Christina Viola Srivastava

Melissa Wu

SEEDING LABS

1 June 2016

2016 Instrumental Access

Application Webinar

Building a world where all scientists can make

life-changing discoveries.

SEEDING LABS’ MISSION

Because talent is everywhere, but

resources are not.

Université des Montagnes, Cameroon

Redeemer’s University, Nigeria

Our flagship program makes affordable, high-quality laboratory equipment available to universities in developing countries. We’ve shipped:

INSTRUMENTAL ACCESS

97 tons of equipment

Worth $3.4 million

To 39 institutions

In 25 countries

Equipment recipient Dr. John Muoma, Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya

HOW IT WORKS

Corporations donate equipment

Seeding Labs tests & inventories equipment

Universities in developing countries

apply for Instrumental Access

Seeding Labs vets applicants

Recipients chosen based on

qualifications & need

Recipients select equipment from

Seeding Labs’ inventory

Seeding Labs packs equipment into 20’

container & coordinates

shipping/customs

Equipment arrives at port ~3 months later

Recipients install equipment & report on its use & impact

ELIGIBILITY

• Academic departments or research institutes at a

degree-granting institution of higher education

– Focus should be on biology, chemistry, or related discipline

– Applications from faculties, schools, etc. will be considered if

there’s a compelling reason (pre-approval required)

• LMIC as defined by the World Bank

– Excluded: Afghanistan, Burma, Central African Republic, Cuba,

Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan,

Syria, and Yemen

• NOT eligible:

– Individuals/lab groups, hospitals, clinics, secondary schools,

government labs, non-university NGOs, for-profit companies

2016-17 PROGRAM TIMELINE

May – July 2016

August - December 2016

January – March 2017

April 2017 – April 2018

• Application

Portal open

• Application deadline: 29 July 2016

• Applications reviewed

• Vetting,

including interviews with applicants and VC

• Final selection of partners

• Notification of awards

• Detailed discussion of equipment needs

• LOA signed

• Background survey completed

• Equipment selection windows assigned (2 weeks)

• Payment of fee following equipment selection (1 month)

• Equipment ships as soon as payment is received (1-3 months typical transit time)

HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT GOES INTO A SHIPMENT?

• Typical Value $60,000 to $150,000

• Volume constraint: must fit in a 20-foot shipping container

• Participants select from our inventory during an assigned window

• Additional guidelines prevent any one participant from taking all of the most valuable items available

Large/High Impact Equipment – 1 HPLC

– 1 -80 freezer

– 3 -20 freezers

– 1 refrigerator

– 1 biosafety cabinet

– 1 CO2 incubator

– 3 microscopes

– 1 oven

– 2 PCR machines

– 2 tissue grinders

– 1 microplate reader

SAMPLE SHIPMENT

Smaller Benchtop Equipment – 1 power supply

– 2 recording thermometers

– 3 vortexers

– 1 reverse osmosis water purification system

– 1 balance

– 5 water baths

– 1 refrigerated water bath

– 4 benchtop centrifuges

– 4 chillers

– 73 pipettors (13 electronic)

– 5 electrophoresis systems + 2 power supplies

– 3 heat blocks

– 1 stirrer/hot plate

– 5 pH meters

– 1 dissolved oxygen meter

– 1 transilluminator

Other – Assorted consumables

– Assorted glassware and plasticware

– Assorted sample storage racks, boxes, stands, etc.

PROGRAM FEE

World Bank Income Status Fee

Low-Income $18,000

Lower-Middle-Income $25,500

Upper-Middle-Income $32,000

What the fee covers:

• All services provided by

Seeding Labs, including:

• Equipment

procurement

• Storage & handling

• Shipping to the

nearest port

Additional costs you may incur:

• All costs associated with customs clearance • Transportation of the equipment from the

port of entry • Electrical adapters, transformers, frequency

converters, etc. • Any software, reagents, accessories, etc. • Installation, calibration, operation,

maintenance, and repair of equipment on an ongoing basis

REVIEW & VETTING PROCESS

Phase 1 • Applications evaluated by Seeding Labs for eligibility and

suitability

Phase 2 • External reviewers read and score applications

Phase 3

• Top candidates interviewed via phone or Skype

• Required participants include the applicant, department head, and VC or equivalent

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Institutions where additional equipment will

unlock potential

– Lack of equipment is a barrier to achieving specific research and/or education objectives

– Sufficient knowledge, infrastructure, and supporting resources to make proposed use feasible

– Use of the equipment could positively impact the university, the local community, and/or the world

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Institutions that are willing and able to

collaborate effectively on this shipment

and in future obligations (e.g., annual reports)

– Strong institutional and departmental support

– A clear and detailed plan to distribute, install, maintain, and use the equipment

– Responsiveness and ability to meet deadlines before

and after the shipment, including required follow-up

reporting

APPLICATION TIPS

• Answer all of the questions, including all of the sub-parts!!!

• Include as much detail as possible and examples where relevant

• Tell a consistent story with respect to your need and plans to use equipment

• Don’t focus your entire application around a single instrument

• Have a colleague review your application

HOW TO APPLY

• Applications are typically submitted by a faculty member or department head on behalf of the department

• Must be in English

• Must use online application portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/seedinglabs/Common/LogOn.aspx

– Portal requires a current version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer browsers only

• Creating a new account

• Navigating the application form

• Working offline

• Returning to a saved application

• Submitting the application

APPLICATION PORTAL DEMONSTRATION

HOW TO: CREATE AN ACCOUNT

1. Click “Create New Account”

2. Enter Institution Name - Department, City, and Country, then click “Next Step”

3. Enter Personal Contact Information, then click “Next Step”

5. The system will send you a test email. Click “I have received the email” if you did, or bypass by clicking “Continue without checking.” Then click “Continue”

4. Enter a Password (Your email address is your login), then click “Finish”

6. Click “Apply” to get started

HOW TO: CREATE AN ACCOUNT

HOW TO: NAVIGATE THE APPLICATION FORM

Application components can

be opened or closed by

clicking the arrow

Don’t forget to save your work by clicking “Save

Application” at the bottom of the form!

HOW TO: WORK OFFLINE

The “Question List” button in the top right corner of the application form will download the questions as a PDF

The “Application Packet” button will include the questions and your saved answers, if any

HOW TO: RETURN TO A SAVED APPLICATION

To return to a saved application, log back in and click “Edit Application”

Do NOT click “Apply” on the sidebar unless you wish to start a new application

HOW TO: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

When you’re ready to submit, click “Submit Application.” You should receive a confirmation from the website as well as an automated email message. No further action is required.

If you submit by accident, don’t panic; email application@seedinglabs.org and ask us to undo it.

COMMENTS? QUESTIONS?

Consult our website: http://seedinglabs.org/programs-and-

impact/instrumental-access/

OR

Send us an email: application@seedinglabs.org