Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Research Fellowships

Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) is pleased to announce the availability of coastal resilience and sustainability research fellowships for 2017. Fellows should be engaged in coastal resilience research that is relevant to Maryland and the MDSG Strategic Plan 2014 ­– 2017. In addition to supporting the student’s academic expenses, the fellowship will provide additional professional development opportunities in science communication, the science-to-management process and other relevant Sea Grant activities. MDSG is accepting applications until March 29, 2017 at 5:00 pm.  

Full official announcement and details of the fellowship can be found here. 

Eligibility

Students must be enrolled in or admitted to a full-time graduate or professional degree program at a Maryland or District of Columbia academic institution at a graduate level. Students who have not yet enrolled should submit a letter of acceptance from the dean of the graduate program through which they are enrolled at their college or university with their application package.  Students may be working toward any masters or Ph.D. degree, as long as their coastal resilience or sustainability research is relevant to the mission and strategic plan of MDSG and has an emphasis on Chesapeake or coastal bays and their watersheds. The research must demonstrate relevance to coastal resilience and sustainability.

Funding

The fellowship provides a total award of up to $45,000 in Sea Grant funds budgeted over 12 to 24 months. Non-federal matching funds equal to at least 50 percent are also required ($2 Sea Grant: $1 match). The anticipated start date is September 1, 2017.

Fellowship Requirements

Graduate student fellows who are selected will be required to:

• Select and work with a mentor who is an extension, education, or communication staff person or an end-user of research results (e.g., resource manager, teacher) to ensure that research results are appropriately communicated and translated for end-users;
• Provide annual and final progress reports to MDSG, as well as electronic copies of derived publications, and their thesis and/or dissertation;
• Participate in MDSG-sponsored professional development activities, anticipated to be 1-3 activities;
• Contribute at least one entry per semester to the MDSG student blog, Fellowship Experiences;
• Attend a national meeting (include travel in budget); and
• Acknowledge the support of MDSG in all relevant scientific presentations and publications.

How to Apply

Full application guidelines and submission requirements can be found in the official fellowship announcement. All applications must adhere to the official guidelines, which include:

1. Cover Sheet (1-page maximum)
2. Project Summary Form (90-2 Form), including abstract and data sharing plan (optional PDF form available)
3. Budget Form 90-4 and Budget Justification
4. Career Goal Statement (1-page maximum)
5. Project Description (4-page maximum), including Background and Rationale, Objectives, General Approach and Methods, Anticipated Results, Broader Impacts, Research Team and Partners
6. Literature Cited
7. Timeline and Tasks
8. Academic CV/Biosketch (2-page maximum)
9. Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts
10. Two Letters of Recommendation (faculty advisor, outreach or end-user mentor)
11. Proof of Acceptance and Enrollment in Graduate Programs

Application materials should use 12 point font (Arial preferred) and 1 inch margins. For your budget and budget justification, you must use the MDSG online project worksheets to create the budget (90-4) and budget justification forms. Please contact us early to request an account and receive guidance.

Applications must be submitted online by Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 5:00 pm as one PDF file to ww2.mdsg.umd.edu/rfp/fellow. Recommendation letters (signed and on letterhead) may be sent directly to Dr. Allen from the recommender via email at mallen@mdsg.umd.edu or postal mail.

Contact

Dr. Michael Allen, Associate Director for Research and Administration
Maryland Sea Grant College
5825 University Research Ct
Suite 1350
College Park, Maryland 20740
phone (301) 405-7500
mallen@mdsg.umd.edu

Photo: Chesapeake Bay Program