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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Center for Environmental Research
Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program
CLOSED - FOR REFERENCES PURPOSES ONLY
Fall 2002 EPA STAR Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study
Sorting Code: see Sorting Code list
Opening Date: August 15, 2001
Closing Date: November 19, 2001
Summary of Program
Requirements
Description
of STAR Fellowship Program
Eligibilty
Description of a
STAR Fellowship
The STAR
Fellowship Package
Sorting Codes
Mandatory Format for
Pre-applications
Where and When to Submit
Sample Pre-application
View current fellowship research
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Program Title: Fall 2002 EPA STAR Fellowship Program for Graduate Environmental Study
Synopsis of Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is offering Graduate Fellowships for master's and doctoral level students in environmentally related fields of study. The deadline for receipt of pre-applications is November 19, 2001. Subject to availability of funding, the Agency plans to award approximately 100 new fellowships by July 22, 2002. Master's level students may receive support for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students may be supported for a maximum of three years. The fellowship program provides up to $34,000 per year of support. This amount covers a $17,000 annual stipend, $5,000 for authorized expenses, and up to $12,000 for tuition and fees. Actual annual support may vary based on length of fellowship award and tuition and fees.
Contact Person(s): Virginia Broadway
Phone: 202.564.6923
email: broadway.virginia@epa.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
66.607
Eligibility Information
See full proposal
for eligibility information
Award Information
Anticipated
Type of Award: Fellowship
Estimated
Number of Awards: 100
Anticipated
Funding Amount: $3 million dollars
Potential
Funding per Fellow per Year: $34,000
Deadline/Target Dates
Letter of
Intent Due Date(s): None
Pre-Application
Proposal Due Date(s): November 19, 2001
DESCRIPTION OF THE STAR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Introduction
The EPA invites pre-applications for graduate fellowships in academic disciplines relating to environmental research including physical, biological, and social sciences, and engineering. A pre-application provides the information needed for the review of its merit. Top ranked applicants following the merit review will be required to submit a brief formal application.
These fellowships are intended to help defray costs associated with advanced environmentally-oriented study leading to the master's or doctoral degree. Instructions for completing and submitting pre-applications are found in the sections that follow. Instructions must be followed exactly or the submission will not be reviewed.
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the fellowship program is to encourage promising students to obtain advanced degrees and pursue careers in environmentally related fields. This goal is consistent with the mission of EPA, which is to provide leadership in the nation's environmental science, research, education, assessment, restoration, and preservation efforts. This program will benefit both the public and private sectors which will need a steady stream of well-trained environmental specialists if our society is to meet the environmental challenges of the future.
Applicants must be citizens of the United States or its territories or possessions, or be lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Resident aliens must include their green card number in their pre-application. EPA may choose to verify this number with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Students do not need to be enrolled in or formally accepted in a full-time graduate program at the time they apply for a fellowship, but proof of enrollment or acceptance must be produced prior to the award of the fellowship. Students must attend a fully accredited U.S. college or university. Students must be pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in an environmentally related field of specialization (see fields of specialization below).
Students who have completed more than one year in the master's program or four years in the doctoral program are not eligible. Students enrolled in a master's program, however, may apply for a doctoral fellowship.
Employees of the U.S. government must be able to prove separation from Federal service before accepting this fellowship.
Acceptance of this fellowship does not necessarily preclude acceptance of other scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or grant aid. However, this fellowship may not be awarded to anyone who will simultaneously be receiving other federal assistance.
Eligible women, minorities, and disabled students are strongly encouraged to apply.
DESCRIPTION OF A STAR FELLOWSHIP
Tenure
The term of a graduate fellowship is negotiated with students and customarily covers a period of 9 to 12 months for each fellowship year. Students seeking a master's degree may be supported for a maximum of two years. Students seeking doctoral degrees may receive support for a maximum of three years.
Stipend and Allowances
The fellowship provides up to $34,000 per year of support. A maximum of $68,000 will be provided for master's fellows (two years) and up to $102,000 (three years) will be provided to doctoral students. The $34,000 annual support covers stipend, tuition, and expenses as follows:
- Stipends: For the 2002-2003 academic year these will be $17,000 for 12-month tenures and prorated monthly at a maximum of $1,417 for shorter periods. Fundsfor unused months are forfeited. Stipends are paid directly to the Fellow. At its discretion, each fellowship institution may supplement a Fellow's stipend from institutional funds in accordance with the supplementation policy of the institution.
