basin during the GOAmazon 2014-2015 timeframe, including the interaction of pristine and polluted air masses.

• Improved understanding of the interaction of aerosols and clouds over the Amazon basin, including aerosol impacts on precipitation and tropical convective processes, as well as cloud impacts on aerosol transport, chemistry, and removal.

• Improved understanding of the evolution of tropical convective systems in the GoAmazon domain and the processes driving these transitions.

2.2 Terrestrial Ecosystem Sciences (TES): The goal of the TES theme is to improve the representation of terrestrial ecosystem processes in Earth system models thereby improving the quality of climate model projections and providing the scientific foundation needed to inform decision maker on energy matters. TES uses a systems approach to understand ecosystems over multiple scales that can be represented in models (e.g., single process models, ecosystem models, and coupled Earth system models). This emphasis on the capture of advanced understanding in models has two goals. First, it seeks to ultimately improve the representation of these processes in coupled models, thereby increasing the sophistication of the projections from those models. Second, it encourages the community to exercise those models and to compare the results against observations or other data sets to inform future research directions. For reference, current information on the DOE/TES program can be found at http://tes.science.energy.gov/ .

The TES theme will consider applications designed around measurements, experiments, modeling and synthesis to provide improved quantitative and predictive understanding of tropical ecosystem processes in tropical forests that can affect changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration and thereby affect forcing of climate. The emphasis of this FOA topic is to understand the feedbacks from terrestrial ecosystems in response to a changing climate. Applicants should pose their research goals, objectives, and approach in the context of representing terrestrial ecosystem processes in Earth system models. The emphasis on applicability to models can be accomplished through process research that specify mechanisms for the incorporation of results into state of the art process, ecosystem or Earth system models, by proposing direct improvements to such models or through synthesis activities that draw on existing data sets. The effects of specific management practices (e.g., agricultural processes), shall not be considered. However, we recognize that land use change is a major driver of change in tropical ecosystems. As such, FAPESP is willing to consider research questions that address fundamental ecological processes associated with land use change (e.g., soil carbon response to reforestation following land clearing).

TES will consider research proposals for tropically-relevant science that falls within the program’s scope and encourages applications in the following specific Science Areas:

• New or improved understanding of the drivers and feedbacks of drought and related natural disturbances on tropical forests. Particular emphasis is placed on hydraulic properties, understanding of temperature thresholds and sensitivities of photosynthesis and respiration, and forest carbon allocations.

• Improved understanding of belowground processes and mechanisms across scales associated with a changing climate in the Amazon basin. Particular emphasis is on plant, mycorrhizal and soil biogeochemical processes impacted by changes in temperature, precipitation, and carbon allocation.

• Improved understanding of physiological and environmental factors (e.g., light quality) that control the cycling of carbon and nitrous oxides through tropical forest ecosystems.

• Research is also sought to provide a robust understanding of fungal derived aerosols and their interactions with atmospheric processes beyond the vegetative canopy.

All projects should clearly delineate an integrative, hypothesis-driven approach or synthesis activity and clearly describe how the results of the research will improve our ability to understand and predict the role of the terrestrial ecosystems in a changing climate.

Applicants are encouraged to consider utilization of, or collaboration with, sites that have existing support (e.g., existing AmeriFlux projects, etc.) thereby leveraging ongoing investments, archived samples and long-term data sets.

Applicants are encouraged to employ a model-inspired approach to pose their research questions, which in turn provides a direct link to improving the model or process representation. , applicants are encouraged to link their activities to the Community Earth System Model (CESM), including the Community Land Model (CLM)

2.3 Regional and Global climate Modeling (RGCM): The goal of the RGCM theme ( for reference see http://science.energy.gov/ber/research/cesd/regional-and-global-modeling/) is to advance the predictive understanding of Earth’s climate, its variability, and change by focusing on analysis of regions critical to climate; evaluating robust methods to obtain higher spatial resolution; and diagnosing and analyzing state-of-the-science for coupled climate and Earth system models to understand climate variability and change, at regional and global scales. These often take the form of sensitivity studies that focus on various aspects of the climate system, including the understanding of feedbacks within the climate system, detection and attribution studies, developing capabilities for decadal predictability, uncertainty characterization, and analysis of feedbacks within the climate system. In essence, RGCM investments are designed to develop metrics for model validation, to conduct climate analysis research in order to inform the model development strategies of Earth System Modeling Program, and to inform the process research priorities within the TES and ASR programs.

