We are accepting proposals for working groups to synthesize data from Cedar Creek, and other sites as appropriate, to address important, novel, and interesting ecological questions. Questions can address any aspect of ecology. 

Researchers at any stage (grad student, postdoc, faculty) are encouraged to apply. Researchers do not need to be affiliated with the Cedar Creek LTER program. 

We envision funding 1-2 working groups of 12 people each for 2 meetings per working group (3-5 days each). We expect groups will meet once in fall 2026 and again in late winter/early spring 2027. Depending on preferences, meetings can be virtual, in person, or hybrid (e.g., the first meeting virtual, the second meeting in person). For in-person meetings, we will support travel, lodging, and food for participants on site at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. The final configuration of the groups (sizes, numbers of meetings) may vary depending on the nature of the project. Before submitting a proposal, we encourage submitters to read Hampton and Parker (2011) for working group best practices. We will make every effort to enable working groups to reside on site; however, on-site housing may not be available during peak field work times. Working groups are expected to engage with Cedar Creek researchers ahead of and (if possible) during their visits to locate appropriate data and gain and contribute to local-knowledge insights. There may also be opportunities to engage with Cedar Creek education and engagement activities. Organizers should build in time for visits to Cedar Creek field sites during the working group to learn about ongoing experiments and natural history, as well as to one regional attraction to provide a break from synthesis activities.  

Working group leaders should submit a 2-page (single-spaced, 12-point font) proposal and should:

1. Articulate the research question(s) to be addressed and why it’s important.
2. Identify data sets that will be synthesized.
3. Demonstrate commitment from at least 6 of the eventual 12 working group members.
4. Describe a timeline for the work.
5. Identify Cedar Creek researchers with whom the working group will engage. We request that you contact us during the proposal preparation so we can help you identify people who are familiar with relevant datasets and projects.
6. Explain how the working group members and plan support diversity and inclusion.
7. Identify deliverables. 

We expect that working groups will be assembled such that members represent diversity across multiple axes (race, ethnicity, career stage, gender, geography, institution type, and others

We expect synthesis working groups to use existing Cedar Creek data, although use of data from other sites is encouraged (e.g. from other LTER sites, as well as other research networks such as CZO, NEON, OBFS, ILTER). The LTER network, in partnership with the Environmental Data Initiative (EDI), has a strong commitment to making data broadly available, and to encourage an ethic of information-sharing. To this end, awarded working groups must agree to document and make derived data publicly available on a data repository according to the LTER Network Data Access Policy. 

Please complete the budget template. Please prepare the budget assuming that virtual meetings will be cost-free and in-person meetings will occur at Cedar Creek, although we understand this may not be possible. Prepare the budget to cover costs of one in-person meeting and the budget can be doubled if both meetings are in person. 

Proposals are due June 5th, 2026. Please send the completed proposal and budget template to Kally Worm, [email protected].

Hampton, S. E., & Parker, J. N. (2011). Collaboration and productivity in scientific synthesis. BioScience, 61(11), 900-910.