- Tuition and Academic Fees: Up to $12,000 per year will be paid directly to the institution. For the purposes of this fellowship, health insurance is not considered to be an academic fee. Health insurance costs may, however, be paid from the expense budget.
- Expense Allowance: Up to $5,000 will be provided to pay for items and activities for the direct benefit of the student's education, such as for health insurance, books, supplies, equipment, travel to technical and scientific meetings, and domestic and international travel required to conduct the proposed research. Specific instructions regarding the disbursement and management of the expense allowance will be provided during the award process.
-
Annual Fellowships Conference
Fellows are expected to attend an annual EPA STAR Graduate Fellows Conference as long as they are in the program, unless the immediate needs of their research project make attendance impractical. Resources to support this travel are to be taken from the expense allowance.
International Activities
The fellow's proposed research may be conducted outside the United States. However, EPA allows only $5,000 for all expenses, including travel. See "Stipends and Allowances" for details. If at any time during the research project, it becomes necessary for you to work outside the United States and its territories, you must notify your Project Officer who will obtain the necessary EPA and State Department approval before you can use fellowship funds to conduct these activities. In addition, for travel to international meetings, approval must be obtained from the EPA project officer.
The application package for a STAR Fellowship consists of three major parts: 1) the pre-application, 2) three letters of recommendation, and 3) a self-addressed, stamped postcard. The pre-application provides the reviewers with information about you and your proposed research, the letters provide support for your pre-application, and the postcard allows us to keep you informed about the status of your pre-application. This section provides information you will need to complete each part of the application package.
-
Educational Levels
When completing the application package for a STAR fellowship
you will need to describe your educational level at the time
of submission. Choose one of the following:
-
1. Entering Master's Student (EM)
if you are applying for, or enrolled in, a master's program and
have completed less than one year* toward this degree.
2. Entering Doctoral Student (ED) if you are applying for, or are enrolled in, a doctoral program, have completed less than one year toward this degree, and have no other graduate or professional degree (e.g., MS, DVM, JD).
3. Doctoral Student (DS) if you are applying for, or enrolled in, a doctoral program, have completed less than one year toward this degree, but have completed another graduate or professional degree (e.g., MS, DVM, JD).
4. Continuing Doctoral Student (CD) if
you are enrolled in a doctoral program and have completed more
than one year, but less than four years,* toward this degree.
Students who have completed more than one year of their masters or four years of their Ph.D. program are not eligible for the STAR fellowship.
You are also asked to select a single Sorting Code for your application. This sorting code will be used to direct your application to the appropriate review panel. It is important that you select the most appropriate Sorting Code from the list shown below. If you select more than one Sorting Code it will be assigned to the first one you select, regardless of whether it is the most appropriate.
-
F2-STAR-A1 Environmental
Engineering
F2-STAR-A2 Other Engineering (includes chemical, civil, mechanical, and bioengineering)
F2-STAR-B1 Atmospheric Sciences
F2-STAR-B2 Chemistry and Materials Science
F2-STAR-B3 Geology (includes geochemistry and geophysics)
F2-STAR-C1 Economics (includes market incentives, and health and ecosystem valuation)
F2-STAR-C2 Geography
F2-STAR-C3 Behavioral/Social Sciences (limited to environmental behavior and environmental decision making)
F2-STAR-C4 Urban/Regional Planning (limited to environmental applications)
F2-STAR-D1 Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, and Genetics (including genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics)
F2-STAR-D2 Microbiology
F2-STAR-D3 Public Health Sciences (includes epidemiology, exposure assessment, biostatistics, and health risk assessment)
F2-STAR-D4 Toxicology
F2-STAR-E1 Aquatic Ecology and Ecosystems
F2-STAR-E2 Oceanography and Coastal Processes (includes physical, chemical, and biological systems)
F2-STAR-F1 Entomology
F2-STAR-F2 Forestry
F2-STAR-F3 Zoology
F2-STAR-F4 Terrestrial Ecology and Ecosystems (plants and soils only)
F2-STAR-F5 Terrestrial Ecology and Ecosystems (includes animals)
F2-STAR-G1 Ecological Risk Assessment
Mandatory Format for Pre-applications
The pre-application part of your package consists of thirteen (13) items. The pre-application must be completed using a 12 point or equivalent typeface on 8-1/2 x 11-in paper with one-inch margins all around. Page limitations for individual components of the pre-application are specified below. Do not exceed these limits or the proposal will be ineligible. Do not submit materials permanently bound, or in ring binders. You must submit the original and six (6) copies of all required materials.
