i4A Pro Grant Grant Guide

This guide will help you understand the conditions, application process, and selection procedure of the i4A Pro Grant, and includes links to the application forms. Please read this document carefully before proceeding with your application.

i4A Pro Grant is aimed at LMIC researchers (including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers/fellows, principal investigators, laboratory technicians, staff scientists), and imaging facility staff (research, technical, service support inc. image analysts, software and hardware developers) and imaging facility management. This grant supports access exclusively to GBI partner imaging core facilities that have been independently evaluated for their open-access services for external users.

The i4A Pro Grant is intended for individuals with significant experience in imaging (based on self-assessment) who wish to conduct experimental work over an extended period or further develop their imaging, facility operation/management, or training skills through a personalised, hands-on learning experience.

The i4A Pro Grant offers two distinct tracks:

• Pro Research Track – for conducting experimental work over an extended period and applying advanced imaging techniques to specific research questions at a GBI partner imaging facility.
• Pro Skills Track – for gaining new imaging-, operational-, management-, and/or training-related skills through a personalised, hands-on learning experience at a GBI partner imaging facility.

Conditions

Hosting imaging facility choice

The i4A Pro Grant restricts host selection to imaging facilities within GBI partner infrastructures and networks that have undergone an independent evaluation of their open-access imaging services for external users. Additionally, imaging facilities that have successfully hosted grantees within the i4A Access Grant will have the opportunity to become i4A Pro Grant hosts in the subsequent open calls.

For a list of hosts that have already undergone independent evaluation for their open-access services, please see the ‘Confirmed Hosts’ section.

For facilities that are potentially eligible, please refer to the ‘Potential Hosts’ section. These facilities, which are part of GBI networks, may become Confirmed Hosts by completing the Pro Host Eligibility Form. This form will be reviewed by the Access Manager to assess their services for external users. Once approved, these facilities will be eligible for the current and future rounds of the i4A Pro Grant call.

As an applicant, please inform your hosts about the forms they need to complete to be able to host you as part of the i4A Pro Grant.

Confirmed Hosts

This list includes GBI partner imaging infrastructures that have been pre-approved to host i4A Pro Grant grantees based on the independent evaluation of their open-access services for external users. It also includes GBI partner imaging facilities within our partner networks and communities that were assessed in the previous i4A Open Call through submitting their applications to become Pro Grant hosts. The first five institutions listed are imaging infrastructures that encompass multiple imaging facilities across various locations. Please visit their websites to learn more about them and the services they offer. Facilities on this list are not required to complete the Pro Host Eligibility Form to host i4A Pro grantees.

Potential Hosts

Facilities that are part of the GBI partner imaging networks and communities may be selected by the i4A Pro Grant applicants as hosts. However, these facilities must complete an additional confirmation step by submitting the Pro Host Eligibility Form via Google Forms.

Timeline of the i4A Pro Grant Open Call

For applicants requiring visas for their travel associated with the i4A grant, please inform yourself about visa processing timelines with your respective embassies or consulates while selecting your hosting institution/country.

Application Procedure

Send us your enquiry

This step is mandatory for i4A Pro Track applicants. Please provide a brief description of your scientific background and the goals you aim to achieve by obtaining the i4A Pro funds. If you have a preferred destination in mind, please include that as well. We will help you match with a suitable hosting facility that aligns with your objectives.

Choose your application track

i4A Pro Grant offers two distinct tracks:

Pro Research Track is intended for applicants who wish to access imaging instruments to generate imaging data for their research projects. It is best suited for those aiming to conduct experimental work and test scientific hypotheses by applying advanced biological and biomedical imaging techniques to research questions.

Pro Skills Track is intended for applicants seeking to gain new imaging-related skills through a personalised, hands-on learning experience. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Learning to operate a specific imaging instrument
• Developing an imaging assay or probe
• Adopting a new imaging modality
• Acquiring a sample preparation technique to implement at your home institution
• Testing a new technology before a purchasing decision
• Building skills in data management, quality control, user access, management, etc.
• Building skills to train other scientists in applying imaging technologies

Partner with a hosting facility

• Initiate contact with the prospective hosting imaging facility
• Write up your project description or visit plan with input from the facility
• Obtain Confirmation of Support from the facility

For both of the Pro Grant tracks, you will be applying for the funds in collaboration with the prospective hosting facility. It is essential that the chosen facility agrees to participate in the process with you, providing the necessary information, advice and completing the required support forms in a timely manner.

We can act as an intermediary between you and the prospective hosting imaging facility. After your initial contact with us, we can guide you in scheduling a meeting with the facility to discuss your project goals, expectation, and address practical concerns related to your visit.

Submit your official application

After completing your project and visit planning and obtaining your Confirmation of Support from your host, you may proceed with submitting your official application.

Required Forms

Pro Research Track Application Forms

Project Description Form
(completed jointly by the applicant and the hosting facility)

The Project Description Form is where you describe your imaging project and the proposed experiments. Completing this form should be a collaborative effort between you and your host. This document will help the host confirm the availability of their resources (e.g. timetables, instrument access, staff support) and assess the technical feasibility of your proposed project. It will also help us evaluate your application. Please download the Project Description Form using the link above and work on it on your local device.

Pro Confirmation of Support Agreement
(completed by the hosting facility)

This form confirms the technical feasibility of your project and the hosting facility’s commitment to supporting your visit. It must be completed by the hosting facility via the Google Form linked above. Please ensure your host receives the link and submits the form in a timely manner.

