Great Lakes Fishery Commission: Pre-proposals for Fishery and Sea Lamprey Research Programs, 2027

Sponsor

Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC)

Program

Fishery Research Program

Sea Lamprey Research Program

For More Information

For full details on the programs and eligibility criteria, please visit the GLFC call for proposals webpage.

Description

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is now accepting pre-proposals for the 2027 funding cycle for the Fishery Research Program and Sea Lamprey Research Program. The Commission's research programs consist of a portfolio of funded basic and applied research organized by designated theme areas.

Pre-proposals and pilot proposals are encouraged to be cross-cutting and address multiple themes or integrate multiple disciplines. Review the theme papers (Sea Lamprey Themes; Fishery Themes) or associated research priorities (Sea Lamprey Control Board Research Priorities; Fishery Research Priorities) to help inform project development and relevance.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission also supports the submission of pre-proposals investigating fishery management and sea lamprey control issues that have been identified as important to Indigenous Peoples around the Great Lakes. See "Special Topics" for more information on priority research needs. Pre-proposals covering these topics are expected to be Indigenous-led or have Indigenous partners fully engaged at all stages of the project from proposal development to project completion.

Special Topics

In addition to the research needs highlighted in the theme areas (Sea Lamprey Themes; Fishery Themes), the Great Lakes Fishery Commission invites proposals on these special topics for the 2027 funding cycle:

• Fishery Research Program
  • Indigenous-led research
  • Effects of emerging contaminants and pollutants on fishes of the Great Lakes
  • Council of Lake Committee (CLC) Research Priority Update
    • Lake Whitefish, Dreissenid mussels and lower food web change
• Sea Lamprey Research Program
  • Impacts of climate variability on sea lamprey control
  • Population level effects of lampricides on non-target organisms
  • Improved understanding of granular Bayluscide® effectiveness

More details on the special topics can be found on the Call for Funding webpage. 

Eligibility

Awards are available to academic institutions, Indigenous communities and organizations, government agencies, and private corporations through research contracts.

Post-docs and students may not be Principal Investigators on proposals unless the PI's institution has its own accountability policy as outlined in the commission's PI eligibility policy. Post-docs and students can be recognized as co-PIs.

Review the full description of our pre-award policies.

Maximum Project Value

Awards for multi-year projects are typically between $35,000 and $150,000 per year for projects beginning no earlier than January 1, 2027.

Pilot proposal awards must be less than or equal to $20,000 USD and up to one year in length.

Indirect Costs

5%

Special Notes

Webinar Details

Webinar: Friday, November 21, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST

Register for the webinar on Zoom.

Interested applicants are encouraged to join the informational webinar to learn more about research needs of the Commission and its partners and the research funding process. Webinars will provide interested investigators program-specific information regarding the annual funding cycle and timelines, proposal preparation, submission and review processes, and will include opportunities to address questions. Webinars will be recorded and available online.

Virtual Q/A Sessions with Commission Staff and Research Board Members

Looking for additional opportunities to ask questions about our programs or a specific research question? Investigators can book "office hours" to meet with staff and members of the Sea Lamprey Research Board or Board of Technical Experts to discuss research ideas. Twenty-minute Q/A sessions will be available on two upcoming dates:

• November 21, 2025, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• December 4, 2025, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Register for a Q/A session on Zoom scheduler.

How to Apply

Pre-proposal

• Download the pre-proposal instructions and template.
• Pre-proposals are submitted through the online proposal system.
• Deadline: January 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST - to be considered for funding at the March research board meeting.

Pilot proposal

• Download the pilot proposal template.
• Pilot proposals are accepted twice a year.
• New: Pilot proposals and additional documents must be submitted to the Box submission folder.
  • All files must be submitted using the naming convention: "PI Last Name_File Name"
• Deadline: January 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST - to be considered for funding at the March research board meeting.
• Deadline: July 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST - be considered for funding at the September research board meeting.

Review Process & Timeline

• January 15 - Pre-proposals due to the online portal. Pilot proposals and additional documents due to the submission folder.
• Early March - Pre-proposals and pilot proposals reviewed by the Board of Technical Experts (FRP) and Sea Lamprey Research Board (SLRP). New investigators may be invited to give a virtual presentation to the board if it is their first time submitting the idea to the research program.
• March 31 - Investigators notified of decision. Authors of successful pre-proposals are requested to develop a full proposal. Investigators notified of spring pilot proposal funding decisions.
• June 01 - Full proposals due from successful pre-proposals.
• July 15 - Pilot proposals and additional documents due to the submission folder.
• Mid-September - Full proposals and pilot proposals reviewed by the Board of Technical Experts (FRP) and Sea Lamprey Research Board (SLRP).
• September 30 - Investigators notified of board recommendations. Recommended proposals are requested to submit a letter of response to board comments. Investigators notified of fall pilot proposal funding decisions.
• December - Investigators notified of commission funding decisions.