Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G16AS00058) was a discretionary funding solicitation from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), under the U.S. Department of the Interior, offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism. Posted on April 27, 2016 and closing on May 13, 2016, the opportunity anticipated making a single award with a maximum federal funding level (award ceiling) of $30,000. The program area is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with assistance listing CFDA 15.808. Eligibility was limited to entities that are partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically aligned with the Gulf Coast CESU, as reflected by the eligibility note directing applicants to additional eligibility details.

The core purpose of the award was to support the development and distribution of a production-ready Plant Phenology Ontology (PPO) along with a corresponding integrated database capable of supporting high-profile scientific analyses. In practical terms, the work focuses on creating a standardized, formally defined vocabulary and structure for describing plant phenology, meaning the timing and sequence of observable plant life-cycle events. An ontology in this context is meant to remove ambiguity and improve interoperability across datasets by defining concepts and relationships in a consistent, machine-readable way, which is essential when combining phenology observations from different sources or when running large-scale analyses that need consistent definitions of terms.

The technical scope emphasized moving the PPO beyond prototype status and into a release that could reasonably be considered ready for broad use. The project was expected to finalize the ontology coverage through vegetative stages, and also to draft the ontology components for flowering and fruiting stages. Vegetative stages generally relate to non-reproductive growth phases such as leaf emergence, leaf expansion, and senescence, while flowering and fruiting cover reproductive phenophases that are often central to ecological and climate-related research. The solicitation describes the deliverable as enabling the release of PPO Version 1, signaling a milestone where the ontology is complete enough to be tested by others and used in meaningful analyses rather than being limited to internal development.

A key expectation was that PPO Version 1 would not only be drafted but also tested in application, including using the prototype with appropriate USA-NPN plant phenology datasets. USA-NPN refers to the USA National Phenology Network, a major source of plant phenology observations in the United States. By explicitly tying testing to USA-NPN datasets, the opportunity highlights the need for the ontology and database integration to work against real, widely used data, demonstrating that the vocabulary mappings, data structures, and definitions can support actual research workflows. The resulting release was also framed as a foundation for refinement in future community efforts, implying that the project would produce a stable first version that others could evaluate, adopt, and iteratively improve over time as new needs and feedback emerge.

Overall, this was a small, targeted R&D award aimed at building shared cyberinfrastructure for phenology science: a standardized ontology and integrated database designed to improve the quality, comparability, and reusability of phenology data. The intended impact is to make it easier for researchers and practitioners to conduct rigorous cross-dataset analyses, reduce inconsistencies in how phenological events are described, and accelerate broader community adoption of a common framework for plant phenology information.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: DOI-USGS1

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Research Answers to NCIs Pediatric Provocative Questions (R01)

Previous opportunity: Summer Structural Fire Protection Interns

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for G16AS00058

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G16AS00058) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "G16AS00058", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.