Call for Proposals: Ensemble Continuation Grants
for Early Career Researchers 2021
Toshiyuki Hayase
Professor
Chairperson of Tohoku University research institutes’ director meeting
Director of Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University
Hiroyuki Kai
Assistant Professor
Leader of Tohoku University research Institutes' Ensemble project working group
Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University

In order to promote collaboration among early career researchers in Tohoku University,
the Ensemble Project for Early Career Researchers in Tohoku University will fund joint
research groups consisting of researchers from several departments. The "Continuation
Grants" are open to all research areas, and provide grants for ongoing research based on
the budding academic research topics in the Ensemble for young researchers, which has
potential for further development. We welcome applications from early career researchers,
but those who wish to join a research group as a co-researcher are welcome to apply,
regardless of their status, as long as they meet the requirements for affiliation as stated in
the guidelines. We look forward to receiving applications based on new ideas andperspectives.

1.

Period of grant

April 2021 - March 2022

2.

Number and amount of grants to be awarded

1,000,000 yen per grant, 2 grants

3.

Eligibility of the project

A continuation of a previous research project carried out by a research group of faculty and researchers
in multiple departments (research institutes, centers, graduate schools, etc.) of the University, which
is one of the following.
lResearch groups that have been awarded the Ensemble Grant 2020lResearch groups that have been rejected in the random selection of the Ensemble Grant 2020lResearch groups selected for the first stage of the Ensemble Grant 2019
New members are welcome to join the group as the previous proposal progresses. It is also

acceptable for some members to leave the previous subject as long as there is overlap in key memberswith the previous research group.

4.

Eligibility of applicants and members
Research groups composed of faculty members and researchers belonging to multiple

departments of Tohoku University (research institutes, centers, graduate schools, etc.).
Applicants (principal investigators) should be postdocs, research assistants, assistant professors,
lecturers, and associate professors (including special appointments) who belong to eachdepartment of the Alliance of Research Institutes and Centers, Tohoku University. We especiallywelcome applications from early career researchers. Co-investigators other than the principal
investigator are not subject to any restrictions on job title or status. However, the application will
not be accepted if it is clear that there will be no multi-departmental research groups for most of
the research period due to graduation or completion of the course of the members.
lHerein, the “Alliance of Research Institutes and Centers” refers to Institute for Materials
Research (IMR), Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer (IDAC), Institute of Fluid
Science (IFS), Research Institute of Electrical Communication (RIEC), Institute ofMultidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM), International ResearchInstitute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Center for Northeast Asian Studies (CNEAS),

Frontier Research for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Advanced Institute for Materials
Research (AIMR), Research Center for Electron Photon Science (ELPH), and New
Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe). (hereinafter the same).
l

In the case of multiple affiliations (including the mentoring system of the Interdisciplinary
Research Institute), it is not considered to be more than one department by itself, even if
you are a member of a group with researchers belonging to a department of the Allianceof Research Institutes and Centers, Tohoku University, which is the affiliation of yourmain activity. (If you are having difficulty determining if you can apply, please check withthe WG before you apply.)l

The applicant (principal investigator) must be able to use the university's budget
management system at one of the above departments.

l

Only one application per person (including the principal investigator and co-investigator)
is allowed.

l

If you have difficulty determining whether you are eligible, please check with the Young
Ensemble Project Working Group (WG) before applying.

5.

Selection processThe "Ensemble Grant Contest" will be held, and the teams that wish to apply for the grant will makea presentation and answer questions from the other audience including other presenters and WG
members. Afterwards, each participant (presenter, audience, and WG members) will have two final
votes, and the two projects will be selected in the order of their votes (see below for details on voting).
The flow of the ensemble grant contest
Date: Monday, February 22, 2021
Venue: A hybrid of on-site and online at Katahira Sakura Hall (may be changed to online-only)
1.

ApplicationSubmit an abstract of no more than 2 pages in A4 size no later than noon, Monday, February 1,2021. Include research team structure, research idea, research plan, and research progress in theabstract as stated in the application form that can be downloaded below.
Application form: (attached separately)
Submission URL: https://forms.gle/W5w41L6P2pjMehTb9
2.

Online/on-site exchange

2.1 You will present the poster online from February 12-21, 2021.
The virtual poster session (https://www.virtual-poster.net/) will be used.

The URL will be sent to participants who register later.
The poster should include: research team structure, inspiration, research plan, and progress(1 portrait size, no specified form).
In addition to the poster, you can include any URLs, including links to videos.
During the poster period, you can exchange questions and comments via text chat.
2.2 The poster will be displayed on site from February 18-19, 2021.
Venue: Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) and Institute of Multidisciplinary
Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM).
3.

The ensemble grant contest

Schedule: February 22, 2021, 10 am - 12 pm and 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm (time may be changed)
Venue: A hybrid of online and on-site at Katahira Sakura Hall (may be changed to online-only)
3.1 Each group will give an oral presentation (~15 minutes, may be changed depending on thenumber of presenting groups).
3.2 Participants will evaluate each presentation and write their own comments on it.
lPoints of evaluations: scientific relevance, novelty (compared to others' and one's own
previous research), feasibility, impact on other research, necessity of teaming up, andclarity of the presentation, etc.

l

These assessments/questions/comments will be used for responses from the presenting
groups at a later date and are not used for the selection of the proposal.

3.3 Oral responses to the assessments/questions/comments are given by the presenting groups (~10minutes per group).
3.4 After listening to the oral responses, two proposals will be selected by a signed ballot, with eachparticipant entitled to two votes. The final decision will be made at a later date at the Meeting ofDirectors of the Research Institutes.
l

The criterion for judging is "excellent research that can be accomplished by a team ".

lIn order to be eligible to vote, you must attend all presentations in the contest.

l

You will be asked to add a comment to your ballot about why you chose the proposal.

l

You may not vote for your own team or for a team to which you belong in your researchgroup (such a vote will be invalid).

l

The vote will be shared only within the working group and will not be shared with otherparticipants or any other people.

l

If the number of votes is equal for competing proposals, the proposal will be randomly
selected.

6.

Notes
In the event of discrepancy between the English version and the Japanese version ofthe application guidelines, the Japanese version shall prevail.
If you have any questions about the application guidelines, please contact us at:
lDr. Hiroyuki Kai, Assistant Professor, Advanced Institute for Materials Research,
kai@tohoku.ac.jp

lDr. Kazuyuki Suzuki, Associate Professor (URA), Frontier Research Institute forInterdisciplinary Sciences, suzukik@fris.tohoku.ac.jp