Alaska Pacific University

Environmental Studies / Marine Biology

Format(1) for Final Proposals for

Marine Biology Activities and Research

Final Proposal Content & Format

The final proposal must include:

  1. Project summary

    2. The summary is limited to one page in length. It should be a self-contained description of the proposed activity, and should include elements of the purpose and need, objectives, methods, and significance of the work. It should be understandable to a scientifically literate lay reader.

    Sections 2-3 combined must not exceed 10 pages, including all figures, maps, tables or other ancillary materials.

  2. Provide a full justification for your proposed activities including literature review if appropriate. Describe the situation and need, including notable gaps in knowledge or capabilities, why the proposed project is significant and should be performed, review significant work in the field and its relationship to the proposed work. Include objectives and hypotheses (if applicable). Indicate how results of your proposed work will realistically be used. Describe how the expected results relate to the areas of fisheries, Alaska oceans & seas, or the development of the Marine Biology program at APU.
  3. Provide a detailed plan for your proposed work and use of the funds. Describe the major tasks to be accomplished and how these will be carried out. Justify the size and scope of the activity, including (if appropriate) a sampling strategy and explanations for the type and numbers of samples collected. Describe your experimental design (if applicable). Where appropriate, provide illustrations of special sampling gear or operations, a map or maps of activity locations. Include a detailed schedule for the proposed activities. Include a description of existing facilities, systems or equipment that will be available for the proposed activity. Finally, describe the administrative responsibilities for the project, the team composition (including names of key individuals) and the assignments of team members to the major tasks. Provide specific estimates of the time (in hours or days) that team members will work on the activity.

  4. Literature cited
    5. Please use Chicago "Documentation Two" citation style, discussed on-line at the Duke University Library site: http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/citing.htm. There is no length limit for this section.

  5. Biographical sketch

    6. Demonstrate that you and your team have the skills and experience necessary to carry out your proposed activities. If additional team member's qualifications are critical to the success of the proposed work, include a biographical sketch for each key individual. Do not exceed two pages per team member.

  6. A complete budget.

    7. Support is available up to $3000 for Junior practica or Senior projects, to $7,500 for master's student; and to $15,000 for faculty activities. Equipment, travel, lodging and other direct project expenses may be supported; APU ranked faculty may request summer salary (not included in $15K limit); indirect costs are not allowed. For each budget item, please indicate object code (use codes from list below), a description of the budget item, and the amount (cost) of the item. Justification should be provided where appropriate.



Object Code Description

5200 Except for APU ranked faculty summer salary, salary and stipends are not allowed except under special circumstances, and by permission of the grant program director. Include rate of pay (hourly or monthly) and full-time-equivalent person months for any salaries.

5311 FICA

5321 ESC

5400 Medical & Life Ins.

6011 Copy Expense

6021 Postage Exp.

6031 Phone/Internet Exp.

6041 Membership & Subscriptions

6051 Travel Faculty & Staff

6121 Office Supplies

6290 General Consultant Expense

6310 Printing Expense

6350 Advertising Exp.

6902 General Expense

7611 Computer Equipment Expense

7613 General Equipment Expense



By submitting a proposal, the authors indicate their permission for author's names, and excerpts and descriptions of successful proposals to be used by Alaska Pacific University and the Environmental Science Department in promotional materials, web pages or other published forms. The authors of funded proposals also agree to submit a summary report of results, findings or outcomes of the proposed activity to Marine Biology, Environmental Science Department within one year of the award. Except by prior arrangement, all equipment purchased remain the property of the Marine Biology Program, Alaska Pacific University, and should be returned to the Director of this grant program (David Scheel) on completion of its use in the proposed work.

1. These guidelines were modeled on the West Coast & Polar Regions Undersea Research Center proposal guidelines (SFOS, UAF, 2000)