USDA NATIONAL NEEDS GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS THE RUBENSTEIN SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES at the University of Vermont
Full Fellowships for Ph.D. Degrees for Multicultural Graduate Students in Watershed Science and Ecosystem Science GRADUATE STUDY IN WATERSHED AND ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE The Rubenstein School is a multi-disciplinary academic unit that strives to integrate disparate disciplines to create knowledge and develop solutions to a broad array of environmental issues. The School provides faculty expertise in Watershed and Ecosystem Science, particularly the work of Dr. W. Breck Bowden, Dr. Mary C. Watzin, Dr. Austin Troy, Dr. J. Morgan Grove, Dr. Deane Wang and Dr. Allan Strong. This doctoral experience will include close mentoring from faculty, opportunities at Universitys Center for Teaching and Learning, and funding to participate in conferences. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES Multicultural Fellows will work with internationally-renowned faculty at UVM and will be part of an academically stimulating environment centered at The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and including other faculty research groups at the University of Vermont including the Gund Institute of Ecological Economics, the Lake Champlain Sea Grant, the Integrated Research on Water in the Environment faculty, the Vermont Water Resource and Lake Study Center, the Rubentstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, the Spatial Analysis Laboratory, the Northeastern States Research Cooperative, the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute, and the Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Students can choose a wide variety of research areas to work in. Some examples are as follows: Professor Bowden studies the interaction between hydrological and biogeochemical processes and links this understanding directly to resource managers, policy makers, and community stakeholders (Redesigning the American Neighborhood http://www.uvm.edu/%7Eran/ran/). Professor Troy works on sustainability in urban and suburban land use, especially in the context of transportation and land use policy. In addition, he and Professor Grove study the distribution of ecological features in the landscape and their linkage to the provision of ecosystem services (Baltimore Ecosystem Study http://www.beslter.org/). Professor Watzin studies lake and watershed ecosystems and the connection of biology to overall ecosystem health. She works closely with local, regional, and national authorities to bring ecosystem science into decision-making in public policy and resource management contexts (see: http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/rubenstein/research_2007.pdf). Professor Strongs research focuses on the effects of humans on ecosystem structure and function with an emphasis on avian habitats (see: http://www.uvm.edu/envnr/?Page=envnr_people/faculty-cv/strong.html). ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for the fellowships, multicultural1 candidates should be citizens or nationals of the United States as determined in accordance with Federal Law and have a strong interest in pursuing a career in research and teaching related to watershed and ecosystem science. Candidates should not have completed two semesters or equivalent hours of full-time graduate study at the Doctoral level or have been previously enrolled in an academic program at the doctoral degree level. FELLOWSHIP BENEFITS The fellowship will provide: 1) a full tuition scholarship for the three-year program ($46,530) 2) three years of health insurance ($4,412) 3) a three-year stipend of $72,000 ($24,000/year) 4) a three-year cost of education allowance ($1,500/year) for participation in conferences and enrichment activities. HOW TO APPLY FOR FALL 2008 ACADEMIC YEAR 1) We will start reviewing applications 1st February 2008, including application materials submitted to the Graduate College (see: http://www.uvm.edu/~gradcoll/appinstructions.html) and several short essays submitted to the Graduate Office of The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. 2) Please contact Carolyn Goodwin Kueffner ([EMAIL PROTECTED], 802-656-2511) for instructions for these personal essays and for any other questions about the Fellowship.
