Introduction to the UEP
Rationale¶
SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks) is a scientific research organization founded to map the biodiversity of mycorrhizal fungal communities and advocate for their protection. We are helping to catalyze a diverse community interested in exploring the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi around the world. In 2022, we launched our Underground Explorers Program to help fund research that explores global patterns of mycorrhizal fungal diversity.
Our Objective¶
Our objective is to fuel, motivate, and support high-quality research initiatives to sample mycorrhizal fungal diversity around the world using standardized collection protocols and metabarcoding sequencing. SPUN provides grants to sample and sequence mycorrhizal communities from soil and roots, with a particular emphasis on under-sampled ecological systems or geographic regions. We are interested in supporting a wide range of research questions that involve mycorrhizal community analyses through metabarcoding. These samples will fill in gaps in the global maps of mycorrhizal diversity that are being made at SPUN.
Who Can Apply¶
Researchers from around the world are welcome to apply, including PhD students, postdocs, independent researchers, and professors. Candidates that hold or are pursuing a PhD are preferred. Access to laboratory facilities, directly or through a collaboration, is required for the project.
Current UEP grantees with ongoing projects are not eligible to apply, but encourage you to spread the word to your colleagues. Once a UEP project has been finished and all grant requirements have been submitted, former grantees are welcome to apply for a new project.
We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, especially individuals from the Global South and other underrepresented communities, people of color, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and women.
Prioritized Locations¶
We prioritize projects focusing on ecoregions that have been undersampled for mycorrhizal fungi (see updated list of ecoregions here). However, all applicants that fulfill the above criteria will be eligible. Local applicants or researchers with sustained collaboration in the study area will be prioritized. If the Principal Investigator of the proposal is not local, including at least one local collaborator is required. Ecoregions are unique regions of biodiversity that host specific assemblages of species that cannot be found in other environments. This framework guides SPUN’s mission to fill in gaps on mycorrhizal diversity. To date, 591 ecoregions around the world lack information on either ECM or AMF fungal diversity. The map below highlights undersampled ecoregions in orange and ecoregions that have been previously sampled, and therefore already have geolocated mycorrhizal samples, are shown in black. These represent sequences in current global databases, and are constantly being updated.
Grant Funding¶
Grants may be made for up to $10,000 USD per project depending on location and logistics. In addition to the requested project funding, a stipend not to exceed $500 will be provided for the purchase of a filming device. The awarded funding may be used to cover travel expenses (including transportation to and within site, food, and lodging), laboratory expenses (including kits and reagents, technical services, and consumables), permits, sequencing, hiring of a temporary field assistant, and a field camera for documenting the expedition (maximum of $500 USD). Indirect costs are not covered by the grant award.
Maximum project duration¶
12 months from receipt of grant funds
What We Provide¶
Along with funds for sampling understudied regions, SPUN offers support to grantees in several ways: Support and feedback on sampling protocols, soil fungal DNA extraction, primer selection and PCR, sequencing, and downstream analyses of metabarcoding data. At grantee’s request, SPUN can provide assistance creating connections to media outlets to highlight grantee’s research. The option to send samples for PCR amplification and sequencing at a facility in the United States, via SPUN.
SPUN DEI Statement & Ethical Guidelines¶
All grantees are required to respect and adhere to SPUN DEI and ethical guidelines which can be read here.