GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Application Deadline: March 8, 2024

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) is pleased to announce the establishment of a new fellowship to support the research of a graduate student from an underrepresented group in STEM. This fellowship will provide the selected applicant with the opportunity to complete a summer in residence at LUMCON where they will take advantage of LUMCON’s unique location and facilities and opportunities to work with LUMCON scientists to complete research that will contribute to their thesis/dissertation. The LUMCON DeFelice Marine Center is located at the upper end of Terrebonne Bay and provides easy access to numerous habitats including extensive marshes, estuaries, rivers large and small, and the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Center facilities include environmental monitoring stations, a seawater system, multiple wet labs, state-of-the art environmental chambers, tanks and experimental systems, a marsh mesocosm facility, and a fleet of small boats and kayaks.

How it works

The selected fellow will spend 10 consecutive weeks in residence at LUMCON during which they will complete a research project that will contribute to and enhance their thesis/dissertation. During their stay at LUMCON the fellow will be provided with office space and will be sponsored by a LUMCON faculty member who will provide logistic support, local knowledge, laboratory space, and mentorship/collaboration. The fellow will be provided with up to $1,500 in research funds to use internally at LUMCON, all other research costs will be the responsibility of the fellow and/or their graduate advisor. At the end of their period in residence the fellow will deliver a featured seminar as part of the LUMCON Summer Seminar Series. This seminar series is open to all LUMCON staff, students, and the general public.

What is covered
  • Stipend ($7500)
  • travel to/from LUMCON
  • room and board
  • up to $1,500 in research funds to use internally at LUMCON.
Program Duration/Timeframe:
  • 10 consecutive weeks between May-August 2024
Application Deadline:
  • March 8, 2024
Award Announcement:
  • End of March, 2024
Eligibility criteria

Applicants must fill the following criteria;

  1. Currently enrolled as a graduate student at a US-based institution,
  2. Member of an underrepresented group in STEM as defined by the National Science Foundation
Selection criteria:
  • A 1-page research proposal that includes:
    • compelling justification/background information
    • clear Questions/Objectives/Hypotheses
    • clear and appropriate study design
    • clear link to LUMCON’s location within the Northern Gulf of Mexico
  • A well thought out and reasonable research timeline that illustrates the project (or sample collection) can be completed within the 10-week residency period
  • A well justified budget that shows
    • LUMCON resources required
    • Source of funding for resources required that are beyond the scope of the fellowship award
  • Signed statement of support from your graduate advisor (see How to Apply)
  • Signed statement of support from your LUMCON faculty sponsor (How to Apply)
  • Clear articulation of both the short- and long-term benefits to the applicant

Successful applicants will demonstrate they have the following;

  1. Well-designed research proposal that takes advantage of LUMCON’s unique geographical location and is feasible to complete within the residency period,
  2. support of graduate advisor,
  3. clear articulation of both the short and long term benefits to the applicant,
  4. support of a member of LUMCON’s faculty
How to Apply:

Before preparing any application materials, speak with both your graduate advisor and your proposed LUMCON faculty sponsor (https://lumcon.edu/faculty/). After obtaining their support prepare the following documents:

  • Research proposal (1 page. References do not count towards the 1 page limit). This proposal must include the following sections: Background/Justification, Questions/Objectives/Hypotheses, Study Design, Link to LUMCON’s location.
  • 10-week Research timeline (1 page). Please prepare a Gantt chart of project milestones that illustrate the feasibility of completing the proposed project over the 10-week period in residence.
  • Project budget. When preparing your budget keep in mind that you can utilize up to $1,500 of internal LUMCON research support. This money can only be spent on items from this list. All other supplies, equipment, and analysis costs must be covered using other funding sources. Please use this form to prepare your budget.
  • Budget justification (2 pages). Your budget justification should include both why your project requires the resources and the source of support (this can be in-kind in the form of existing supplies/equipment from your home institution)
  • Personal statement highlighting how you meet the eligibility criteria and how completing a period in residence at LUMCON will benefit both your graduate research and your career (1 page)
  • Your CV (3 pages maximum)
  • Signed statement of support from your graduate advisor. Use this form.
  • Signed statement of support from your LUMCON faculty sponsor. Use this form.

Once materials have been prepared. You can upload them here: LINK

Have more questions? Check out our FAQs page. If you still have questions contact program administrators by sending an email to siradmin@lumcon.edu.

Apply Here