Grants>Environmental Sciences

Call for Applications From Undergraduates: Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program at the Institute for Biology Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Program: May 29th- August 4th, 2012 Application Deadline: February 15th, 2012

The Institute for Biology Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites junior and senior undergraduate students interested in research careers in the biological sciences to participate in the Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP). As part of the program, students do full-time research for 10 weeks with a faculty member in one of eight disciplinary areas:

Biochemistry/Biophysics
Bioenergy
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Computational Biology & Biostatistics
Ecology, Plants, and Environmental Systems
Molecular & Environmental Toxicology
Neurobiology
Virology

The eight disciplinary areas are connected through a seminar series highlighting major themes in biology, science writing, preparation for graduate school, and biological sciences careers. The major themes are:

• evolution
• pathways and transformations of energy and matter in biological systems
• information flow, exchange and storage in biological systems
• structure and function
• systems biology

At the end of the program, students give an oral presentation of their research results and write a final research report that is published in a program journal.

Eligibility

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents between their sophomore and senior years who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and strong interest in a career in biological research. Students who are African American, Hispanic, Native American, Southeast Asian, Native Alaskan or Native Pacific Islander OR who are from low-income homes OR who are the first in their family to attend college OR who attend small liberal arts institutions without broad research facilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Procedure

All application materials are due on February 15, 2012!

Financial Support

There are no fees or tuition costs. The program provides a $5,250 stipend, full support for travel, housing, health insurance (if needed), and a partial food allowance. Students also have access to campus libraries and facilities.
Research Areas

The range of biological research areas in which students may participate is quite extensive. Applicants are encouraged to learn about faculty doing research in their areas of interest, and identify their top choices for potential mentors in the application.

Selection and Placement

Selection and laboratory placement of students will take place in January, February, and March. Applicants who are not placed will be notified by the end of April.

Contact

Program Coordinator
Brian Asen
ibs@biology.wisc.edu
(608) 262-5267

Program Director
Dr. Janet Branchaw

Call for Applications: Summer Undergraduate Research in Biology at Pepperdine University

In the summer of 2012, the biology faculty at Pepperdine University will conduct a summer research program from May 14 – July 28, 2012, geared specifically to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in biological research, science education, environmental science, or biotechnology. The program will begin with a 14-day research orientation workshop, May 14 - May 27. During the workshop, students will be introduced to the uses and limitations of specific research tools and techniques. The workshop will culminate with a visit to the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve near Idyllwild, California, where students will present their summer project proposals. Over the remainder of the summer, students will pursue individual research projects under the direction of faculty, and visiting scientists will hold special research seminars in each research area. The research program will conclude with a student research symposium in late July.

Students may elect to study in one of six areas and are selected on the basis of their reasons for wanting to do research, academic credentials, and teacher recommendations. Depending on faculty participation, which varies from year to year, students may be accepted to do research in a second or third choice of preference. Students must complete the online application form as well as provide a brief essay stating the reason(s) why you wish to participate in the program, college transcript(s), and one letter of recommendation from a science faculty member who is familiar with your academic of research work. Applicants are expected to have completed one year of biology prior to the summer program and must be classified as undergraduate students (NSF requirement). Applications are due Wednesday, February 15, 2012, and notification of acceptance will be made on or before Friday, April 6, 2012. Those selected for the research program receive a stipend for the period of May 14 - July 28 and on-campus housing is provided.

All students must be free from other responsibilities by May 14, 2012, so they can participate in the required research orientation workshop. The workshop is offered as a one-unit (CR/NC) upper-division course, and the workshop (including course credit) is offered free of charge for students in the research program. Please contact Dr. Jay Brewster, Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu CA 90263-4321 (jay.brewster@pepperdine.edu) for more information.

