Ecological Society of America

SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Opportunity Description
ESA has supplemental funding from the National Science Foundation to support four undergraduate SEEDS Research Fellows for the 2012-2013 year.   The fellowship supports undergraduate students to conduct ecology research with the help of an ESA member mentor.  The Fellowship period is from March 2012 – August 2013.  The possibilities with the SEEDS fellowship are unparalleled, with awardees having almost the entire ESA membership, 10,000 strong, to choose from as mentors.  Fellowship students essentially conduct a mini thesis from writing a proposal, to conducting their research and analyzing results, to presenting at the ESA meeting.  The SEEDS fellowship is the highest honor in the SEEDS program, and fellows are encouraged as future leaders of ESA. 

Award Details
The fellowship stipend is $6,000, plus a $3,000 budget for all research, travel, and housing expenses.  In addition, travel expenses are included for the 2012 and 2013 SEEDS Leadership Meetings, and the 2013 ESA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis MN.  The total award amounts to over $12,000. 

Eligibility
Undergraduate students seeking a Bachelors degree, or an Associates degree with the intention of going on for a Bachelors degree, are eligible to apply.  Students must not have a graduation date any earlier than Spring 2013 for their Bachelors degree.   Underrepresented minority students are strongly encouraged to apply.  However, any student may apply that can demonstrate a clear commitment to the mission of SEEDS.

Timeline

November 1, 2011

Application deadline

November 21, 2011

Applicants notified of decisions

December, January, February

Awardees work with SEEDS staff on the mentor matching process

March 1 – 4, 2012

SEEDS Leadership Meeting, Washington DC

April 6, 2012

Research proposals due to ESA

April 20, 2012

Comments from the proposal review committee sent to students

May 4, 2012

Proposal revisions due to ESA

Summer 2012

Fellows field season

Fall 2012 – Spring 2013

Fellows process and analyze data, submit an abstract to present research at the 2013 ESA meeting, and prepare their presentation

August 4 – 9, 2013

98th ESA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN.  Fellows present their research.

Requirements
SEEDS Fellows are required to work in a highly independent manner.  Fellows are often, but not always, matched with mentors that work in different locations from the fellows home institution.   In addition, SEEDS staff and the rest of the fellowship cohort will be located at distance.  Regular and reliable communication is a requirement for the SEEDS Fellowship via email, phone, and web meetings.  Fellows must participate in monthly web meetings with SEEDS staff and the fellowship cohort, meet all deadlines, and maintain a good GPA at their home institution.



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