Pro Research Track Application Form
(completed by the applicant)

After completing your Project Description Form and obtaining the Confirmation of Support for your visit, you may proceed with submitting your official application. To do so, please fill out the i4A Pro Research Track Application Form via the Google Form linked above. In this form, we ask you to describe your motivation for applying for the i4A Pro Grant, the anticipated impact on your scientific work or career, and your plans for disseminating the knowledge gained through this programme. Be sure to attach your completed Project Description Form when submitting your application.

If your prospective hosting facility is a Potential Host, please ask them to provide the additional following document below.

Pro Host Eligibility Form
(completed by only Potential Hosts- see above for the list)

In this form, we ask the Potential Hosts (refer to the lists above) to provide a description of their facility, a list of technologies and services they plan to offer under the i4A Pro Grant, the number of external users they have supported and the procedures in place for accessing their services, as well as some selected publications resulting from being an open-access imaging facility.

Pro Skills Track Application Forms

Visit Planning Form
(completed jointly by the applicant and the hosting facility)

The Visit Planning Form is where you describe the objectives of your scientific visit. Completing this form should be a collaborative effort between you and your host. This document will help the host confirm the availability of resources (e.g. timetables, instrument access, staff support) and assess the feasibility of your proposed visit. It will also help us evaluate your application. Please download the Visit Planning Form using the link above and work on it on your local device.

If you plan to bring biological samples to the hosting institution in order to conduct experimental work in addition to enhancing your skills, please also complete the Project Description Form.

Pro Confirmation of Support Agreement
(completed by the hosting facility)

This form confirms the feasibility of your proposed visit and the hosting facility’s commitment to supporting it. It must be completed by the hosting facility via the Google Form linked above. Please ensure your host receives the link and submits the form in a timely manner.

Pro Skills Track Application Form
(completed by the applicant)

After completing your Visit Planning Form and obtaining your Confirmation of Support for your visit, you may proceed with submitting your official application. To do so, please fill out the i4A Pro Skills Track Application Form via the Google Forms link provided above. In this form, we ask you to describe your motivation for applying for the i4A Pro Grant, the anticipated impact on your scientific work or career, and your plans for disseminating the knowledge gained through this programme. Be sure to attach your completed Visit Planning Form when submitting your application.

If your prospective hosting facility is a Potential host, please ask them to provide the additional following document below.

Pro Host Eligibility Form
(completed by only Potential Hosts - see above for the list)

In this form, we ask the Potential Hosts (refer to the lists above) to provide a description of their facility, a list of technologies and services they plan to offer under the i4A Pro Grant, the number of external users they have supported and the procedures in place for accessing their services, as well as some selected publications resulting from being an open-access imaging facility.

Selection procedure

The selection process will be based on information obtained from the submitted applications.

Once we receive your official application, we will initially check it for eligibility and completeness. After the eligibility check, your application will undergo an independent scientific review by a minimum of two external reviewers from our Independent Review Panel (IEP) with matching scientific expertise. They will evaluate your application using a transparent point-based evaluation system. The criteria for each of the two tracks are outlined below.

Pro Research Track Evaluation

1. Scientific quality of the proposed project (up to 10 points)
   • Scientific background/rationale for the project is robust.
   • Project objectives are clearly stated.
   • Expected project outcomes are clearly stated.
2. Experimental plan and timeline (up to 10 points)
   • Experimental design is sound.
   • Experimental timeline is realistic.
3. Relevance (up to 5 points)
   • The proposed project aligns with the applicant's research interests.
4. Motivation (up to 5 points)
   • The applicant's motivation in applying for the grant is clearly stated and appropriate.
5. Impact (up to 5 points)
   • The access opportunity has the potential to impact the grantee's scientific work.
6. Dissemination (up to 5 points)
   • The applicant has concrete plans to disseminate the knowledge to his/her local scientific community.
7. Justification of the choice of the imaging facility (up to 5 points)
   • Sample logistics, availability of equipment and expertise suitable for the proposed project

Pro Skills Track Evaluation

1. Planning and timeline (up to 10 points)
   • The planning of the visit and objectives are reasonable.
   • The objectives are achievable within the proposed timeline.
2. Relevance (up to 5 points)
   • The proposed goals align with the applicant’s research and/or career interests.
3. Motivation (up to 5 points)
   • The applicant’s motivation in applying for the grant is clearly stated and appropriate.
4. Impact (up to 5 points)
   • The scientific visit has the potential to have a positive impact on the grantee’s scientific work/career.
5. Dissemination (up to 5 points)
   • The applicant has concrete plans to disseminate the knowledge to his/her local scientific community.
6. Justification of the choice of the imaging facility (up to 5 points)
   • Availability of equipment and expertise suitable for the proposed goals

For both the tracks, based on the combined scores, proposals will be ranked and shortlisted. i4A funding programme intends to cultivate cultural diversity and gender equity. Therefore, the final selection will be to ensure:

• Balanced distribution of funds across the country affiliations of grantees
• Balanced representation of gender
• Balanced distribution across project topics and imaging modalities (if necessary)

We will select the top-scoring projects for funding and place the runner-up projects on the waiting list. The waiting list may be called at a later time if resources become available.

After the visit

Visit evaluation and follow-up:
By accepting the i4A funds, grantees commit to submitting a visit report and an evaluation form about their experience in the short term. Additionally, i4A grantees agree to complete a follow-up form one year after their visit to assess the impact of the grant on their projects and careers.

Grantee networking opportunities:
Following the open call, we will host online events to bring i4A grantees together, providing opportunities to network, share experiences, and build connections within a global community of like-minded imaging scientists.

Do you have further questions?

We are hosting a Q&A session on 29.05.2025 at 13:00 CEST. We will answer your questions and support your applications. To register please use this link.

For your questions and support inquiries please get in touch with us via i4a_support@embl.de.