Call for Proposals: Ensemble Continuation Grants for Early Career Researchers 2023

Takahiro Hanyu
Professor
Chairperson of Tohoku University Research Institutes’ Director Meeting
Director of Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University
Hikari Shinya
Assistant Professor
Leader of Tohoku University Research Institutes' Ensemble Project Working Group
Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University
The Ensemble Project for Early Career Researchers in Tohoku University will provide research
grants “Ensemble Continuation Grants for Early Career Researchers 2023” to promote joint
research between several departments, mainly among early career researchers affiliated with the“Alliance of Research Institutes and Centers, Tohoku University”. The “Ensemble Continuation
Grants for Early Career Researchers 2023” provides grants for ongoing research that is expected
to develop further, based on the budding research proposal “Ensemble Grants for Early CareerResearchers”. In addition, the research groups that were unfortunately not selected for the“Ensemble Grants for Early Career Researchers” by random selection may also apply if theresearch proposals are expected to develop further. We welcome applications from early career
researchers, but we also welcome researchers regardless of their status if their affiliation meetsthe requirements in the application guidelines. We look forward to receiving your active
application.

Application Guidelines
1. Period of research
From April 1, 2023 (scheduled) to March 31, 2024.
2. What is funded
We will provide research funds up to 1,000,000 yen for about two projects. The grants will be
distributed to the departments, which the principal investigator belongs, from Institute of FluidScience.
3. Selection process
At a review meeting to be held online on February 16, 2023, a decision will be made by vote.
For details, please refer to “(Supplementary material 2) Review meeting”.
4. Eligible research projects
Research proposals conducted by research groups that fulfill either of the following twoconditions are eligible.
・ Research groups that were selected for the “Ensemble Grants for Early Career Researchers”
in FY2021 or FY2022.
・ Research groups that were not selected in the random drawing for the “Ensemble Grants
for Early Career Researchers” in FY2021 or FY2022. (excluding groups that did not pass
the screening process).
In addition to meeting the above criteria, the research group must be expected to further develop
or expand the scope of the research theme from the research proposal application of “EnsembleGrants for Early Career Researchers”. Research proposals in all fields are eligible, butinterdisciplinary or interdisciplinary research is not required. The research project that has alreadybeen funded by other grants is not eligible. Only one application per person, including theprincipal investigator and co-investigator, will be accepted.
5. Eligible principal investigator
Principal investigators should be postdocs, research associates, assistant professors, assistantprofessors, lecturers, and associate professors (including specially-appointed/special appointees)
affiliated with the departments of “Alliance of Research Institutes and Centers, Tohoku
University”. Herein, the departments of “Alliance of Research Institutes and Centers, Tohoku
University” are as follows.
・ Institute for Materials Research (IMR)

・ Institute of Development Aging, and Cancer (IDAC)
・ Institute of Fluid Science (IFS)・ Research Institute of Electrical Communication (RIEC)
・ Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM)・ International Research Institute 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)
・ New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe)・ International Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart
The principal investigator must be able to use the budget management system at one of theabove departments.
6. Research group
New members can be added to the research group which you applied for the “Ensemble Grants
for Early Career Researchers”. It is also acceptable if some members leave the group, as long as
the main members remain. The reason for the change of members should be stated in theapplication.
If your proposal was screened out in when you applied for the “Ensemble Grants for Early
Career Researchers”, you are also eligible to apply for this “Ensemble Continuation Grants for
Early Career Researchers 2023”. If there are any changes in members, please refer to“(Supplementary material 3) Details of Research Group” and carefully ensure your researchmembers. If you are not sure whether your research group is eligible to apply or not, please contact
to the Project Working Group in advance of the deadline.
7. Application form and submission
The application form must be completed in the prescribed format and converted to PDF format.
Please submit the application form by the deadline from the URL below. For details of theapplication form, please refer to “(Supplementary material 1) How to fill out the application form”.
https://forms.gle/v1o3ajxrnKCbyLpQ6
Deadline: January 31, 2023
8. Report of results
After the research period, you will be required to submit a report of results. The deadline forsubmission is scheduled for the end of May 2024. The report will be published on the website. Inaddition, the applicants will be required to present the research progress and results at a workshop
scheduled to be held during the FY2023. When you publish your results, you should mention thatyour work was supported by the “Ensemble Continuation Grants for Early Career Researchers2023”.
9. Management
You are required to conduct your research in accordance with all regulations and guidance
provided by the Tohoku University and your department regarding health and safety management,
network management, prevention of research misconduct, compliance with laws and regulations,and so on. If any deviations from these rules are found, the support will be terminated.
10. Contact us
Ensemble Project for Early Career Researchers in Tohoku University Working GroupEmail: ensemble_secretariat [at] fris.tohoku.ac.jp

