GSA’s Starter Culture Microgrant Program provides up to $2,000 in funding to GSA members to support  new, impactful initiatives that will benefit the genetics community. This volunteer-driven program includes a quarterly proposal review process by the Microgrant Review Committee. 

What is the committee looking for? 

We fund small projects that can make a big difference to the genetics community. We get particularly excited by applications that come up with new ideas for community outreach. 

A variety of projects can be funded, including summer camps, virtual presentations, and scientific workshops. However, a key aspect to consider is their impact: We look for evidence that the initiative will be transformative at some level, be it by engaging with broad and diverse audiences or underrepresented groups in science, or by fulfilling an unmet need in the community. 

We also like to ensure that, regardless of the applicant’s career stage, there is a solid connection between their background and the initiative they propose, such as a bioinformatics professor proposing a bioinformatics bootcamp. It is also important that we are convinced that the microgrant budget is both adequate and needed to deliver the initiative.

What type of projects are we looking for?

We do not want to limit your creativity, so we encourage you to apply with any amazing ideas you have! Just remember: Your project should clearly respond to a community need, have a broad and far-reaching impact, and benefit as many scientists and communities as possible. 

One of the main criteria we evaluate is the impact your initiative will have on your community and assurance the audience covers a breadth of research areas, geographic regions, institution types, and other elements that foster a wide range of knowledge and expertise.  . We want to see projects that fulfill a need in your community or benefit the community at large, such as genetics-focused STEM fairs or similar events that help expand access to genetics knowledge, or seminar series open to all early career scientists at your institution and across several institutions. 

We are also eager to fund projects in areas with limited access to science resources and communication. Seminar series, lecture workshops, hands-on training workshops in developing fields such as bioinformatics, and science communication initiatives are great ideas for your project, especially if these activities would not occur without  funding from this program.

What details are needed?

When preparing your Starter Culture Microgrant proposal it is essential that you include detailed, precise, and relevant information to effectively communicate the merits and feasibility of your project. Here’s a breakdown of what to include to make your proposal stand out:

1. Clear and specific objectives:

Begin with a well-defined statement of your project’s goals. Clarify what the project aims to achieve, the expected impact, and ensure these objectives are measurable, achievable, and relevant – this helps the committee understand your vision and the structured planning behind it.

2. Detailed project plan:

Provide an in-depth description of the activities and methodologies your project will employ and include a timeline with key milestones and phases. For example, if you’re proposing a symposium, list the topics to be covered, types of sessions (e.g., workshops, keynote speeches), and the format of each session. Describe the selection criteria for speakers and how the event will offer novel insights compared to existing symposia. For another example, if your project is about providing education or training to your community, explain the curriculum or content and teaching methods to be used.

3. Rationale and need:

Explain the significance of your project by highlighting the specific issues or gaps your project addresses and why it is timely. Your rationale should connect with the broader goals of the Starter Culture Microgrant Program, demonstrating alignment with program objectives.

4. Target audience and beneficiaries: 

Identify the direct beneficiaries of your project, provide detailed demographic information, and describe how the project meets their needs. Discuss the expected changes or benefits for this group, emphasizing the direct impact of your initiative.

5. Outcomes, impact measurement, and evaluation plan:

Detail expected outcomes and how you will measure the project’s impact. Include specific metrics or indicators, such as participant feedback, post-event surveys, or measurable changes in participant knowledge. This section demonstrates your commitment and the anticipated impact of your project.

6. Support and collaboration:

Mention any additional support, such as co-sponsorships, partnerships, or endorsements from relevant organizations. If you have received or are seeking other grants, specify how these support your current proposal and demonstrate broader validation of your project, and why this particular grant is also needed for your initiative.

7. Detailed budget justification:

Provide a line-item budget where every expense is justified in relation to project activities. If you’re requesting funds for materials, specify quantities, costs per unit, and total cost. For example, if updating educational materials, provide a breakdown of costs involved in updating each set of slides or resources. If the budget includes stipends or honoraria, explain the rationale behind the amount and the responsibilities covered by these payments. This transparency enhances your proposal’s credibility.

Sample budget:

Let’s say your project is a hybrid genome engineering symposia. Your budget should include a breakdown of supplies needed, speaker travel reimbursements, printed marketing materials, and other costs you might incur: 

• $500 – Snacks and refreshments for 100 in-person participants 
• $280 – Invited speaker’s travel reimbursement  
• $200 – Print cost of posters, banners, and fliers  
• $980 – Total requested funding

8. Sustainability or future directions:

If your project is part of a larger initiative, describe how it will have an impact beyond the funding period. Discuss plans for scaling, potential future funding, or integration into broader practices, showing the long-term vision beyond the grant period.

Once you’re ready, use the Starter Culture Microgrant Application checklist to develop your application for submission. We’re excited to see the innovative ideas you’ll bring to the genetics community. Submit your proposal today! 

Advances in genome engineering are of broad interest (e.g., 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry); however, since they occur at a rapid pace, it’s difficult for scientists to stay up to date. Attending conferences is crucial for learning about cutting-edge advances, but accessibility barriers such as travel and registration costs exist. Additionally, while principal investigators are typically invited to give talks, the first author scientists who carry out the research are better suited to answer technical questions and would greatly benefit from presenting their work.

On November 30, 2023, Harvard Medical School hosted a hybrid symposium on recent advances in genome engineering, organized by three postdoctoral researchers: Justin Bosch, University of Utah; Joana Ferreira Da Silva, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; and Raghuvir Viswanatha, Harvard Medical School. Sponsored by a GSA Starter Culture Microgrant, this event brought together Boston-area scientists and virtual attendees to update them on recent genome engineering tools, to give early career scientists and first authors an opportunity to present their research, and to make these talks available free of charge to a worldwide audience.

The symposium featured keynote speakers Benjamin Kleinstiver, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Julia Joung, Whitehead Institute, along with presentations from nine PhD students and postdocs on their recently published work. The symposium was highly successful with approximately 200 in-person attendees, 385 virtual attendees, and more than 800 views of the recording across the globe. Positive feedback from attendees focused on the lack of fees, availability of a recording for those in distant time zones, and advertising through GSA. Critical feedback centered on a perceived preference for in-person attendee questions over virtual.

This symposium was the culmination of five years of grassroots efforts by Boston-area scientists to stay on top of cutting-edge genome engineering techniques. Originally organized as an in-person journal club at Harvard Medical School, the virtual Genome Engineering Seminar Series (GESS) was created to mitigate COVID-19 social distancing policies. GESS is a free weekly seminar in which first authors present their recent paper or manuscript live over Zoom. Running since 2021, GESS has had more than 100 speakers and over 3,000 cumulative attendees from more than 51 countries.

Additionally, GESS provides leadership opportunities for early career scientists as seminar organizers. The program was initially established by Justin Bosch and Tracy Zhang, and the current GESS organizers are Ferreira Da Silva, Viswanatha, Hassan Bukhari, and Nouraiz Ahmed.

By hosting the symposium both in person and via Zoom, we eliminated most expenses typically associated with registration and travel for attendees. Given Boston’s concentration of groups involved in the development of genome engineering methods, it was practical to extend invitations to local experts to present in person. Therefore, our symposium format greatly reduces barriers for scientists to both present and attend. We hope to make this symposium an annual event with its hybrid format serving as a model for other research areas.

You can learn more about GSA’s Starter Culture Microgrant Program on the GSA website. Applications for microgrants are accepted on a quarterly basis.