CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Center for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER), Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria offers four grants for the 2016/2017 Academic Year. The grants are:

1. 1. BSU CEFTER Conference /Workshop Grant
2. 2. BSU-CEFTER Fellowship for Visiting Expert/Scholars
3. 3. Research Development Grants for X, Y, Z-Rated Researchers
4. 4. BSU-CEFTER Publication Grant

1. BSU CEFTER Conference /Workshop Grant

The BSU CEFTER Conference/ Workshop Grant is available to members who are presenting work on Post-harvest Losses, or acting as a principal discussant at a related conference; support of up to N150, 000 is available for local conferences and up to $2,400 for international conferences. Applications must reach the Grants Committee at least four Months to the conference date.

The submission dates are strict. If applicants have not yet received confirmation that their paper has been accepted for a conference, they should still apply by the appropriate closing date. Any award made will be conditional on confirmation of their participation at the conference.

Please note that the awards under the conference grant scheme are highly competitive and selection will be based on the following criteria.

1. 1. Ideally results of work done by students/ academics at CEFTER or partner institution.
2. 2. Students should be part of conference to be attended
3. 3. Work must be accepted for presentation at a professional conference of repute, List of preferred conferences for related field is attached
4. 4. Applicants attending conferences on the list attached will have added advantage
5. 5. Work published or presented previously will not be funded
6. 6. Applicants must submit letter of support from their Head of Department stating clearly that application meet the criteria above.

Click here to download application forms

2. BSU-CEFTER fellowship for visiting expert/scholars

The BSU-CEFTER fellowship for Visiting experts/ scholars is available for intending visiting scholars and experts to the Centre. The BSU-CEFTER fellowship for Visiting experts/ scholars provides grants to national/ non-national academics to conduct research and teach at CEFTER for at least one academic semester.

Program Length
a. Short term - Up to two weeks
b. Long term - 3 - 6 months

Grant covers cost of accommodation and travel. Accommodation will be provided by the Centre. National travels will be paid at Benue State University travel rates. International travel cost will be covered directly (economy class). A monthly stipend of $500 - $1,000 will be paid.

Eligibility and Application Overview
Public applications are accepted.

To participate in the BSU-CEFTER fellowship for Visiting experts/ scholars, the applicant must have:

1. 1. A doctorate degree and relevant experience at the time of application.
2. 2. Sufficient proficiency in the English language to carry out the project required.
3. 3. Must hold a tenured appointment in a university or research institute
4. 4. Must show evidence of recent relevant scholarly research/ publication. Especially Elsevier or Scopus indexed publication
5. 5. Must present a letter of support from the Head of host institution
6. 6. Must present a one page work proposal
7. 7. Short term visits apply to only international visitors/ experts

The objective of the short term programme is to provide CEFTER, with the opportunity to establish long-term links with world leaders in science (Post-harvest Losses) and to help develop capacity-building in the country. Under the programme, CEFTER will invite internationally renowned experts in areas of science and Post-harvest Losses to collaborate in research and training. The visit should have a minimum stay of two weeks. BSU CEFTER visiting expert programme will cover the cost of the economy class air ticket, local expenses and will provide an honorarium.

Click here to download application forms

3. Research development grants for X, Y, Z-rated researchers

The BSU-CEFTER Research development grants for X, Y, Z-rated researchers support both early career researchers and senior researchers Grants are worth between N500, 000 – N1, 000,000 each depending on the category. Funding covers cost of materials and supplies, travel for research, equipment and ad hoc research assistant. Work duration should be within 1 year.

Criteria:
a. X rated researchers - Early career academics/ researchers mainly at the rank of Assistant lecturer to Lecturer II

1. 1. Must be working at Benue State University or CEFTER partner institution
2. 2. Must identify a mentor at the rank of Senior Lecturer and above
4. 3. Researcher on a PhD studies will have an added advantage
6. 4. Research focus must be on CEFTER focus as will be adjudged by the CEFTER Grants Allocation Committee
8. 5. Proposal will be judged by following points
   • i. Novelty
   • ii. Prospects of improving existing concept, technology and methodology
   • iii. Possibility of completing work within time and budget
9. Funding of up to N500,000 is available

b. Y rated researchers - Middle career academics/ researchers mainly at the rank of Lecturer I to Senior Lecturer

1. 1. Must be working at Benue State University or CEFTER partner institution
2. 2. Must identify a mentor at the rank of Professor
3. 3. Partnership with colleagues at another institution will be added advantage
4. 4. Research focus must be on CEFTER focus as will be adjudge by the CEFTER Grants Allocation Committee
5. 5. Proposal will be judged by following points
   • i. Novelty
   • ii. Prospects of improving existing concept, technology and methodology
   • iii. Possibility of completing work within time and budget
6. Funding of up to N750,000 is available

c. Z rated researchers –Associate Professorial/ Professorial level academics

1. 1. Must be working at Benue State University or CEFTER partner institution
2. 2. Must mentor a junior colleague
3. 3. Must partner with academics outside Nigeria. Partnering non-nationals are entitled to a return ticket to Makurdi and 5 nights of accommodation separate from the allocated grant plus a meal of $20/day up to a maximum of 5 days.
4. 4. Research focus must be on CEFTER focus as will be adjudged by the CEFTER Grants Allocation Committee
5. 5. Proposal will be judged by following points
   • i. Novelty
   • ii. Prospects of improving existing concept, technology and methodology
   • iii. linkage with international partners
   • iv. Possibility of completing work within time and budget
   • v. Prospect of publication
6. Funding of up to N1,000,000 is available

Click here to download application forms

4. BSU-CEFTER publication grant

BSU- CEFTER publication grant is available for staff and students of CEFTER whose research has been accepted for publication in listed peer reviewed journals. Funding covers full cost of any listed journal. See list of approved journals on www.cefterbsu.edu.ng. Student co-authorship will be an added advantage. The address of the authors must also contain CEFTER. Work must emanate from research at BSU-CEFTER and related to post harvest losses.

Click here to download application forms