Thanks to an agreement with the Belgian Development Cooperation, the Royal Museum for Central Africa (MRAC) in Tervuren (Belgium) each year has a certain number of grants for scientific study visits to the MRAC collections. For the year 2014, the closing date for applications is November 14, 2013 and the study visits will take place from March 01, 2014 to December 19, 2014.

1. Background
Thanks to an agreement with the Belgian Development Cooperation, the Royal Museum for Central Africa (MRAC) in Tervuren (Belgium) each year has a certain number of grants for scientific study visits to the collections of the MRAC1.

These grants want to facilitate the accessibility of data on biodiversity with African institutions, as stipulated in the Convention on Biological Diversity, of which Belgium is a signatory.
To do this, the MRAC makes its collections of biological specimens from Africa available to African scientists, the Department of Zoology counting more than 10,000,000 specimens, including for example 150,000 birds, 200,000 amphibians, 40,000 amphibians, 40,000 amphibians, 40,000 reptiles, 40,000 reptiles, 40,000 reptiles, 40,000 reptiles, 90,000 mammals, 90,000 mammals, 950,000 mammals, 950,000 fish, 6,000,000 insects and 1,000,000 other invertebrates. The MRAC holds the most important zoological collections in the world from Central Africa (80% of which come from Congo, Rwanda and Burundi): see www.africamuseum.be.

On the other hand, the MRAC xylarium has the second largest wood collection in the world with more than 60,000 specimens and 14,000 different types of wood. This makes it an essential reference center with extensive documentation including unique information on tropical woods and trees. Specimens preserved in xylarium are used for numerous taxonomic research as well as for ecological
indicators found in their anatomical characteristics.

The xylarium database is published online at: http://www.metafro.be/xylarium.

These specimens have been collected historically as taxonomic reference material. The collections contain an enormous wealth of information on biodiversity and their historical component makes it possible, for example, to study

changes in biodiversity.

In addition, the MRAC counts on a team of scientists specialized in various fields and who have already brought great added value to the collections.
Due to the exceptional nature and importance of the MRAC's zoological and xylarium collections, there is a growing interest in the study and consultation of these collections as well as in the analysis of the information on biodiversity they contain.
The desire of the MRAC to facilitate access to this data on African biodiversity has resulted in an initiative specific to the MRAC through the creation of the Information Center on African Biodiversity (CIBA), an initiative that allows African scientists to be invited every year to the MRAC
Within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the MRAC collaborates with the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences of Belgium (IRSCnb).
The IRSCnb also has a number of scholarships. These are intended to strengthen individual and institutional capacities for the taxonomy and management of collections of zoological specimens from developing countries. (http://bch-cbd.naturalsciences.be)

2. Characteristics

In principle, the grants will be awarded to research projects that meet the obligations of development cooperation under the Convention on Biological Diversity 2, involving the collections of the MRAC and/or the expertise of its scientific staff and contributing to the identification, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The evaluation of research projects by the MRAC internal evaluation committee will focus on the adequacy of the project to the resources available at the MRAC and the answers to the following questions:

1. Does the project make optimal use of the MRAC collections or of available scientific expertise?
2. How will the candidate exploit the results of his work at the MRAC, is there a lasting impact of the project? What are the prospects following the completion of the research project (publication, collaborations,...)

3. Is the project relevant to the key development cooperation conventions under the Convention for Biological Diversity? Such as:

 

• the exchange of information, research results and specialized knowledge,
• the promotion of technical, scientific and research cooperation, particularly through associated research programs, the exchange of experts,
• the provision of scientific and technical education and training, the development of human capacity, institutional strengthening,
• support for in-situ or ex-situ conservation,
• special attention to the most vulnerable environments (e.g. islands, forests, mountains, arid areas).

4. Does the project integrate one or more of the priority themes identified by Development Cooperation in the biodiversity study?

• Sustainable water management, including the sustainable use and management of wetlands
• Combating desertification and land degradation
• Conservation and sustainable management of forests
• Improving the ecological management of cities and suburbs
• Combating the consequences of climate change

5. What is the level of direct or indirect benefits for the conservation of biodiversity or for its understanding?
6. What is the level of direct or indirect benefits for the sustainable use of biodiversity or for its understanding?

Projects that will be considered harmful to collections or scientifically unsuitable will not be considered. In addition, specific conditions for the use of collections or the sharing of existing data by admitted candidates may be formulated.

The selection of projects for the award of grants is entirely the responsibility of the MRAC Selection Committee, which decides on the adequacy of the project to the required criteria, on its feasibility, on the availability of the RMCA scientists involved, on the analysis of the candidate's CV and on the adequacy of the MRAC mission statement. No request for recourse in relation to the selection will be received.

