The National Park Service is now accepting applications for the George Melendez Wright Climate Change Fellowship. The goals of this student fellowship program are to support new and innovative research on climate change impacts to protected areas and to increase the use of scientific knowledge toward resource management. Awards will be made in the range of $5,000 to $20,000 per fellowship for research to be undertaken in calendar year 2010. Projects may consist
of exploratory research that could lead to a larger project funded by other sources but must result in tangible outcomes that are aimed at informing resource decisions. Applications are welcomed for proposed
research in any area relevant to the natural and cultural resources
of units of the National Park System. Examples include projects addressing vulnerability and risk assessment; adaptation strategies; public perceptions and values; and impacts to cultural landscapes and ethnographic resources.
Eligibility: Graduate students or superior upper-level undergraduate students (3.5 GPA or above) currently enrolled in a U.S. accredited college or university.
Requirements: Proposed research should be conducted on or around National Park lands. Upon completion of the research, students are required to provide a summary report of their results and one or more educational products or publications to help facilitate information transfer beyond the scientific audience. Deliverables may include a presentation to the site manager, public seminar, or non-technical article.
Housing may be available within the park where research will be conducted. Requests for housing should be made as part of the application
process and must be arranged through the park after the fellowship
has been awarded and well in advance of the project start date.
Research proposals must be received by March 15, 2010, and all applicants
will be notified of selection decisions by April 5, 2010. Proposals will be selected based on the following criteria: relevance and technical
soundness of the proposed research; feasibility of the proposed study; qualifications of the student; and the clarity and completeness of the proposal. Research projects are to begin in the summer of 2010, with progress or final reports due by September 30th of that year.
Application Must Inclulde:
1. Brief resume (3 pp. maximum) including name, address, email address, phone number, academic program and institution, name of faculty advisor, relevant work experience and/or education
2. Scan copies or submit electronic version of all college transcripts showing degrees conferred and current course of study
3. Project proposal (10 pp. maximum, 12 pt font) with the following elements:
–Project Title
–Abstract
–Statement of Research Need
–Objectives
–Project Description – including NPS Study Area
–Methodology – including proposed timeline
–Relevance of Proposed Research to Resource Conservation
–Anticipated Research Product(s) (i.e., thesis, publication(s), report to park, presentation to park managers, public lecture)
4. Budget – including salary, equipment, supplies, travel, matching funds (if available) and any other relevant categories
5. Budget Justification
6. List of Cited References
7. Additional support requested from park(s), if any (e.g., housing and dates needed, transportation, assistance with equipment or park access)
8. Statement(s) of support (email messages are ok) from appropriate park personnel addressing the relevance of the research to park management
9. The subject line should include, “Climate Change Fellowship” for all e-mail submissions
10. Applicants are requested to consolidate all materials into a single PDF file for submission
Applications will be judged on the relevance and technical soundness of the proposed research, feasibility of the proposed study, qualifications of the student, and clarity and completeness of the proposal.
Climate Change Fellowship Application Form
Applications must be received electronically by: March 15th, 2010 Email application materials and questions to: Elliot_Dale@contractor.nps.gov
