2026 GBIF Graduate Researchers Award call for nominations

Cari presidenti di società naturalistiche in Italia,

da ottobre il nostro paese è finalmente entrato nel network GBIF, https://www.gbif.org/, dedicato ai dati di biodiversità.

Tra le attività a cui adesso possiamo partecipare ci sono i bandi e i premi di GBIF. Vi chiediamo quindi di diffondere questo avviso, relativo al "2026 GBIF Graduate Researchers Award call for nominations": un premio di 5,000 euro per progetti di studenti di laurea o di dottorato la cui ricerca si basa su dati ottenuti da GBIF e dimostra innovazione nell'uso dei dati in analisi di biodiversità (includendo tassonomia, biogeografia, ecologia e altro).

La scadenza per la presentazione delle domande per l'Italia è il 15 maggio 2026. Il nodo nazionale italiano selezionerà le due migliori proposte da passare a GBIF per la valutazione dei vincitori.

Per poter partecipare, basta mandare a Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots.È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo. questi documenti, in inglese:

1. Research summary (200 words)
   2. Project description (maximum five pages, 12-point Arial) 
   3. Curriculum vitae
   4. Supporting documents
   4a. student status certification
   4b. One to three letters of support

Per maggiori informazioni, consultare il bando di GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/news/2qFpkI7rwBNbMuSjn2rtae

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Deadline for GBIF Participant countries to nominate graduate students whose innovative research relies on biodiversity data: Friday 29 May 2026

The GBIF Secretariat is seeking nominations for the 2026 Graduate Researchers Award on behalf of Voting and Associate Participants. This annual programme highlights exceptional work of master’s and PhD students whose research relies on GBIF-mediated data and demonstrates innovation and discovery in biodiversity informatics (e.g. taxonomy, biogeography, ecology).

The 2026 programme will provide two €5,000 prizes recognizing the work of early-career graduate researchers. Candidates must be formally nominated by node managers and heads of delegation from GBIF Participant countries. Each Participant country may nominate up to two students for consideration by the GBIF Secretariat.

From the global pool of nominated candidates, an expert jury coordinated through GBIF Science Committee will select two recipients to be named as the 2026 Graduate Researchers Award winners. The GBIF Secretariat will announce winners prior to the 33rd meeting of the GBIF Governing Board (GB33) in September 2026 in Oslo, Norway.

Eligibility

Candidates be a currently enrolled master's or PhD student to be eligible for the award. In addition, candidates must be either:
a) citizens of a country participating in GBIF
or
b) students at an institution located in a GBIF participant country.
Nominations can come from the GBIF delegation or node of either the candidate's country of citizenship or the country of the candidate’s host institution.

Submission process and deadlines

Students seeking nomination must apply to the node manager or head of delegation from a GBIF Voting or Associate Participant country (see the complete list). National participants are responsible for establishing their own deadlines and processes for receiving and processing student applications. Graduate students who seek nomination should consult the websites of their national GBIF Participants or contact the node manager or head of delegation directly.

National node managers and/or heads of delegation may submit a maximum of two nominees per country to the GBIF Secretariat to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots.È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo. by the deadline for submissions: Friday 29 May 2026.

Node managers and heads of delegations are responsible for ensuring that forwarded nominations are complete and include all the elements listed below in the award nomination packet. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.

For node managers and heads of delegation, register to join the support session on 24 February 2026 14:00-15:00 CET to share experiences, practical guidance and lessons learned for running country-level processes for the Graduate Researchers Award

Award nomination packet

Candidates should prepare their nominations in English to include:

1. Research summary (200 words)
2. Project description (maximum five pages, 12-point Arial) that describes
   a. How the research advances biodiversity informatics and/or the conservation of biological diversity.
   b. The role of data accessed through GBIF in addressing these questions. The description must clearly demonstrate how the study incorporates data mobilized through GBIF. Students with questions about GBIF-mediated data should work with academic advisors, their GBIF national node, the GBIF Secretariat or members of the Science Committee to increase their understanding.
   c. The research scope, plan, methodologies, relevant literature citations.
   d. If relevant, a description or an excerpt from a data management plan that outlines how data related to the research is published or will be prepared for publication through the GBIF network to GBIF.org.
3. Curriculum vitae, including contact information of the university institution where the student is currently enrolled.
4. Supporting documents
   a. An official letter from the student’s faculty mentor/supervisor certifying that the applicant is a student in good standing in the graduate programme of the university.
   b. At least one, and no more than three, letters of support from established researchers active in a field that encompasses and incorporates biodiversity informatics.

Selection process and criteria

A jury led by the GBIF Science Committee will review the nominations and select two winners of the 2026 Graduate Researchers Award.

The criteria for the awards include:

• Originality and innovation
• Use of and strategic significance for data accessed through GBIF
• Measurable effectiveness and impact in advancing biodiversity informatics and/or the conservation of biological diversity.

Proposals that are not selected may be updated and resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years. Research submitted for the award does not have to be fully completed at the time of submission.

Award recipients are expected to acknowledge GBIF support when disseminate research results via peer-reviewed publications, presentations at professional meetings, and other media.

Country deadlines (received to date)

Questions

Have a question about the programme? Check out our FAQs page or contact Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots.È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo..