| 1. | Which research areas are supported by the investigator awards? |
| The Marine Microbiology Initiative seeks to support scientists who are conducting research in fields relevant to our goals of uncovering the principles that govern the interactions among microbes (who interacts with whom, how, when, where, and the consequences thereof) and that influence the microbially mediated nutrient flow in the marine environment (who consumes and excretes what, where, how much, when, and the consequences thereof). This includes scientists such as microbial ecologists, biogeochemists, modelers, evolutionary biologists, bioinformaticians, and more. |
| 2. | How were the investigator awards decided? |
| We arrived at the decisions through a confidential review process with external advisors. The selection criteria included originality, creativity, and achievements relative to peers at the same career stage; demonstrated ability to conduct innovative research and take risks; demonstrated or strong potential (early career stage) to be a thought leader for the field; demonstrated ability to participate in collaborative or interdisciplinary efforts or community-building activities; and research interests with a high potential to contribute to advancing the achievement of the initiative’s goals. Our decisions were guided by other considerations as well, such as selecting a balanced portfolio of scientists whose research is relevant to our objectives. In the end, there were many more strong proposals than we have the capacity to support. Please see http://www.moore.org/marine-micro.aspx for more information about the initiative’s focus areas, strategies and grantmaking approaches. |
| 3. | How many applications were submitted? |
| We received over 180 applications. |
| 4. | Who reviewed the applications? |
| We used an international pool of experts in marine microbial ecology and related fields, from eight different countries (a third were from outside the US). |
| 5. | I would like feedback on my application. May I see the reviews? |
| Our review process was designed to provide us with the most helpful information for our selection process, not for providing feedback to the applicants. The applicants and reviewers were promised confidentiality to protect the integrity of the process—to protect the ideas of the applicants and for the reviewers to provide us with their thorough and candid assessments of an application. |
| 6. | Have the contents of my application been kept confidential? |
| Yes. The foundation treated all application materials, including ideas and descriptions of future plans, as strictly confidential. External reviewers were also required to maintain confidentiality on all materials and sign confidentiality agreements. |
| 7. | Did the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation give preference to applicants who were at institutions where there were other MMI-supported PIs or to those who were already MMI-supported PIs? |
| No. Our goal was to identify awardees regardless of these considerations. |
| 8. | What are the expected duration and amounts of the awards? |
| Investigator grants are for five years (non-renewable). Awards will range from approximately $200,000 to $500,000 per year in direct costs. The monetary size and structure of awards to investigators will be determined through discussions with foundation staff and are subject to approval by the foundation’s Board of Trustees. |
| 9. | Will there be another investigator competition? |
| No,we do not anticipate holding another competition in the near future. |
| 10. | How is this investigator competition different than the Marine Microbiology Initiative’s Request for Ideas announced in 2010? |
| The RFI identified specific high impact research questions from individual scientists or teams of researchers. In contrast, this competition focuses on people—identifying current and emerging leaders in the field who will be evaluated, in part, based on how their future research will drive the field forward. Thus, the RFI emphasized specific research project outcomes, whereas the current investigator competition emphasizes identifying leaders in the field (of which ideas for research projects are just one component). |