1. General Information
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The Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, Inc. (PSSST) offers a thesis grant amounting to Php 20,000.00 to undergraduate students majoring in soil science from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
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The grant is intended to support thesis research that aligns with the National Soil and Water Research Agenda and contributes to the advancement of soil science.
2. Eligibility
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Applicants must be:
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Undergraduate students majoring in soil science.
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Graduating students whose thesis is a requirement for graduation.
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Endorsed by their Advisory Committee and the Dean of their university/college.
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Each university offering soil science as a major field in the BSA program is entitled to one slot per year, with the possibility of additional slots depending on fund availability.
3. Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:
A. Concept Note or Capsule Research Proposal (for initial evaluation by PSSST Board).
B. Detailed Thesis Proposal (required after approval of the concept note).
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The proposal must not exceed 30 pages (A4 paper).
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Typed in Microsoft Word Document, double-spaced, with 12-point Arial font.
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Include the following sections:
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Title
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Author/Address
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Introduction
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Materials and Methods
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Literature Cited (APA format)
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Use SI units and symbols.
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Spell out abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are used.
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Number all pages consecutively at the bottom right corner.
C. Endorsement Letters from the Advisory Committee and the Dean.
D. Three hard copies and one electronic copy of the proposal.
4. Submission
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Submit the complete application to the Chairman of the Thesis Grant Committee according to the approved schedule.
5. Evaluation Process
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Concept Note/Capsule Proposal: Evaluated based on alignment with the National Soil and Water Research Agenda.
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Detailed Thesis Proposal: Reviewed by the Thesis Grant Committee using the following criteria:
Criteria Points
A. Technical Aspect
1. Technical Merit of the Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
- Objectives
- Adequacy
- Clarity
- Attainability
2. Adequacy of Literature Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
- Current state of the art
- Exhaustiveness of prior research
3. Analytical Framework and Methodology . . . . . . . . . .10
- Appropriateness of research design
- Relevance of variables
- Adequacy of data collection method
4. Contribution to New Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
- Significance of expected output
5. Potential Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
- Extent of clients to be benefited
B. Entrepreneurial Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
C. IPR Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
- Copyright/trade secret/utility model
D. Others
a. Gender Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
b. Compliance to Existing Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Proposals may be approved, returned for revision, or rejected. The Final approval is made during the Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting.
6. Responsibilities of the Grantee and Adviser
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Conduct the experiment as per the approved thesis proposal.
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Ensure data collection follows standard scientific procedures.
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Submit a mid-term report (after the first semester) to the PSSST Secretary.
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Complete the thesis within one year of receiving the grant or before the annual meeting of the Society (usually in May).
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Submit a terminal report in two formats:
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University-required format.
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Scientific paper format (e.g., PASJ format).
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Present the thesis in a scientific paper format at the nearest PSSST annual meeting.
7. Research and Development Priorities
The thesis must align with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Soil and Water Resources Research and Development Road Map 2016-2022.
8. Release of Funds
Upon approval, a letter will be sent to the university/college President, indicating the grantee’s name and required documents for fund release.