The GOAmazon2014 experiment provides a unique opportunity to exercise Regional and Global Models to study interactions among often separated components of the Earth system- the atmosphere, and the land. The GOAmazon2014 experiment occurs in a complex location that includes: one of the rainiest regions of the world; an urban heat island; aerosol and pollution sources; and a complex river basin. The Amazon region also has a substantial influence on the large scale circulation through teleconnections. Questions that need to be further understood in this region include, but are not limited to, the importance of local processes like the interaction of aerosols with clouds and precipitation, processes leading to biases in tropical convection, the influence of land-atmosphere interactions on wet season onset, and the interaction between local and large-scale circulations.

The specific science questions that are the focus of this call are, but are not limited to:

• Enhancing the understanding of the interactions between multi-scale processes that relate the local precipitation and hydrological processes to the large-scale climate;

• Investigating the relative importance of model resolution, cumulus parameterizations, and land surface in regard to Amazon cloud and precipitation model biases, and remote teleconnections;

• Understanding how the net primary production (NPP), interacts with radiation, temperature, and precipitation in clean vs. polluted conditions; and

• Examining the relative roles of local and large-scale, both terrestrial and atmospheric influences, on processes controlling diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variability of convection and precipitation.

As part of this call, RGCM specifically encourages applications that use a hierarchy of models, ranging from single column models to regional and global models, to conduct and analyze simulations. It is envisioned that the models and processes will be evaluated using observations from the GOAmazon experiment and other relevant data sets. The development of metrics that will inform model development is encouraged. The analysis work should also indicate how the work conducted will inform the improvement of the Community and Earth System Model.

3. Funding

3.1. The applicants shall apply for funding to their respective funding agencies (with the agencies’ own forms). Researchers from USA must follow the DoE’s guidelines and researchers from the State of São Paulo, the FAPESP guidelines out by this document.

3.2. In the case a proposal includes the three agencies (FAPESP, FAPEAM and DoE), researchers from the State of Amazonas should follow FAPEAM’s guidelines.

3.3. FAPESP is prepared to fund the total amount of up to R$ 6.000.000,00 to the selected proposals from the State of Sao Paulo, DoE is prepared to fund equivalent of up to R$12.000.000,00 to the selected proposals from USA and if, applicable, FAPEAM is prepared to fund the total amount of up to R$ 6.000.000,00, to the selected proposals from Amazon, respectively.

3.4. Approximately 6 to 8 awards are expected. The exact number of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds, consequently, the funding to each selected proposals could range between R$ 750.000,00 a R$ 1.500.000,00

3.5. As a general rule, the funding is for up to three years with a balanced contribution from each Agency. The funding period starts at 1 January 2014.

4. Eligibility criteria

4.1. For the applicant researcher in the State of São Paulo, the collaborative proposal must be submitted to FAPESP as a Regular Research Award. The maximum project duration is 36 months, non-extendable.

4.2. Applicants from the State of São Paulo must satisfy the eligibility criteria of FAPESP available at www.fapesp.br/137#4772 for the Regular Research Award and applicants from the DoE must satisfy the eligibility criteria of DoE.

4.2.1. When applicable, applicants from the State of Amazon must satisfy the eligibility criteria of FAPEAM.

5. Review of applications

5.1. Applications will be reviewed by international peer reviewers, in line with each Agency practices. The evaluation criteria include:

• Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project;

• Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach;

• Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed Resources; and

• Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget.

• Added value generated by research collaboration between investigators funded via this announcement, by DoE, FAPESP and FAPEAM, when applicable;

• The adequateness of the procedures to guarantee the interaction among the participant researchers.

5.2. Each Party will receive the proposals pertaining to its jurisdiction and review them according to its own criteria and rules. After the revision of the proposals, the Parties will have a joint scientific and technical merit review meeting, hosted by DoE, to decide which proposals will be supported.

5.3. The process of analysis, qualification and selection of the proposals received at FAPESP will be carried out using peer-reviewers and committees review especially appointed by the Foundation’s Scientific Director.

