Project Initiation Plan
Opening Requirements for the Project
To initiate a research project under this funding initiative, teams must adhere to the structured composition and role definitions outlined below. Among the listed positions, the Academic Lead is eligible to apply for funding support, please refer to the detailed application link [What funding can I apply for?] for specific instructions, eligibility criteria, and submission procedures.
Team Composition and Roles
Academic Lead (1 position)
Responsibilities:
- Propose 1 primary research project (finalized with the core team), including title, aim, scope, timeline and the listed submissions.
- Oversee overall project design, resource coordination, and dissemination of research outcomes;
- Lead the development of the research framework and establish international academic networks(invite the co-academic leads);
- Hold ultimate responsibility for project governance and academic quality.
- Organize at least 10 articles under this project in collaboration with co-academic leads, and select 1~2 outstanding article,this article will receive a cash award, which will be granted by NASS.
- Please download the RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL TEMPLATE here.
Qualifications:
Scholarly Recognition & Expertise
- Internationally Recognized Scholar
Option 1: Hold a PhD degree and demonstrate ≥5 years of research experience in the relevant field.
Option 2: Hold an Associate Professorship or higher academic rank (e.g., Full Professor, Chair Professor) at a globally renowned university or research institute (e.g., institutions ranked in global top 200, or with internationally accredited excellence). - Demonstrated Academic Impact
Option 1: Published ≥10 papers in Wos/Scopus-indexed journals within the last 5 years (excluding self-citations, with evidence of significant contribution).
Option 2: Proven leadership in international research projects (e.g., as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI of cross-border collaborations, funded initiatives, or large-scale consortia).
- Established International Academic Network
Option 1: Current membership on the editorial board of international peer-reviewed journals (provide journal name, scope, and tenure).
Option 2: Prior experience as chair/organizer of international conferences (e.g., symposia, congresses, or thematic workshops with global participation). - High Academic Influence (Quantitative Metric)
Citations and index data must reflect consistent scholarly impact across the candidate’s career.
Project Leadership & Expected Outcomes
- Proven Leadership Experience: Demonstrated ability to lead research projects and sub-projects (e.g., as PI, co-PI, or team lead in prior studies).
- Output Commitment for Project: For the research project supported by this grant, the applicant must commit to delivering no fewer than 10 high-quality academic articles upon completion.
Rights and Benefits:
- Complimentary Publication:The AL is entitled to publish one paper free of charge under the current research project, with the Article Processing Charge (APC) fully covered by NASS. The publication must be in a journal owned by NASS or its partner publishers, with priority given to journals indexed in renowned databases such as Web of Science (WoS) or Scopus.
- Official Documentation: At the launch of a research project, the academic lead will be issued an appointment letter to formally recognize the role. Upon successful completion of the project, NASS will confer an academic honor award in recognition of the leader’s outstanding contributions. This may include but is not limited to a project completion certificate and funding rewards.
- This benefit is exclusively applicable to papers submitted under this specific research project.
Co-academic Lead (minimum 2, nominated by the Project Lead)
Responsibilities:
- Propose ≥3 sub-projects under the primary project;
- Assist in research planning, task breakdown, and interdisciplinary coordination;
- Facilitate cross-cultural collaboration within the team;
- Organize international conferences (online/offline)if necessary;
- Assist the academic lead in organizing no fewer than 10 high - quality papers;
Qualifications:
- Citations and index data must reflect consistent scholarly impact across the candidate's career.
- PhD or equivalent academic degree;
- ≥5 publications in Wos/Scopusjournals in the last 3 years;
- Experience in cross-cultural academic communication (priority given to those involved in international projects).
Rights and Benefits:
- 30% APC Discount:Co-academic Lead is entitled to a 30% discount on the Article Processing Charge (APC) for publishing papers in journals owned by NASS or its partner publishers, which are indexed in renowned databases such as Web of Science (WoS) or Scopus.
- Official Documentation: A Project Completion Certificate (certifying successful fulfillment of the project).
- This benefit is exclusively applicable to papers submitted under this specific research project.
Team Members & International Contributors (Open Recruitment)
Source: Identified via the Project Lead/Co-LA’ networks (e.g., postdocs, PhD candidates) or recruited via the project website/dedicated email.
Requirements:
- Complete and submit at least one article that aligns with the research field of the project. The publication must be in a journal owned by NASS or its partner publishers, with priority given to journals indexed in Web of Science (WoS) or Scopus.
Rights and Benefits:
- 20% APC Discount:Articles published under this project will be eligible for a 20% discount on the Article Processing Charge (APC).
Award and Recognition
The outstanding paper (as selected by the Academic Leader) will receive a funding award issued to the first author/corresponding author by NASS.
This paper will also be presented with an Official Certificate of Excellence for the Outstanding Paper. The evaluation will be conducted by the Academic Leader and supervised by the NASS Research Project Evaluation Committee.
Note:
Authors must first cover the Article Processing Charges (APC) as part of the standard publication process; awards will be issued upon compliance with this requirement.
Publication and Output Requirements
Output Types:
- ≥10 high-impact international journal articles under one research, excluding one article authored by the Academic Lead.
Authorship Guidelines:
- All publications should acknowledge funding: “This study was funded by [Project Name], supported by NASS.” (It is unnecessary)
- Contributions from external collaborators will be duly acknowledged.
Copyright and Open Access:
- As Gold Open Access (Gold OA) journals, the author pays an Article Processing Charge (APC), and the publisher typically releases the article under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license or another open-access license. The author retains the copyright, and anyone is free to use, share, and adapt the article, provided that appropriate credit is given.
Project Completion Requirements
Mandatory Deliverables:
- Published articles in NASS-owned or partner journals, preferentially indexed in WoS, Scopus, or equivalent databases. (Learn more about the Journals)
- Jointly issued International Project Completion Certificate (by NASS and partner institutions), listing individual contributions.
Optional Additional Outputs (Encouraged):
- All articles generated under the research project may be compiled into a complimentary international anthology (print and digital editions), accompanied by forewords or commentaries from subject-matter experts.
- Should the team prefer, the same content may be published as a monograph, for which a separate book publishing fee will apply.
- Dissemination via NASS website, partner journals, and academic social platforms.
Project Duration
Project Duration: Minimum approximately 6 months, with an allowable extension up to a maximum of 12 months.
Note:
If the Academic Lead (AL) withdraws midway, they may choose to terminate the research project or delegate the project's continuation to another individual. For further details, please refer to the Career Break Statement.
Additional Provisions
Exit Policy:
- For academic lead or co-academic lead, withdrawal requires ≥30 days’ written notice; unfinished responsibilities must be transferred appropriately.
Language and Cultural Considerations:
- All official materials (agreements, reports, certificates) provided in English;
- Cultural sensitivity observed (e.g., avoiding critical meetings during major religious/national holidays).
Example of Completed Research Project
To learn more about our completed research program, please click here.
Can Marine Structures Survive Unusual Forces?
—Marine Structures under Special Loads
Marine structures are conventional in design but special in counteracting various environmental loads.