Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, AAAS Caribbean Division, and Ciencia Puerto Rico offer grants initiative for students and researchers

San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 18, 2017–  The Caribbean Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (PRSTRT) and Ciencia Puerto Rico have formed a partnership to offer an assistance program to support researchers, professors, science teachers and students following the emergency of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.   The initiative to raise funds that would help scientists continue their work and research was conceived and created by the Caribbean Division of AAAS, an entity with more than 120,000 members globally, and over 500 members in the Caribbean. Financial assistance grants will be awarded in three categories: Continuity, Restoration, and Thesis Grants.

Juan S. Ramirez Lugo, President of AAAS Caribbean, stated that “our mission as a Division has always been to create and promote science and innovation initiatives with a positive impact on society. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit us, we need more than ever the skills and scientific knowledge to develop and employ innovative strategies for the restoration process. Through this program we hope to provide economic support and relief to researchers and students in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands to continue their studies and research projects and thus, contribute to the recovery process of our islands”.

Lucy Crespo, Chief Executive Officer of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, points out how important is to support researchers, at a time when all organizations are joined to reinforce the recovery of the island. “Researchers and scientists are a very important group in our and every economy of the world.  To support them with initiatives and aid to continue their research at these challenging moments is part of the mission and commitment of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust”, said Crespo.

Those interested can apply for monetary aid for travel expenses to continue their research, restore and repair laboratory equipment or affected classrooms and even to continue research toward graduate theses. This grant funding will be managed using the application intake and competitive peer-review processes used by the Research Grants Program of the PRSTRT.  The evaluation and selection of applications will have participation of representatives from these three entities.  All award recipients will be required to report results to PRTRST and participate in future events sponsored by the AAAS-Caribbean Division.

Under the Continuity category, the program will support researchers who wish to relocate temporarily to continue research projects with collaborators outside the Caribbean region. The following persons are eligible: Undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research staff and teachers. Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Submit an abstract of 250 words that summarizes the work to be done during the time outside the institution of origin.
• Statement of specific needs, reasons for those needs and how temporary relocation will be beneficial.
• Support letter from the home institution to participate in a collaborative project and to excuse their obligations during the time abroad.
• Letter of commitment of the collaborator abroad with agreements on the use of space, equipment, resources, etc.

• The Restoration category offers help in restocking materials, repairing damaged equipment and / or rehabilitating teaching or research facilities. Eligible for this grant are undergraduate and postgraduate students, postdoctoral students, research staff, and teachers at K-12 levels. The requirements are the following:
• Brief description of the loss or damage resulting from the hurricane
• Statement of specific needs, reasons for those needs and how supplementary funds will be beneficial.

Thesis Grants are also offered as supplemental funds for graduate students who are within a year of completing their degree and intend to complete a teaching and research career in the Caribbean region. These are the requirements:

• Applicants must have completed all departmental and institutional requirements for their degree, with the exception of writing and defending the thesis.
• Personal statement describing applicant’s background, experience and commitment to a career in science and education in the Caribbean region.
• Statement of specific needs, reasons for those needs and how the supplementary funds will be beneficial to you.
• Proposed plan and schedule to complete the dissertation.
• Letter of support from the faculty advisor.

Applications will be available beginning on October 30, 2017 and can be completed by accessing the online application through the website of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (prsciencetrust.org).

For those without internet access, the offices of the PRSTRT, located at Carretera #21, Sector Monacillos, Rio Piedras,  will have computers and internet are available to complete applications online. For more information, please call: 787-523-5858. Or send an email to [email protected].  Other locations where applications can be completed will be posted through social media.