Eligibility Criteria for Academic Leads

1. Core Prerequisites

• Must have NASS Membership. Apply now to join or verify your membership status.
• Individual Applicant Focus: Funding is awarded to individual researchers (not institutions, teams, or organizations).
• Research Project Duration Limit: Proposed projects must span no longer than 12 months.

2. 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.

Notes:

• All claims (e.g., publications, H-index, leadership roles) must be verifiable via public databases or official documentation submitted during the application process.
• Priority may be given to applicants whose proposed projects align with NASS strategic priorities (e.g., digital technologies, ecological sciences, interdisciplinary innovation).
• Funding supports individual-led initiatives; collaborative projects should clearly define the applicant’s leading role.

1. Advancing Research Excellence and Innovation

Equip academic leads with resources to lead projects targeting critical scientific challenges, fostering the creation of groundbreaking, application-oriented outcomes. Simultaneously, lower publication barriers (e.g., covering NASS journal APCs) for early-career scholars to accelerate the dissemination of their emerging research, igniting innovation across the academic spectrum.

2. Cultivating a Resilient Academic Talent Pipeline

Strengthen knowledge transfer by supporting academic leads’ collaborative efforts, indirectly mentoring junior scholars. Concurrently, provide early-career researchers with a foundational "first step" through small grants, helping them build confidence, refine methodologies, and establish a trajectory toward becoming future research leads.

3. Enhancing Journal and Disciplinary Influence

Direct funded research toward publication in NASS-owned and partner journals, elevating journal quality, diversifying authorship, and amplifying the visibility of high-quality work. This, in turn, strengthens the journals’ global standing within their fields and reinforces the collective advancement of related disciplines.

4. Building an Inclusive and Equitable Research Environment

Mitigate the risk of research interruptions caused by financial constraints across all career stages. By addressing the unique needs of both senior and junior researchers, the schemes promote fair resource allocation, reduce systemic barriers, and cultivate a supportive academic community where all can thrive.