The Census of the Diversity of Abyssal Marine Life (CeDAMar) announces a fellowship program for deep-sea taxonomists

Rationale:

The deep sea is one of the largest and least explored ecosystems on Earth and is a major reservoir of biodiversity and evolutionary novelty. However, the limited number of taxonomists worldwide specializing on deep-sea groups, combined with the frequent collection of undescribed taxa, are major impediments for understanding and characterization of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the abyss. To help overcome this so-called "taxonomic impediment", CeDAMar will support short-term visits of taxonomists to other institutes in order to work with colleagues there and exchange knowledge concerning abyssal material. This instrument will allow taxonomists to cross reference their samples with material from previous expeditions and natural history collections.

CeDAMar is a field project of the Census of Marine Life (www.coml.org). The fellowship program is supported by the Alfred Sloan Foundation.

Eligibility:

The fellowship program is devoted to individuals matching the following criteria:

A) Taxonomists studying material from CeDAMar expeditions (currently ANDEEP, BIOZAIRE, CROZEX, DIVA, KAPLAN, LEVAR, and NODINAUT) wanting to visit a foreign institute, for example, a museum collection to examine type material

B) Taxonomists working with abyssal material from elsewhere wanting to visit an institute where CeDAMar material is being processed, for example, to compare own specimens with material collected during CeDAMar field efforts

Application and deadlines:

A written application should contain the following information:

• Name and affiliation (home institute)

• Curriculum Vitae (max. 1 page)

• Description of work, specifying goals and outcomes and expected start and end of the visit

• Letter of invitation from the guest institute

• Expected costs, specifying travel expenses and lodging

• Expected contribution of the guest institute (e.g., free lodging etc.) if applicable

The grant will cover travel expenses and subsistence. The whole amount of each grant should typically not exceed 2,000 euros. Higher amounts may be considered on a case by case basis. Deadlines for applications are 15^th March, 15^th June, 15^th September, and 15^th December each year.

To be submitted to:

CeDAMar Taxonomists Exchange Program

Stefanie Keller

DZMB- Senckenberg

Südstrand 44

D-26382 Wilhelmshaven

Germany

email: skeller@senckenberg.de