Director:
David W. Burger
Department of Plant Sciences
University of California
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616

Program Representative:
Linda Dodge
Department of Plant Sciences
University of California
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616

Director:
David W. Burger
Department of Plant Sciences
University of California
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616

Program Representative:
Linda Dodge
Department of Plant Sciences
University of California
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616

Call for Proposals

CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2009-2010

Elvenia J. Slosson Endowment Fund

Interested University of California academics are invited to submit proposals for funding from the Elvenia J. Slosson Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund, established by the late Elvenia Slosson, is intended "for the advancement and promotion of the science and practice of horticulture, particularly including ornamental horticulture for the home gardener." Proposals should address these goals and may involve research, demonstrations, and/or education. Proposed projects are to be 1 year in duration. Projects from individuals or a small group at a single institution will be funded up to a maximum of $50,000. Proposals from multiple, collaborative institutions (e.g. different campuses or counties) may request up to $100,000. Multi-year projects are possible through successive proposals. However, proposals for continuing projects must be accompanied by a separate progress report demonstrating satisfactory progress. Research projects previously funded by the Endowment include:

· Grasscylcing as a Tool for Reducing Fertilizer Applications on Tall Fescue Lawns in California

· Propagation Database for Home Gardeners

· International Rare Fruit Orchard Restoration and Revitalization

· UC Santa Barbara Campus Flora Project

· Effect of Sand Backfill on Transplanted Palms

· Increasing Educational Capacity of the Mariposa Creek Native Plant Garden

· Australian and New Zealand Plants for Central Valley Gardens

· Biofumigation for Management of Root-knot Nematode in Home Gardens

Proposals must be sent via email and received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2008. Late proposals will not be considered.

Proposals will be evaluated by the Slosson Research Advisory Committee, comprising University faculty and staff and members of the gardening public. In evaluating proposals, the committee will be guided by the terms of the endowment and will consider:

a) Relevance of the proposal to current issues in California ornamental horticulture

b) Innovative qualities and feasibility of the proposal

c) Likely benefits of the successfully completed project

d) Competence of the investigator(s) to carry out the work

Successful proposals:

Excite the reviewers
Are concise, easy to read and understand
Have an appropriate literature review
Have clear rationale & objectives that fit the Slosson mission
Have clearly stated hypotheses or research questions – for research proposals
Have specific objectives, methods and work plan
Have well-communicated importance of topic and potential contributions of work
Contain a detailed project description - methods, sample selection, analysis, etc.
Have a discussion of expected outcomes
Demonstrate appropriate expertise of the Principal Investigator(s)

Proposals focused on outreach and/or education involving website design or signage must provide sufficient detail so the Research Advisory Committee can evaluate them fairly.

The committee reserves the right to fund projects at less than the amount requested.

The Slosson Endowment will not support basic infrastructure (e.g. walls, fences, walkways, irrigation/drainage systems) related to proposed projects.

Proposals do not need to be submitted through the PI’s Contracts and Grants Office.

Awards will be announced on or about February 1, 2009.

Proposal Format:

I. Title page

Title of the proposal

Investigator(s), affiliation(s), and address(es)

Summary of the project proposal (150 word maximum)

Budget summary for the July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 time period

II. Project description (no more than four pages)

Introduction, setting the background for the proposed project

Plan of work, including sufficient detail to permit the review committee to determine feasibility and likely success of the project

Expected outcomes, indicating the impact of the project's successful completion on the goals of the Endowment

Literature cited

III. Detailed budget for the period (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010)

IV. Other Available Funds:

Any other sources of funds that might be applied to or be contributory to the project, and the amount.

Identify pending applications for funds.

V. Curriculum vitae of the principal investigator(s)

No more than 1 page each, to include five recent relevant publications

Email proposals to:

Linda Dodge, Coordinator

Slosson Research Endowment

Department of Plant Sciences

University of California

One Shields Ave.

Davis, CA 95616

lldodge@ucdavis.edu

Visit the Slosson website:

http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/