Online Proposal Review

Peer Review and Conflict of Interest Policy

The Maryland Sea Grant College Program uses expert peer review to achieve high quality evaluations of all solicited research proposals. Maryland Sea Grant College solicits reviewers who are experts with appropriate experience and knowledge to provide meaningful input on the proposals under consideration.

Maryland Sea Grant College employs various types of formal and informal review, depending on the proposal under consideration. These methods include, but are not limited to: mail and electronic reviews, technical panels, outreach or end user panels, extension panels, and formal advisory committees. Please consult the specific Request for Proposals for evaluation criteria and methods.

To maintain the integrity of the peer review process, the Maryland Sea Grant College Program asks that reviewers be forthright about potential conflicts of interest. We request that potential reviewers who cannot provide an objective evaluation or who have a potential conflict-of-interest inform us right away. Such conflicts might include: a major professor/student relationship with the applicant(s); publishing with the applicant(s) in the last five years; a colleague of the applicant(s) in the same academic department; a direct or indirect supervisory role over the applicant(s) in the last year; grants, contracts or any financial interests with the applicant(s); or relation by blood or marriage to the applicants.

Reviewers must read and sign our conflict of interest form (CD-571) before providing an electronic review or serving on a Maryland Sea Grant review panel.