CUAHSI Pathfinder Graduate Student Fellowships to Support Multi-site Research in Hydrology

Graduate training in hydrologic science typically focuses on a single field site or single modeling approach. To assist graduate students in enriching their research program by moving beyond a “one site, one view” approach to research, CUAHSI is providing travel support for graduate students to make an extended visit (approximately 1-3 months) to conduct field research at an additional site or to collaborate with a research group using alternate modeling methods of those in a graduate student's current research program.

CUAHSI will provide funding for up to five graduate students, with a $5000 maximum award to each recipient, to cover travel costs associated with conducting field research at an additional field site or to collaborate with a research group using alternate modeling approaches.

Inquiries and applications should be sent to pathfinder@cuahsi.org.

General Conditions and Requirements of the Award

Support for this Fellowship will be provided on a reimbursement basis in accordance with CUAHSI Travel Policy (see below). One-third (1/3) of the budgeted funds may be requested as an advance to cover large initial expenses. Recipients will also be required to submit a final report documenting effort and significant outcomes of the sponsored activities.

Application Process

Applicant materials should be sent as a single PDF file to pathfinder@cuahsi.org. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to same address, with applicant last name in the subject line.

Deadline for submission of all application materials is 31 December 2009.

  1. Applicant information
    1. Contact Information
    2. Curriculum Vitae - a format that follows NSF "short form" is sufficient
    3. Budget. The fellowship will only cover expenses related to transportation, lodging and per diem in accordance with CUASHI travel policies. Please refer to the following documents when preparing your budget:
      1. CUAHSI Domestic Travel Reimbursement Policy.
      2. GSA Domestic per diem rates.
    4. Research statement. (5 pages maximum)
      This should describe your current research and benefits of including activities at a second site to your research program. The guiding questions that should be addressed are:
      • how different the proposed location or group is from the home site/institution;
      • why this difference is critical to the research question being addressed in this proposal;
      • a description and time-line of activities at the second site; and
      • your approach for integrating the activities and outcomes of this experience into your graduate research project.

  2. Letter of endorsement/recommendation from a mentor/advisor at your home institution.

  3. Letter of endorsement/commitment from mentor/sponsor/advisor at the visited location.
    This should include a statement describing your prior interactions and how you will be involved with the sponsor's ongoing research activities during the visitation period.

Review of Applications

Applications will be reviewed by a panel convened by CUAHSI.

Applications will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:

  1. Are the proposed activities appropriate for the intended purpose of this program?

  2. Does the proposed research activities significantly enhance the graduate research project?

  3. Could the proposed research be accomplished at the home site without the proposed travel?

  4. Are the proposed activities at the second site sufficient to address the questions in the proposed research?
    1. Does the student have the necessary background knowledge/training/experience to take full advantage of this activity?
    2. Is the level of effort appropriate for the proposed timeline, i.e., is it overly optimistic or too conservative?
    3. Will additional resources be required to fully integrate this experience into their research program? If so, is there evidence that the student is aware of and has planned for this?

  5. Does the relationship with the mentor at the second site appear to be sufficiently robust to provide the opportunity for a meaningful and successful interaction?

Notification of Award

Successful applicants will be notified by 28 February 2010.