ITEMS 1-8 COMBINED MUST NOT EXCEED ONE PAGE
-
Item 1 PERSONAL DATA -- provide your full name (last name first),
current address, permanent address, and home and work telephone
numbers. If you can be reached by fax or e-mail, include that information
as well. (Optional -- for statistical reporting purposes only, we
ask you to include your gender and race, e.g., African-American,
white, Hispanic, native American, Asian and Pacific Islander).
Item 2 CITIZENSHIP STATUS -- state whether you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are a citizen, give the city of your birth. If you are a resident alien, provide your green card number. EPA may choose to verify this information.
Item 3 DEGREE SOUGHT -- state either master's or doctoral (e.g., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., M.P.H.). Include the month and year you expect the degree to be awarded.
Item 4 EDUCATIONAL LEVEL -- state either entering graduate student, doctoral student, or continuing doctoral student (as defined above).
Item 5 SORTING CODE -- from list provided above. You MUST select only one. Your pre-application will be reviewed by individuals from the field you select. This code must also appear in the address for delivery of your pre-application, as specified below.
Item 6 TITLE -- provide a descriptive title for your research project, or your research area of interest if the specific topic has not yet been selected. This title will be posted on the NCER web site in the event of an award.
Item 7 COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OR DEPARTMENT -- Name and location of the college/university, school or department from which your degree will be obtained.
Item 8 NAME AND ADDRESS OF GRADUATE ADVISOR -- If you have a graduate advisor, give his or her name, address, and telecommunications data, including phone, fax, and e-mail, if available. If you do not yet have an advisor, write "NA".
-
Item 9 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES -- Explain your academic and career
goals and how your proposed course of study or research will help
you to achieve these goals. Include any background information you
believe is pertinent and provide insight into why you have chosen
the goals you are pursuing. You will be evaluated on your dedication
to your studies and to an environmentally- oriented career. This
statement will also provide insight into your organizational, analytical,
and written communication skills.
-
Item 10 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE -- List the academic degrees you
have received or expect to receive in the near future, including
the date and the institution. Also list relevant experience, including
paid employment, military service, internships, residencies, special
studies, volunteer work, etc. Give dates and a short description
of your duties in each position, listing most recent first. Give
names and addresses of employers. List only relevant experience.
Item 11 PUBLICATIONS -- If you have published in the technical/scientific literature, provide a bibliography here. If you have not yet published, write "NA".
-
Item 12 NARRATIVE STATEMENT--The narrative statement should reflect
the educational level of the applicant. All students must include
a description of the scientific and, if appropriate, the societal
importance of their field of study. A detailed research plan is
required for continuing doctoral students, but is desirable for
all applicants. At a minimum, answer the following questions for
the appropriate educational level.
ENTERING MASTER'S STUDENT: What are the degree requirements for your program? What is your planned course of study during the period of the fellowship? Do you know if you will be undertaking a thesis/special project? If so, describe it. If you do not know, what project would you like to propose? Why would it be important? How is it relevant to the protection of human health and the environment?
ENTERING DOCTORAL STUDENT: What are the degree requirements for your program? What is your planned course of study during the period of the fellowship? If you could select your dissertation topic this year, what would it be? Why would it be important? How is it relevant to the protection of human health and the environment?.
DOCTORAL STUDENT: What are the degree requirements for your program? What is your planned course of study during the period of the fellowship? If you could select your dissertation topic this year, what would it be? Why would it be important? How is it relevant to the protection of human health and the environment?
CONTINUING DOCTORAL STUDENT: What is your dissertation topic? How is it relevant to the protection of human health and the environment? Describe your dissertation research project by addressing the following points:
A. Goal of research--What problem are you focusing on and what is your hypothesis?
B. Rationale--What is the technical or societal need for this research? What research has been published on this topic and how do the results relate to your project?