3. Target group

The grants will be awarded to two categories of scientists:

1. to young African students carrying out doctoral research (research already begun and well determined, having passed their DEA). Their study visit will mainly focus on a study of the MRAC collections
and/or the meeting with RMCA scientists whose expertise could make a substantial difference to the quality of their doctorate. These would be visits lasting from 2 to 8 weeks maximum. Candidates
cannot be older than 40 at the time of application.

2. to African experts with a substantial scientific curriculum specialized in African biodiversity and on the subject studied. The purpose of the visit will be to complete a study on a particular subject, to identify and/or build databases of parts of the MRAC collections. Since experts work independently in the collections, visits to collections for which the MRAC does not have experts are also possible (please contact the curators in advance — cf. www.africamuseum.be). Visits generally last 2 to 4 weeks maximum.

4. Eligibility criteria

Only applications from people from sub-Saharan Africa who are part of a public institution such as a ministry, research center or university will be considered. Applications from experts or independent persons will therefore not be accepted.

Priority will be given to candidates who have not yet received other grants in Belgium in the last two years.

Academic background or professional experience:

As part of doctoral research, the academic qualities of candidates will be examined on the basis of diplomas, courses taken, results, research activities developed and possible publications.

In the framework of expert visits, professional experience in relation to the request as well as the list of relevant publications will be taken into consideration.

Language proficiency:

A good command of French or English is essential in case it is not the candidate's mother tongue or education language.
It should be noted that most of the documentation or reference books available at the MRAC being published either in French or in English, reading comprehension of the other language is an asset.

Equal opportunities

The MRAC encourages the participation of women in its study visit programs.

5. Proposed fields of scientific study:

1. Entomology Doctoral
category:

All topics are admitted but priority will be given to activities that are consistent with current research projects within the entomology section: • systematic research on Diptera (Tephritidae in particular),
• development of a database of specimens: Odonates, Neuroptera, Neuroptera, Isoptera, Isoptera, and Diptera,
• research focused on the study of biogeographical samples in the Afrotropical region,
• study on the relationships between insects and host plants.

Expert category:

All topics involving collections are admitted. Please contact the curator in advance: marc.demeyer@africamuseum.be

2. Herpetology

Doctorate category:

All subjects relating to the study of fauna and to the systematics of reptiles and amphibians are admitted, but priority will be given to studies involving:
• the study of new wildlife collections [ensuring, in a representative manner, to collect species diversity, and properly documented (also from an ecological point of view)],
• the use of RMCA collections by a critical examination (verification of determination and distribution); priority will be given to therefore to the collections of the R.D. of Congo, of the Rwanda, Burundi but also Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo...
• the development of determination keys that can be carried out in practice, at least for regional use [preferably feasible for both museological and field use],
• subjects focused on systematic groups are preferred to general faunistic studies of a local nature.

Expert category:
All topics involving collections are admitted. Please contact the curator in advance: danny.meirte@africamuseum.be

3. Ichthyology (lacustrine)

Doctorate category:

Topics relating to the study of African cichlids in general, with a particular focus on the Great Lakes region of East Africa:

• taxonomy and phylogeny of haplochromine cichlids from Lake Victoria Super Flock (Victoria, Kivu, Edouard, Georges, Albert and associated basins),
• taxonomy, phylogeny and distribution of cichlids in Lake Tanganika,
• biodiversity and conservation of cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa.

Expert category:
All topics involving collections are admitted. Please contact the curator in advance: jos.snoeks@africamuseum.be

4. Ichthyology (fluvial)

Doctorate category:

All topics are accepted, but priority will be given to activities that are in line with current research projects:

• study of the biodiversity of freshwater and brackish fish in western Central Africa (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville),
• study of the biodiversity of fish in the Congo Basin,
• impact of anthropogenic activities on African fish and fisheries,
• development of FishBase (www.fishbase.org) (see the call for applications for the FishBase training on www.africamuseum.be).

Expert category:
All topics involving collections are admitted. Please contact the curator in advance: jos.snoeks@africamuseum.be, emmanuel.vreven@africamuseum.be.

5. Invertebrates (not insects)

Doctorate category:

All subjects involving the collections and expertise of the MRAC scientific staff are admitted but the emphasis is on:

• the assessment of tropical forest and other endangered ecosystems, based on selected invertebrate taxa,
• the resilience of tropical biota,
• the control of biodiversity by using high-diversity invertebrate taxa,
• • the development, on a continental scale, of a database of terrestrial invertebrate species,
• studies relating to the selection of taxa for biological control in agriculture.
• Helminth parasites of cichlids from Lake Tanganika and the Congo Basin
• Phylogenetics and population genetic studies on helminth parasites (focus on Monogenea and Schistosoma)
• Invasive fish species and their helminth parasites

Expert category:
All topics involving collections are admitted. Please contact the curator in advance: didier.van.den.spiegel@africamuseum.be

6. Mammalogy

Doctorate category:

All topics are accepted but priority will be given to projects related to current or planned research in the section (for information at emmanuel.gilissen@africamuseum.be). Currently, the focus will be mainly on projects that fall within the framework of the following research themes:

• Research relating to endemic taxa of Africa and especially to Afrotheria, pangolin and artiodactyls,
• Research combining molecular and morphological data acquired on the MRAC collections and eco/ethological field data,
• Primate biology and primate conservation strategies in Africa.

