Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that is not covered by the list below, please contact us.

Applying for Funding:

• What are important dates in the proposal submission process?
  • See the program schedule.
• What needs to be included in my proposal?
  • Pre-proposal:
    • Completed pre-proposal template, with instructions page removed
    • One-page investigator CVs
    • Response to previous review (if a resubmission)
    • Sea Lamprey Control Impact Statement (SLRP only)
  • Pilot Proposal:
    • Completed pilot proposal template, with instructions page removed
    • One-page investigator CVs
    • Completed budget template. If funds are proposed to be sent to multiple institutions, a separate set of budget sheets must be submitted for each institution.
    • Budget justification and in-kind contributions (if applicable; see instructions in pilot proposal template)
    • Response to previous review (if a resubmission)
    • Letter(s) of support
    • Sea Lamprey Procurement, Facilities and Equipment form (SLRP only)
    • Sea Lamprey Control Impact Statement (SLRP only)
  • Full proposal:
    • Completed proposal template, with instructions page removed
    • One-page investigator CVs
    • Completed budget template, with a separate page for each year. If funds are proposed to be sent to multiple institutions, a separate set of budget sheets must be submitted for each institution.
    • Budget justification and in-kind contributions (if applicable; see instructions in full proposal template)
    • Response to research board comments on pre-proposal
    • Letter(s) of support
    • Sea Lamprey Procurement, Facilities and Equipment form (SLRP only)
    • HBBS Facilities form (SLRP only) - Investigators requesting support from Hammond Bay Biological Station must submit the form with their full proposal. Visit Science Resources and Facilities for more information.
  • TAP proposal:
    • Completed proposal template, with instructions page removed
    • One-page investigator CVs
    • Completed budget template, with a separate page for each year. If funds are proposed to be sent to multiple institutions, a separate set of budget sheets must be submitted for each institution.
    • Budget justification and in-kind contributions (if applicable; see instructions in TAP proposal template)
    • Sea Lamprey Procurement, Facilities and Equipment form (SLRP only)
  • TAFR proposal
    • Completed proposal template, with instructions page removed
    • One-page investigator CVs
    • Completed budget template, with a separate page for each year. If funds are proposed to be sent to multiple institutions, a separate set of budget sheets must be submitted for each institution
    • Budget justification and in-kind contributions (if applicable; see instructions in TAFR proposal template)
• How do I submit my pre-proposal, full proposal, or pilot proposal?
  • Develop your pre-proposal, pilot proposal, full proposal, TAP proposal or TAFR proposal using the provided templates. Pre-proposals must be submitted by following the instructions on the online proposal submission portal.
  • Pilot proposals should be e-mailed to the appropriate research program associate at any time throughout the year. Those submitted before January 15th will be discussed at the March research board meeting, and those submitted before July 15th at the September research board meeting.
  • TAP proposals should be e-mailed to the sea lamprey research program associate by January 15th to be discussed at the April Sea Lamprey Control Board meeting or August 15th to be discussed at the October Sea Lamprey Control Board meeting.
  • TAFR Proposals should be e-mailed to the fishery research program associate by January 15th to be considered during the spring funding cycle or August 15th to be considered during the fall funding cycle.
  • Full proposals should be developed only upon request from the research boards. If requested, fill out the full proposal template, and submit by logging in to the online proposal submission portal.
  • Science Transfer Program proposals should be developed only upon invitation.
• What is the average budget for and length of a project?
  • Average funding for regular (not pilot or TAP) projects changes on a yearly basis, but is approximately $55,000 annually, and projects generally run 3-4 years.
  • Pilot projects must be less than one year in length and $20,000.
  • TAP projects are typically one year and less than $20,000.
• What is your policy on overhead or indirect costs ?
  • Budgets may not include more than 5% indirect costs, as outlined in the indirect cost policy. Please contact the appropriate research program associate to further discuss indirect cost arrangements.
• What does being a new investigator mean?
  • The category of "new investigator" is a designation, not a separate funding category. New investigators are more likely to be invited to present their proposed work to the research boards in March, as this is an opportunity for the boards to become acquainted with new researchers in the Great lakes community. However, the new investigator designation does not provide any funding advantage. New investigators are strongly encouraged to contact appropriate theme leaders (Fishery themes, Sea Lamprey themes) or the Science Director to discuss project ideas during pre-proposal development. For more information see the new investigator criteria.
• Can students or post docs be a principal investigator?
  • Post docs and PhD students may be a PI if they fulfill the requirements in our PI eligibility policy.
• How will my proposal be evaluated?
  • The Board of Technical Experts evaluates research proposals based on the criteria below:
    • Scientific merit of proposals: Every research proposal submitted will be subject to review by scientific peers with demonstrated expertise in the proposal topic area. Peer review evaluates the proposed research based on scientific merit, rationale, innovativeness, budget, logistics, and qualifications of the proponents. Investigators submitting proposals should review the peer review form prior to proposal preparation. Projects must be non-duplicative with other projects.
    • Relationships to fishery agency and Commission programs: Research projects will have high funding priority if they directly relate to the research themes, or the research priorities identified by the Lake Committees. Projects will be evaluated against information needs described by the theme under which they are submitted or information needs described by the Lake Committees' research priorities. Projects that demonstrate integration across two or more themes are also a high priority for funding.
    • Importance to conservation, rehabilitation, and sustainability of fisheries: Research projects will have high funding priority if they relate to a species of conservation or rehabilitation concern, or if they are critical to the achievement of healthy Great Lakes ecosystems.
    • Past performance: Project leaders should have demonstrated expertise required to complete the project or have co-investigators or appropriate partnerships with other organizations to meet all requirements of the project. Capability to finish projects through peer-reviewed publication is essential.
  • The Sea Lamprey Research board evaluates research proposals based on the criteria below:
    • Scientific merit of proposals: Every research proposal submitted will be subject to review by scientific peers with demonstrated expertise in the proposal topic area. Peer review evaluates the proposed research based on scientific merit, rationale, innovativeness, budget, logistics, and qualifications of the proponents. Investigators submitting a proposal should review the peer review form prior to proposal preparation. Projects must be non-duplicative with other projects.
    • Relationships to sea lamprey control or Commission programs: Research projects will have high funding priority if they if they have high potential to improve sea lamprey control or directly relate to the research themes or research priorities identified by the Sea Lamprey Control Board (SLCB) and its task forces. Projects will be evaluated against information needs described by the theme under which they are submitted or information needs described by SLCB Board research priorities. Projects that demonstrate integration across two or more disciplines that fit within themes are also a high priority for funding.
    • Past performance: Project leaders should have demonstrated expertise required to complete the project or have co-investigators or appropriate partnerships with other organizations to meet all requirements of the project. Capability to finish projects through peer-reviewed publication is essential.
• What are common reasons for a proposal not being funded?
  • Relevance to management or the Commission’s mission is low or poorly described.
  • Objectives are poorly formulated. Research objectives are statements that are related to scientific understanding based on interpretation of data analysis; objectives are not methodological steps (e.g., collect data, conduct experiments, analyze data, write report). Objectives identify a pattern, process, or relationship among variables to be tested, compared, or described, and can be used to evaluate progress of a project. Objectives should be worded to reflect the research questions to be answered, the hypotheses to be tested, and the processes to be described. A set of objectives are ideally related to each other. When little information exists to formulate questions and hypotheses, then descriptive research objectives are appropriate. The programs fund basic and applied science, both hypothesis-driven and hypothesis generating.
  • Methods are unclear, outdated, inaccurate, or insufficient (full proposal stage).
  • Feasibility of achieving objectives is low or not currently likely.
  • Investigators have failed to address past peer review or research board comments (if applicable).

Funded Projects:

• What are my reporting requirements?
  • You will need to submit a progress report at the end of each year of your project except the final year. At the end of the final year you will submit a completion report. Science Transfer Program projects use a different completion report template. You will be notified of your reporting deadlines in the project initiation e-mail, and will receive a reminder e-mail one month before each report is due.
• What if I experience delays in my proposed timeline and cannot complete my project on time?
  • No-cost extensions are available in certain situations. To find out if you qualify send a short description of the project’s current status, reasons for the delay, and anticipated new schedule of completion to the appropriate research program associate.
• What is your policy on publication costs?
  • The Commission covers costs for publications resulting from Commission-sponsored research. See our publication policy for more detail.
• What if I experience delays due to the coronavirus pandemic?
  • If you require a no-cost extension:
    • No-cost extensions are easily granted. Contact the appropriate research program associate with a justification and new proposed completion date.
  • If project delays have financial implications:
    • Reach out to us to determine whether a costed extension is possible.