Association of Schools of Public Health/Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Health Fellowship Program

Deadline for electronic submission of application: 02/09/2012

Deadline for ASPH's receipt of hardcopy materials: 02/10/2012

The Environmental Health Fellowship Program is supported through a cooperative agreement between the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The goal of the ASPH Environmental Health Fellowship Program is to provide professional training and opportunities for early career public health professionals by enabling them to work in EPA on current and emerging environmental public health needs. These placements will be for one year, with a possible one-year extension. The program capitalizes on an important interdependence between the academic public health community and the EPA, one of the most important public health agencies in the world. EPA leads the nation’s environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for American people. ASPH/EPA fellows work closely with nationally recognized experts who work to protect the environment.

The Program is designed to provide leadership training in environmental health and policy. Selected Fellows will:

Collaborate with leading experts in the fields of environmental health, toxicology, epidemiology, biology, and risk assessment on important current and emerging public health issues;

Participate in work on cross-cutting health assessment issues
· Have access to environmental research laboratories and specialized equipment;

· Acquire skills, experience, and knowledge to enhance your career.

Fellowship positions are full-time opportunities for duration of one year (September 2012 - September 2013). Fellowships may be extended for an additional year, pending available funding, continued priority of the project area within EPA, and mutual agreement by the fellow, EPA, and ASPH.

Fellows will be placed in various EPA organizations, most of which are located in the Washington, D.C. area, but may also be located in any of several laboratories, regional offices, or centers throughout the country. Applicants will be notified of exact assignment locations during the final selection phase and matching process.

Eligibility
To be eligible, students must have received an MPH or Doctorate degree prior to the beginning of the fellowship (no later than August of the application year). Early career professionals with MPH or Doctorate degrees (within 5 years of graduation) may also apply for the fellowship program. Applicants must have received their degree(s) from an ASPH-member, CEPH-accredited, graduate school of public health (click here), as well as be a U.S. citizen or hold a visa permitting permanent residence in the U.S., to be eligible for the fellowship program. Certification in Public Health (CPH) preferred (http://www.publichealthexam.org/).

Fellowship Stipend
Fellows will receive a stipend payment for the duration of the fellowship based on the education level/degree requirement of the fellowship position. The fellowship stipend is intended to cover all living expenses including housing and project related travel.

In addition to the fellowship stipend, the fellow will have “fellowship allowance” intended to cover health-related expenses incurred during the one year fellowship period. The “fellowship allowance” may also be used to cover project-related travel, tuition, journal subscriptions, association dues, etc. Fellows will also receive an allowance in the first year for relocation expenses.

All applications to the fellowship program undergo a two-phase review process. In the first stage, the applications are reviewed by two faculty members from schools of public health (other than the applicant´s institution) on the following criteria: quality of essay, strength of credentials, previous professional experience; and letters of recommendation. Applicants approved by the faculty review are invited to Washington, DC to interview for the fellowship. A panel will interview applicants and along with the faculty review comments to assess which of the candidates applying for the individual projects are most suited for the fellowship.

There are two components to the application process, the online application and hard copy documents that must be mailed to ASPH in ONE package. The following lists all documents required to apply:

Online:

1. An essay (1500 word max) for each training area to which you are applying

explaining your interests, strengths and qualifications for that position and how it will benefit your long-term career plans in the field of public health.

2. Resume/CV.

3. Two references - Name, email and phone number.

Hard copy documents:

Two Generic Letters of Recommendation (from the references provided in the online application). Must be on a letter head with contact information and original signature. Does not need to be in a sealed envelope. Please request your recommenders to not fold or staple recommendation letters.

Signature Page available upon submitting the online application. You will need to print, and sign. Please do not fold or staple pages.

Official Graduate Transcripts (School of Public Health only). This will need to be in a sealed envelope issued by your school.

A copy of your Green card, if you are not a US Citizen.

Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry

Deadline: August 20, 2012

Announcement: early November 2012

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation seeks to further the development of scientific leadership in the field of environmental chemistry with a postdoctoral fellowship program. The Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry provides a principal investigator with an award of $120,000 over two years to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow in environmental chemistry.

