International Capacity Building Fund
For Full Members to provide resources to enhance education and training of applied microbiology in developing countries.
The purpose of the International Capacity Building (ICB) Fund is to provide resources to enhance education and training of applied microbiology in developing countries.
We want to receive applications for projects that truly aim to involve and empower individuals – projects that will involve working with those communities with high levels of economic deprivation to ensure we are reaching, training, and working with the most under-resourced microbiologists in the society at large.
Below are a few examples of situations that may be applicable for the ICB Fund:
- AMI members wishing to visit overseas laboratories and other facilities in developing countries. During the visit lectures and other educational activities will be undertaken.
- AMI members resident and working in developing countries wanting to visit appropriate laboratories to receive training in areas of applied microbiology where this will assist the education, training or the economy of the member’s host country.
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AMI members wanting to visit sites where it has clearly been identified that an important culture collection is in danger of being lost due to lack of resources. The member will provide training and advice to preserve the culture collection either in situ or within the country of origin.
Applied Microbiology International will be most interested in those applications that show not only an innovative approach, but a demonstrable potential to leave a legacy and share the project’s impact.
Value
The maximum amount available for the grant is £5,000.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an existing Full Member of Applied Microbiology International
- The applicant must have at least one full year of membership history prior to submitting their application, and must not have lapsed on their membership at the time of application.
- Applications must be received at least 6 weeks before the proposed project start date.
- Applicants may only apply for this grant once in any 2-year period. (If the project is suitable and further support is required after the first year, this may be considered, and the applicant must submit justification for further funding support.)
What AMI offers
How we assess your application
The International Capacity Building Fund is allocated on a competitive basis and in relation to the funds available. The award of this grant is at sole discretion of the Grants Award Panel. The Grants Award Panel’s decision is final, and we are not able to enter into dialogue about our evaluation process.
Applications are assessed on the basis of all, or some of, the following criteria:
- Geographical need
- Contextual need
- Deliverability
- Value for money
- Sustainability
- Resource management
Terms & Conditions
- The applicant must complete the expense claim provided to them which must be received by Applied Microbiology International within 12 weeks of the date of the project completion, along with all relevant ORIGINAL and itemised receipts to support the claim (cardholder copies alone will NOT be accepted). Claims will NOT be accepted for any personal items such as clothing, shoes, accessories, toiletries or household items. No payment will be made without this documentation.
- Reimbursement of expenses will be made as a single bank transfer directly into an appropriate bank account, normally in GB pounds sterling, euro or US/Canadian/Australian dollars. Under NO circumstances will intermediary banks be used.
- It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they have sufficient funds available to cover the full cost of the visit until reimbursement is made to them by the Society.
- A feature report (800 to 1,000 words) about any work funded by Applied Microbiology International must be provided for publication in The Microbiologist magazine within 12 weeks of the date of the project completion. No payment will be made without this documentation.
How to apply
- To submit an application, please click the “Apply Now” button to complete the application form.
- Applications must be fully justified, and a clear breakdown of costs should be presented with the application. Only those items listed within the application will be considered for funding.
- Applications to visit a facility or laboratory must be accompanied by a letter of support from that institution, including full contact details.
- Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within six weeks of its submission.
In 2022, Applied Microbiology International has provided the funds to support to the following capacity building initiatives proposed by members.
Yinka Somorin, University of Galway
Enhancing Laboratory Capacity for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Nigeria.
Dr Yinka Somorin is a Marie Curie Fellow at the National Centre for Laser Application based at the University of Galway and will use the fund to train students, researchers and medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria to develop skills in phenotypic and genotypic techniques involved in AMR surveillance.
Ogueri Nwaiwu, Nottingham University
Deciphering the genomes from different Bacillus species from Ugba (Pentaclethra macrophylla) and improve the education delivered in Nigeria and encourage students to initiate research incorporating molecular techniques.
Dr Ogueri Nwaiwu is a researcher at the University of Nottingham, focussing his research efforts on food safety and preventatitive control of human food.
Sreenivas Ravella, Aberystwyth University
India UK AMI Workshop for Women in Entrepeneurship
Dr Sreenivas Ravella is a Principal Investigator at Aberystwyth University with expertise in fermentation science. The 'India UK AMI Workshop for Women in Entrepeneurship' will discuss in depth how applied microbiology reasearch projects can become start-up companies. The workshop will focus on grant applications and scientific entrepeneurship, inspiring women in the field to create new and exciting companies.