5.4. Proposals which do not comply with the terms of this Call for Proposals will be considered “not qualified”.

6. Submission of proposals

6.1. The application shall include a Joint Research Project written by 2 or 3 co-applicants:

6.1.1. One from the U.S. and one from the State of Sao Paulo (two co-PIs); or

6.1.2. One from the U.S., one from the State of Sao Paulo, and one from the State of Amazonas (three co-PIs).

6.2. The Joint Research Project shall involve a clear description of the planned research collaboration (distribution of work and methods of implementation) and the added value to be expected from the collaboration. The Joint Research Project shall include both a joint budget and separate budgets for the partners.

6.3. In the case of proposals, which include researchers from Amazonas, the Joint Research Project must clearly state which part of the plan is the responsibility of the Amazonian researcher, the benefit expected from this collaboration and the correspondent part of the budget to be supported by FAPEAM.

6.3.1. The Joint Research Project composing the Proposal, described in Section 7.2.d of this Call for Proposals must be in the form of a 20 page document written jointly by the PI in State of São Paulo,the PI at the USA, and by the PI from Amazonas, if applicable;

6.4. Proposals are composed by:

a) A Joint Research Project. This one substitutes for the ”Projeto de Pesquisa” specified in item 7.2.d of FAPESP’s norms for Regular Grants (https://fapesp.br./137#4777).

b) The forms and additional documents requested by each funding agency (FAPESP,DoE, FAPEAM).

c) A Joint Research Project. This one substitutes for the ”Projeto de Pesquisa” specified in item 7.2.d of FAPESP’s norms for Regular Grants (https://fapesp.br./137#4777).

6.5. In each proposal the Joint Research Project is a unique document, submitted in copies together with the additional forms and documents, to each agency.

6.6. One copy of the Joint Research Project must be submitted, to FAPESP by the Principal Investigator from the State of São Paulo, and to the DoE by the Principal Investigator from USA. If there is a collaborator from Amazonas a third copy must be submitted to FAPEAM by the Principal Investigator from the State of the State of Amazonas. All copies must be submitted before the deadline specified in Section 8.

6.7. Proposals not received by all parties before the deadline or not in conformity to the specifications herein will not be reviewed.

6.8. Only the proposals selected by all Parties will be funded.

7. Submission conditions specific to FAPESP

7.1 Submission to FAPESP will follow the usual rules for the Regular Project Award, except for the fact that the proposal can be for a project to last 36 months.

7.2 The proposal must be submitted in English and shall contain:

a) Research Proposal form and research registration form required for FAPESP’s Regular Research Awards (including all documents required by FAPESP for Regular Research Awards) specifically designed for this Call;

b) Summary CV for all of the Principal Investigators as well as for any Collaborating Researchers from all collaborating institutions (in English following the guidelines;

c) Team worksheet;

d) Budget worksheets specifically designed for this Call.

e) A Joint Research Project (referred to in section 6) written in English with a maximum of twenty (20) pages of scientific content including:

• a clear description of the planned research collaboration (distribution of work and methods of implementation) responsibilities of both partners;
• a description of the added value to be expected from the collaboration;
• a joint budget for the project and separate budgets for the partners;
• a description of the significance of the project for researcher training and the development of the research environment.

e) If the proposal includes requests for scholarships, a work plan for each scholarship is mandatory;

f) Detailed information and budget for each research mission (budget must be indicated in the corresponding fields of the Budget Worksheets) if applicable.

7.3 All proposals shall be sent by mail, printed, to FAPESP, to the following address:

Rua Pio XI, 1500, Alto da Lapa, CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo/SP, with “Chamada FAPESP/GOAmazon 2013” written on the envelope.

7.4 Please consult submission conditions specific to DoE, USA at http://science.doe.gov/grants/pdf/SC_FOA_0000919.pdf.

7.5 Please consult submission conditions specific to FAPEAM, if applicable, at http://www.fapeam.am.gov.br/editais.php?ano=vigentes.

8. Timeline

EVENT	Deadlines
Call announcement	15th May 2013
Last day of proposal submission	1st July 2013
Announcement of the selected proposals	starting at 30th September 2013

9. Additional information

• From DoE USA: Ashley D. Williamson by e-mail Ashley.Williamson@science.doe.gov;
  
• From FAPESP: Area Director Dr Simone Godoi by e-mail Chamada_goamazon@fapesp.br;

• From FAPEAM: Andrea Waichman by email fapeam.doe.fapesp@fapeam.am.gov.br

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