Eligibility
The Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry is open to all academic and other not-for-profit organizations in the States, Districts, and Territories of the United States of America. Applications are accepted from principal investigators that have well-established research efforts in environmental science or engineering. These research activities need not be located in traditional departments in the chemical sciences, and collaboration across departments and institutions is encouraged.

Research Areas of Interest
Applications most likely to be of interest should describe innovative fundamental research in the chemical sciences or engineering related to the environment. Examples include but are not limited to the chemistry associated with: the climate, the atmosphere, aquatic or marine settings, toxicology, soil or groundwater. Also of interest are chemistry-related energy research (renewable sources, sequestration, etc.), and new or green approaches to chemical synthesis and processing, with a clearly stated relation to the environment.

Selection
Applications come from the principal investigator. Recommendations for awards are based on several factors: assessment of the proposed research, the arrangements for the interdisciplinary educational broadening of the Fellow, and an assessment of the ability to both attract the best young Ph.D. candidates and subsequently place them in high level independent starting positions. Applications are reviewed by distinguished scientists in the environmental and chemical sciences. Current Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry awardees.

Budget
The Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry provides a $120,000 award, payable in two $60,000 installments. Funds are normally expended over a period of two years after the appointment of the Fellow. Charges associated with indirect costs or institution overhead are not allowed. Of the total annual award amount, the stipend support of the Fellow is no less than $45,000 (stipends may be supplemented from institutional or other sources). Fringe benefits of the Fellow taken from this award may not exceed $9,000. The balance may be applied to related undergraduate research and/or the professional development of the Fellow. Examples of preferred use of the balance include stipends for undergraduate collaborators and support for the Fellow's participation in meetings, conferences, and symposia.

Application Procedure
All application materials must be received at the Foundation office by the deadline. Applications recommended for approval are presented to the Foundation's Board of Directors in time for award announcements by early November 2012.

Required Information
Application package. The application should be formatted on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper, using 12-point font size. Assemble it as:

1. The online application form
2. A research proposal that would be judged as likely to advance environmental science in important ways (typically 2-4 pages)
3. A CV (limited to 5 pages) for each of the key professional personnel that includes ten or fewer relevant publications
4. A one-page description of the educational opportunities and institutional strengths in environmental science, and how the Fellow would be involved in them

Please generate all above materials as a single PDF document and e-mail it to: programs@dreyfus.org.

Address all application materials to:

Dr. Mark Cardillo, Executive Director
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
555 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10022-3301

American Chemical Society Scholars Program: Scholarships for African American, Hispanic, and American Indian Chemical Science Students

ACS awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields. Awards of up to $5,000* are given to qualified students. African American, Hispanic, or American Indian high school seniors or college freshman, sophomores, or juniors pursuing a college degree in the chemical sciences or chemical technology are eligible to apply.

*Number and amount of awards subject to individual financial need and available funding

African American, Native American and Hispanic students planning to pursue full-time study in a chemically-related field with outstanding academic records and a desire to pursue a career in the chemical sciences can apply for an ACS Scholars Award.

Accepted Majors and Career Goals

Acceptable Majors

Agricultural Chemistry
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Ceramic Science/Chemistry/Technology
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Technology
Environmental Science/Engineering (must be chemistry-based)
Forensic Science/Chemistry
Food Science (not nutrition)
Industrial Chemistry
Materials Science or Petroleum Engineering
Nanotechnology or Nano Science
Paper and Pulp Technology
Toxicology

Acceptable Career Goals

Chemist
Biochemist
Chemical Engineer
Chemical Technician
Forensic Chemist / Investigator
MD/PhD (research physician)
Patent Lawyer
Professor/Teacher of Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemical Engineering
Science Journalist

The following students are eligible to apply:

high school seniors entering college and planning to pursue full-time study in a chemically-related field
college freshmen, sophomores or juniors currently pursuing or planning to pursue full-time study in a chemically related field
community college students majoring in a two-year chemical technology program or planning to transfer to a four-year school

Award Amounts

$2,500 for freshman
$3,000 for sophomores
$5,000 for juniors and seniors

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2012.

American Chemical Society Scholars Program
1155 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036