The MUST IUC UCoBS Sub-Project One titled “Improved Conservation Practices for the Environment and Natural Resources in South Western Uganda” and Sub-Project Three titled “Increased Access and Utilization of Affordable Energy Technologies” of Mbarara University of Science and Technology are pleased to announce a call for micro research proposals. This call is part of the MUST-IUC UCoBS project initiative to provide seed grants to researchers to generate tangible research outputs such as high-end peer-reviewed publications, conference papers, and book chapters for MUST.
One winning team for Sub-Project One will be awarded 4,000,000/= (Four Million Uganda shillings only) to support the research and publication processes.
One winning team for Sub-project Three will be awarded 6,000,000/= (Six Million Uganda shillings only) to support the research and publication processes.
Application deadline: April 30, 2024 (11:59 pm E.A.T)
MUST IUC UCoBS Project will follow a rigorous review to identify the possible Micro Research Seed grant recipient. Winning teams will be competitively selected from all the three themes of sub-project one and three by a multi-disciplinary and independent panel of judges after a detailed proposal review and grading. Selection will be based on successful applications among the three themes.
The themes for Sub-project One are;
- Integration of governance frameworks or alternative livelihood approaches into natural resource and environmental conservation Lake Mburo National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Determining the socio-ecological drivers and extent of degradation of River Ruhezamyenda to inform their restoration
- Enhancing the integration of indigenous knowledge and cultural values in the management and conservation of natural resources
The themes for Sub-project Three are;
- The socio-economic implications of renewable energy technologies
- Development, utilization and promotion of solar energy and its applications, and energy saving mechanisms
- Development, utilization and promotion of biomass as an energy source
Eligibility Criteria and requirements
- Applicants should be team members, scholars or from the implementing organizations/institutions of the either MUST-IUC UCoBS sub-project one or sub-project three as per the respective sub-project themes
- Applicants should submit as teams not as an individual
- Applicants should be able to publish their research results indexing Mbarara University of Science and Technology once the research project has been completed
- Female candidates are encouraged to apply
- Proposal concept should be a maximum of 4 pages, Times New Roman, Font 12. References are not considered as part of page limit. Applications that do not conform to this criterion will be administratively rejected.
Proposal Requirements
Proposal Body should include the following sections
- Project title
- Introduction and project focus
- Problem statement
- Proposed solution including purpose and objectives of the study
- Justification of the study
- Overview of the research methodology
- Management team and partnerships
- Workplan and budget
Evaluation Criteria:
The following criteria will be followed during evaluation:
- Originality and project title (2 marks)
- Introduction and problem statement (10 points)
- Identifies a clear need/gap and illustrates how the research will address this need/gap
- Demonstrates potential for widespread impact
- Literature and theoretical review (8 points)
- A good engagement with current relevant literature
- Proper citations and referencing
- A clear research methodology (10 points)
- Demonstrates clear methods and materials
- Outlines a feasible implementation plan and strategy (including workplan and budget)
- Demonstrates a clear research dissemination plan
- Discusses clear partnership opportunities with NGOs, governments and industry
- Proposed solution in line with the sub-project focus (5 points)
- Offers rationale for a new and creative solution (‘better/faster/cheaper’)
- Addresses significant technical issues relevant for global settings, including low-resource settings
- Shows promise for strong research publication output and new knowledge relevance
- Management Team (5 points)
- Brings relevant expertise according to the nature of the research
- Part of the management team should be member(s) affiliated to MUST
How to Apply:
FOR SUB-PROJECT ONE
Email applications as PDF to: tinkasimire90@gmail.com copied to mtwinamatsiko@must.ac.ug and aamwikirize@must.ac.ug. For any inquiries, please reach out to Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko on mtwinamatsiko@must.ac.ug and Mr. Rogers Tinkasimire – tinkasimire90@gmail.com
FOR SUB-PROJECT THREE
Email applications as PDF to: elizaakwi@gmail.com, copied to jobungoloch@must.ac.ug and aamwikirize@must.ac.ug. For any inquiries, please reach out to Dr. Johnes Obungoloch on jobungoloch@must.ac.ug