C. Approach--How will you test your hypothesis?
D. Expected results--What scientific or other benefits are expected to result from this work?
E. Cited literature--Provide a list of cited literature, which can be in addition to the 5- page limit.
-
Item 13 TRANSCRIPT INFORMATION -- Provide, in tabular form, the
following information taken from your transcripts: identify the
institutions at which the credits were earned, dates, names and
catalog numbers of courses taken, credit hours, grades received,
and cumulative GPA for all courses taken at each degree level. If
possible, course titles should not exceed the space available. Abbreviations
are allowed. If courses were audited or not completed, note this
information. If any institution you attended had a grading system
different from the traditional "A, B, C..." system, explain the
system in a succinct footnote to Item 13. Do not leave anything
out. Include data from your entire college career. DO NOT INCLUDE
COPIES OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS. Top-ranked applicants will be required
to submit official copies of transcripts for validation prior to
the award of the fellowship.
Letters of Recommendation
Each application package MUST include three reference letters from individuals who have knowledge of your academic record. If you have a sponsor or advisor in the program, one of these letters should come from that individual. EPA is bound by regulation to require three letters. If the pre-application does not include three letters, it will not be reviewed. The original and six (6) copies of each required letter must be contained in an individual envelope sealed by the writer and must be included in the pre-application package. We will not accept reference letters sent separately.
Self-addressed and Stamped Postcard
Include a postcard in your package so that we can notify you that your pre-application was received. If your postcard with the identifying application number is not returned within 30 days of the announcement deadline, you MUST call 1-800-490-9194 to verify that your package was received. If you do not include the postcard, you will not be notified that we received your package.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All pre-applications must be submitted in the exact format described. All necessary information is provided in the instructions. To illustrate the instructions, a sample pre-application appears at the end of this announcement. Pre-applications must include the original and six copies of each letter of reference enclosed in three individually sealed envelopes, as described above.
EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
The pre-applications and letters of recommendation will be reviewed by non-EPA experts from the appropriate field of study. Students applying for fellowships must select a single Sorting Code from the list provided. Reviewers are recruited based on the specialty fields represented by the pre-applications.
Each student will be evaluated based on his or her potential for success in a graduate study program. The reviewers will consider academic records, recommendations, and career goals and objectives. Students at each educational level will be evaluated based on the information provided in the pre-application as described above under "Mandatory Format for Pre-Applications".
Reviewers will recommend the best applicants from each of the three educational level categories. Finalists will be selected for award of a fellowship based on the availability of funds, reviewers' evaluations, and program goals, such as distribution of awards across disciplines, institutions and geography, degree level being sought, and other possible indicators of program balance. Only finalists will be required to submit the following:
1. EPA Form 5770-2, "Fellowship Application;
2. EPA Form 5700-49, "Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters;" and
3. Sealed official transcripts from all institutions (if so instructed by EPA).
The necessary forms are available on the NCER homepage (www.epa.gov/ncer/fellow/).
Pre-applications must be received at EPA no later than 4:00 p.m., EST, on November 19, 2001. Pre-applications may be submitted by regular mail, express mail, or uniformed courier services. If using regular mail, allow sufficient time for delivery since applications MUST be at EPA by 4:00 p.m. EST on November 19, 2001.
If sending by regular or priority U.S. mail, send the original
AND SIX (6) COPIES of all required materials to:
For express mail-delivered applications, the following address
must be used:
Phone: (202) 564-6939 (for express mail applications)
Courier- or personally-delivered applications must be brought
to the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20004. The courier must come to the EPA Visitors Lobby (see map),
tell the security guard that he/she has a delivery for the EPA mail
room. The courier will be required to sign a visitors' log, and
will be directed to the EPA mail room. The mail room is open 8:00
a.m. until 4:00 p.m. weekdays, exclusive of Federal holidays. If
the applicant requires a receipt for the delivery, you will need
to provide a form which the mail room personnel will sign.
NOTIFICATION AND AWARD DATES
If you comply with the requirement to include a stamped, self-addressed
postcard with your pre-application, you will be notified when we
receive your package. Subject to the availability of funding, awards
should be made by July 22, 2002, for the fall term.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
For additional information or assistance in preparing your pre-application,
first consult the "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)" on the NCER
Home Page (http://epa.gov/ncer). EPA also maintains
a toll-free telephone number which allows individuals to leave a
recorded message or question. These will be answered through a return
telephone call. To access this service, dial 1-800-490-9194.
SAMPLE PRE-APPLICATION
The pages that follow constitute a sample pre-application for graduate
fellowships.