Expert category:
All topics involving collections are admitted. The possibilities depend on the availability of the curator, please contact him in advance: emmanuel.gilissen@africamuseum.be).

7. Ornithology

Doctorate category:

All topics are eligible but priority is given to the following regions and approaches:

• taxonomic research combining morphological data, phylogeny based on DNA and eco/ethological field data,
• research relating to taxa endemic to Africa,
• biodiversity models and conservation strategies in Africa,
• research on species that threaten crops.

Expert category:

All topics involving collections are admitted.
N.B: Scientific supervision of visits cannot be provided for the year 2014. Only applications for which candidates can work independently in the collections will be considered.

8. Wood biology

Wood biology is the discipline that studies: wood anatomy, dendrochronology, growth rings,... It is this discipline that makes it possible to obtain relevant scientific information on the growth of trees or the quality of wood and that contributes to
ensuring sustainable forest management.

Doctorate category:

All topics related to wood biology (anatomy and dendrochronology) are eligible but priority is given to

• Study of the cambial dynamics of woody mangrove species
• study on the analysis of growth rings of woody species in the equatorial forest and the Zambesian open forest
• Research relating to the eligibility criteria of tropical woody species for the preparation of a CITES dossier (introduction of a new species, change of stage of a species already classified under CITES, etc.)
• Research relating to the management of tropical woody species used as lumber or for medicinal purposes: ecological and anatomical approach.

The material for carrying out the study visit will consist of a collection of samples taken in the field by the doctoral student (herbariums, adult secondary xylem, trunk discs) and reference specimens of xylarium from the MRAC.

Expert category:

All subjects involving xylarium (collection of samples, microtomic sections,
microscopic photos and trunk slices) are admitted.
Please contact the curator in advance: hans.beeckman@africamuseum.be

6. Submission of the application

The selection procedure consists of two steps:

6.1. sending a cover letter+completed application form

6.2. submission of the detailed research project (if project selected in the first stage)

6.1. The first step in the selection process consists of the candidate submitting a cover letter. This letter should contain a brief description of the research project and the reasons why the candidate wishes to conduct this research at the MRAC (max. 2 A4 pages).

The motivation letter and the application form (which can be downloaded from the MRAC site - http://www.africamuseum.be/research/collaborations/training) must be sent by email to the following address before 14/11/2013: callabic@africamuseum.be.

The selected candidates will be invited to participate in the second stage by presenting their complete research project by 13/12/2013.
Acknowledgement of receipt of the sending of the application can only be made by means of an email to the email address to be mentioned in the application form. This acknowledgement of receipt will be sent by the end of December at the latest.

6.2. For candidates whose project has been selected, the complete application file must be sent before and contain the following elements:
a) Detailed research project including:
- a summary of the project: title, description (maximum 500 words), duration and preferred periods for the study visit (minimum 2 options.).
- a detailed description of the project including the objectives, methods, expected results and a schedule of activities justifying the length of stay. In addition, the project must specify what is the level of direct or indirect benefits for the conservation and/or sustainable use of biodiversity or its understanding (maximum 7 pages in A4 format are 12) (cf. point 2).
characteristics),
b) Letter of authorization from the employer,
c) Letter of recommendation,
d) Photocopies of diplomas,

e) 1 recent passport photo.
Candidates will be informed personally of the result of the selection no later than February 2014.
Careful! Any documents sent as part of this call for applications cannot be returned to their sender.

7. Scholarship conditions

Detailed information concerning the practical and financial modalities of the grant awarded will be provided to the selected candidates during the final notification of the selection.
Here are some indications for information purposes:
Duration: Doctoral research
visits: from 2 to 8 weeks.
Expert visits: 2 to 4 weeks
The study visits will take place between 01/03/2014 and 19/12/2014 depending on the availability of MRAC scientists.

No extension of the duration of the scholarship will be possible once the candidate has started his training.

Travel expenses:
The MRAC will provide the candidate with a return flight ticket in economy class. Some costs related to obtaining the visa may be reimbursed.

Allowances:
The MRAC takes care of the accommodation of the visitor, who will also receive a daily living allowance of €43 to cover the candidate's food, travel and personal expenses.

Insurance:
Any beneficiary of an MRAC grant has health care and civil liability coverage for the duration of their stay in Belgium as part of the study visit.