2009 GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIP AWARDS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
DUE DATE: January 29, 2009
Download as PDF (31 KB)
2008 RFP (17KB PDF)
Introduction
The Rasmuson Fisheries Research Center was founded in 1994 by Elmer E. Rasmuson with an endowment to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). A second major endowment in support of the Center was created through a bequest from Mr. Rasmuson’s estate in 2001. The endowments are managed by the University of Alaska Foundation, and interest on the principal is used to support the research of graduate students that contributes toward the scientific or applied knowledge base of Alaska’s marine waters and resources. Seven (7) graduate students were funded for the 2007-2008 academic year on Rasmuson Fellowships. The fellowships include a graduate student stipend and full tuition. More details on the Rasmuson Fisheries Research Center can be found on the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences web site at: www.sfos.uaf.edu/rasmuson.
Research Subject Areas for Proposals
Proposals should address one of five target areas:
- Ecology, biology, distribution and systematics of species of fish and shellfish affected by fisheries, both target and non-target species;
- Responses of fish and shellfish and of stocks of fish and shellfish to variations of physical and biotic conditions;
- Genetic structure of Alaska fish and shellfish populations;
- Fluctuations of fish and shellfish stocks, interactions of forage species with consumers including mammals and birds, and the ecosystems in which they occur; or
- Development of the shellfish aquaculture industry in Alaska.
Because other programs are providing significant resources for salmon studies, funding from the center will probably focus on other species. While the board accepts proposals related to any of the research subject areas, it is especially interested in seeing proposals on applied topics like the research priorities and needs of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, see http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/misc_pub/ResearchPriorities0809.pdf
Award Criteria and Guidelines
- Awards will be made to support excellence in graduate student research. The award is not a Research Assistantship, but a Fellowship in recognition of scholastic excellence. Awards are open to any full-time or prospective UAF graduate student.
- Research should produce findings with a potential for continued development as a scientific or applied initiative.
- Projects should be distinctive and make an original contribution to existing knowledge.
- Projects should have potential economic value to the fishing industry and contribute to long-term benefits for Alaska.
- Awards may be contingent on receipt of research funding from other sources. The award cannot be used for research expenses.
- Proposals should be submitted by the graduate student with faculty advisor endorsement as described below.
- Awards are renewable. Master’s students can be funded for a maximum of two (2) years and Ph.D. students for a maximum of three years (3). Continuation requests require a satisfactory progress report.
Format of Proposals
Proposals should be submitted in electronic formats (Adobe PDF preferred), contain the following sections, and are limited to three or four pages. Supporting documentation should accompany the hard copy.
- Objective.
- Background and need.
- Prior achievements. In cases where the project is on going and has had other support, please list achievements of the project, or if appropriate, achievements of related projects of the graduate student and his/her professor.
- Milestones. Anticipated goals for this research for the coming year should be given. Provide an estimate of approximate number of months required for each goal. Estimate when the project will be completed.
- Budget. Rasmuson Fellowships are annual awards (July 2008 - June 2009) that provide a student stipend and tuition to recipients. The fellowship amount is based on the degree sought, the number of years completed, and whether the student has advanced to candidacy. Occasionally, a fellowship will be awarded for only one semester. Please provide the information on funding needs for the student as follows: State the proposed start and ending dates, the degree sought, the number of years completed, and whether the student has advanced to candidacy.
- Current and Pending Funding. Since research costs cannot be funded within this award, please state how research costs will be met. The proposal should indicate how funding for the research (other than the Rasmuson Fellowship) will be obtained for the student to complete the work described. If student funding has been requested and is pending for a research assistantship from another funding source (e.g. North Pacific Research Board, National Science Foundation, etc.), this should be stated in this section including the organization to which the proposal has been made and the expected decision date. If no other potential source of assistantship funding is pending, please state “No other student funding has been applied for from other sources.” in this section of the proposal.
- Transcripts. Students must submit a copy of their undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- Faculty Advisor Endorsement. Each student proposal should be supported by an endorsement from the student’s faculty advisor. The faculty advisor should send an endorsement by electronic mail to Ms. Christina Neumann at neumann@sfos.uaf.edu.
Deadline
Proposals should be received by 5:00 p.m. on January 29, 2009, or postmarked by this date. An electronic copy of the proposal should be sent to neumann@sfos.uaf.edu. Proposals will be reviewed in March 2008, and awards announced after April 30, 2009. Funding will be available on July 1, 2009.
Submission Process
New Proposals
New proposals should be submitted by graduate students directly to:
Rasmuson Fisheries Research Center
245 O’Neill Building
Box 757220
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7220
Electronic copies to: neumann@sfos.uaf.edu
Continuation Requests
Requests for continuation of funding by current Rasmuson Fellows require only a four page progress report that should be sent by electronic mail by January 29, 2009 to e-mail address neumann@sfos.uaf.edu. The report title page should include: proposed start and end date, the degree sought, whether the student has advanced to candidacy, and estimated degree completion date.