NOTE!!!! Smart as he is, this hypothetical student probably would NOT receive an EPA fellowship because his curriculum has no obvious relationship to environmental concerns or the disciplinary degree he is seeking. His only chance would be if his narrative statement clearly made that connection. The purpose of this sample is to demonstrate format, not content.
Pre-application for STAR Graduate Fellowship
Page1
1. Name: Beckett, Samuel John
Current Address: 68, Dane
Avenue, Somerville, MA 02899
Permanent Address: C/o John Beckett,
Rte. 2, Box 98, Elk Ridge, Indiana 54096
Home Telephone: 101-555-1234
Work Telephone: 101-555-1111
Fax: 101-555-1010
E-Mail: Xxxxx@yyy.com
Gender: Male
Race: White
- Citizenship Status: U.S. Citizen, Born in Elk Ridge, Indiana (Note: If this Student Were a Permanent Resident Alien, He Would Indicate His Green Card Number Here.)
- Degree Applying For: Ph.D. Expected 6/04
- Education Level at Start of Fellowship: Continuing Doctoral
- Sorting Code: F02-STAR-Z1-Mathematics
- Title: The Development of Mathematical Relationships to Describe the Behavior of Chemical Contaminants at Hazardous Waste Sites.
- Current School and Department: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Theoretical Mathematics, Cambridge, MA
- Name and Address of Graduate Advisor (Sponsor):
Page 2
- Statement of Objectives: This is a written account of your academic and environmental career goals, in which you relate your past accomplishments and future plans, and describe how your proposed plan of study or research will tie these together. The quality of this section is a key criterion for review, so be as articulate and thorough as possible.
Page 3
- Education and Experience:
1/98 to Present: Teaching Assistant MIT, Department of Mathematics. Contact: Philip Lonicro, (617)111-0001
11/97 to 1/98: Invented a Plasma Energy Drive System (Patent Number 876GB5F457YD)
1/96 to 1/98: Employed at Highbrow Technologies, Riverside CA.
1/94 to 12/95 California Institute of Technology, MS Applied Mathematics.
10/90 to 12/93 University of Indiana B.S. Mathematics (Summa Cum Laude) 4.0 GPA (4 point scale)
- Publications
Smith, A.B., Jones X,Y, and Beckett S.J. "Spatial Analyses for the Assessment of Hazardous Waste Sites". Environ. Sci. Tech. 2(8), 1-22 (1998).
Pages 4-8
12. Narrative Statement
Sam Beckett, our hypothetical candidate,
must provide a detailed scope of work for his proposed research, because
he is a continuing Ph.D. student, he may not exceed five pages in
describing the goals, rationale, approach, and references for his
project.
Pages 9 and Beyond.
13. Transcript Data
| Institution | Year | Course # | Title | Credit Hrs | Grade |
| MIT | 1996 | 744 | Special Project | 5 | In Progress |
| MIT | 1996 | 740 | Topology | 5 | In Progress |
| MIT | 1996 | 735 | Number Theory | 4 | In Progress |
| MIT | 1996 | 722 | Adv Topics in Chaos | 4 | In Progress |
| MIT | 1996 | 719 | Special Project | 5 | A |
| MIT | 1996 | 716 | Transfinite math | 5 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1995 | Ph-96 | Number Theory | 8 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1995 | Ph-85 | Euclidian Geometry | 4 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1995 | R-65 | Applied Physics | 4 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1995 | R-64 | Applications Theory | 4 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1994 | R-63 | Linear Geometry | 4 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1994 | R-62 | Basic Java Language | 4 | P |
| Cal Tech | 1994 | R-61 | C++ Programming | 5 | P |
| Cal Tech | 1994 | R-60 | Special Project | 4 | A |
| Cal Tech | 1994 | R-59 | Research Project | 4 | A |
| U. Indiana | 1993 | 620 | Applied Geometry | 4 | A |
| U. Indiana | 1993 | 621 | Advanced Calculus | 4 | A |
| U. Indiana | 1993 | 666 | Computing | 4 | A |
| U. Indiana | 1992 | 431 | Advanced Math | 4 | B+ |
| U. Indiana | 1992 | 444 | Physical Education | 4 | P |
| U. Indiana | 1991 | 522 | English | 4 | C |
| U. Indiana | 1991 | 101 | Math | 4 | A |
| U. Indiana | 1991 | 122 | Geography | 4 | A |
| U. Indiana | 1991 | 177 | Statistics | 4 | A |