Current Funding Opportunities

Advancing range-wide gray whale science through partnerships and collaboration

The Marine Mammal Commission is seeking proposals that focus on the population dynamics, distribution, foraging ecology, body condition, or health of North Pacific gray whales throughout their range.  Responding to research needs identified at the Range-wide Gray Whale Science Symposium, we are specifically interested in projects that develop research methods or data collection protocols to support comparisons across geographic regions, as well as projects that strengthen research collaborations to build range-wide understanding of the species ecology and population dynamics.

Proposed projects should address one of the following topic areas:

1. Population Abundance, Demographics, and Dynamics: This topic includes projects that support development of a collaborative range-wide photo-ID system, and research to better elucidate range-wide distribution, abundance, migration patterns, survival and reproductive rates.
2. Foraging Ecology and Effects of Ecosystem Change: This topic includes projects that integrate gray whale research with ecosystem or oceanographic research, particularly to connect prey quality/quantity and environmental change with gray whale distribution, behavior, health, and population dynamics.
3. Health: This topic includes research to improve understanding of nutritional condition, particularly in relation to seasonal changes; expand infectious disease or biotoxin surveillance; and increase use and standardization of photogrammetry metrics and other non-invasive health-monitoring technologies.

Proposed projects should incorporate a focus on establishing and/or strengthening partnerships (e.g., agencies, academic institutions, industry, Tribes, non-governmental organizations, local communities) across regions and include clear plans for coordination with the broader gray whale research community.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

1. U.S.-based organizations and individuals, including academic institutions, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, Tribal organizations, Alaska Native Organizations and co-management bodies, and community groups;
2. Federal agencies may participate as collaborators but are not eligible to directly receive funds;
3. Non-U.S. individuals and organizations may apply if they can demonstrate that proposed projects have clear and substantial relevance to gray whales and U.S. federal research and management programs.

Proposal Requirements and Submission Process

Requirements

Information on full proposal requirements is available on the proposal requirements page. Please review and follow the information carefully.

Submission Process

Full Proposals: Full proposals can only be submitted using the following link:

MMC Proposal Submission Link 

Proposal Evaluation

Proposals will be evaluated with respect to: the importance or significance of the type of project proposed,¹ its relevance to the current funding opportunity, the technical and resource adequacy of the proposal,² and the likelihood that the project will achieve its stated objectives or outcomes. The project timeline and budget will be evaluated to ensure milestones are realistic for meeting project objectives and costs are reasonable for the work being proposed. Review and selection of applications will be based on a detailed evaluation of these criteria and recommendations for funding.  Awards are subject to the availability of funds. 

Potential applicants may contact Dee Allen, Scientific Program Officer by e-mail (RPO@mmc.gov) or telephone (301-504-0087) with any questions about proposal requirements, the evaluation process, or suitability of a topic for Commission funding. The Commission will assign reviewers for proposals based on their expertise and assurance that they have no conflict of interest with the proposed activities. The Commission will maintain the confidentiality of all proposals.

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¹For example, would such a project significantly advance critical scientific understanding, contribute to the development of an innovative method or technology, lead to groundbreaking policy ideas, or catalyze critical thinking through a meeting, workshop or symposium?

²For example, are the elements described in the proposal (e.g., project plan and collaborators, field and lab procedures, sample sizes, proposed statistical analyses, equipment, research platforms) internally consistent and are they sufficient to achieve the project’s goals, objectives, and outcomes?