(Supplementary material 1) How to fill out the application form
The application form should be one or two pages.
The This application will be made available as an abstract to all participants in the review
meeting.
Please delete the italicized blue text when submitting.
1. Research subject
The research subject should be brief and understandable your research. There is no page limit
for this item.
2. Research group
Please list the names, affiliations, and positions of the principal investigator and coInvestigator(s). Increase/decrease the “co-researcher” column as necessary. If you areconcurrently engaged in other departments due to dual appointments or concurrent positions,please be sure to list them in the “Affiliation and position (if you are concurrently engaged in otherdepartments)”. For members affiliated with Frontier Research for Interdisciplinary Sciences(FRIS), please indicate the department of the mentor in the same column. If the member belongs
to more than one department, please list the main department in which you reside in the “Principalactivity department (if you are concurrently engaged in other departments)” section. There is no page

limit for this item.
3. Research project
Based on the application for the “Ensemble Grants for Early Career Researchers”, pleaseprovide the background, details, and progress of the research you have conducted to date. Please
explain the need to assemble a team and the responsibilities of each member. If there have been
any changes in the members of the research group since you applied for the “Ensemble Grantsfor Early Career Researchers”, please explain the reasons in this section. Moreover, describe theresearch plan, methods, and expected results of the research to be conducted under this grant. If
you have already received other research funding for a similar research project, please explain thedifferences between this application and the previous one in the appropriate section. Themaximum length of this item is 2 pages. You may use figures and tables (color is acceptable).
4. Budget

Research expenses should be divided into the following categories: equipment, supplies, travel,
honorarium/personnel expenses, and other expenses, and enter the amount and breakdown foreach category. The expenses are limited to those necessary for the execution of this research inthe following categories. Only those expenses that are necessary for the execution of this researchshould be included. Expenses for laboratory operations or expenses that are consideredappropriate to be recorded as expenses for other research funds are not acceptable. There is no
page limit for this item.

(Supplementary material 2) Review meeting
The review meeting will be held as follows.
1. The review meeting
・ Date: February 16, 2023
・ Venue: Online (The Zoom URL will be informed to participants)
・ Deadline for application: January 31, 2023
・ Deadline for registration: February 15, 2023
2. Method of presentation
・ The application form will be made available to all participants in advance.
・ Each proposals have 30 minutes (20 minutes for presentation + 10 minutes for Q&A).
・ Presenters must be either principal investigator or co-investigator・
3. How to vote・ All participants (project working groups, member in charge of each department, principal
investigators, co-investigators, and audience members) are entitled to vote.
・ Principal investigators and co-researchers are not allowed to vote for their own researchproposals.
・ Attendees of all presentations are eligible to vote (attendees will be identified for eachpresentation.).
・ One vote per research group is obligatory (regardless of whether the voter is the principal
investigator or co-investigators). Research groups that do not vote, their application will
not be cancelled. Please note that votes cannot be cancelled if more than one vote is castwithin a research group.

(Supplementary material 3) Details of research group
The research group must consist of the researcher affiliated with the departments of “Alliance ofResearch Institutes and Centers, Tohoku University” as the principal investigator and theresearcher(s) from multiple departments within Tohoku University. If the principal activity
departments of all members are same, it is not considered as a multi-departmental group. If they meet
the above criteria, members from other universities may be included. There is no limit to the numberof members.

・ Examples of research groupe.g.

Reasone.g.

ReasonNGOK

Principal investigator

Principal investigator(RIEC)(RIEC)

Co-investigator1

Co-investigator1(RIEC)(IMR)

The group is not composed ofThe group is composed ofmultiple departments.

multiple departments.

NGOK

Principal investigator

Principal investigator(RIEC)(RIEC)

Co-investigator1

Co-investigator1(RIEC)(Graduate School of Engineering)

Co-investigator2

Co-investigator2(Other university)(Other university)

The group is not composed of

The group is composed ofmultiple departments in

multiple departments in

Tohoku University.

Tohoku University.
NG
Principal investigator(RIEC)

e.g.

Co-investigator1 (IMR, RIEC)※The principal activity departments is RIEC
Co-investigator2 (AIMR, RIEC)※The principal activity departments is RIEC

ReasonThe principal activity departments of all members are same, and the group is notcomposed of multiple departments in Tohoku University.

・ The case of research group members affiliated with FRIS
The project working group consider that the “mentor department” of researchers affiliatedwith FRIS is as principal activity departments. Please note that even if their mentor departments
are different, groups consisting of researchers belonging to only FRIS are not eligible.
NG
Principal investigator (FRIS)
e.g.

※The mentor department is Graduate School of Engineering
Co-investigator1 (Graduate School of Engineering)

ReasonThe group is not composed of multiple departments.
NG
Principal investigator (FRIS)

e.g.

※The mentor department is Graduate School of Engineering
Co-investigator1 (FRIS)※The mentor department is Graduate School of Science

ReasonThe group is not composed of multiple departments.