Money
The Schmidt Family Foundation is funding an Environmental Solutions Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to advance science that has direct application for environmental problem-solving. The fellowship will include $90,000 per year for two years with the opportunity for a one year extension. Apply by November 25!
OVERVIEW
The Schmidt Family Foundation is funding an Environmental Solutions Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to advance science that has direct application for environmental problem-solving. Environmental solutions science is defined broadly and can include natural sciences, social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, law, medicine or any field that has promise to provide near-term solutions for a pressing environmental challenge. Applications will be judged on the following criteria: 1) applicants prior demonstrated excellence in scholarship or environmental practice, 2) the potential value of the proposed research to creating or applying solutions to an environmental problem of immediate concern, 3) support from and fit of the proposal with a department and mentor at UCSB, 4) contribution to diversity in sciences.
DEADLINE
November 25, 2022 @ 5pm
AWARD
The fellowship will include $90,000 per year for two years with the opportunity for a one year extension. This amount will support $60,000 base salary plus health benefits with the remainder (approximately $15,000) available to support research, communication, or personal expenses as needed at the discretion of the applicant. Recent PhDs from around the world are eligible to apply so long as: 1) they are within two years of finishing their PhD at time of application, 2) they are pursuing applied, solutions-based research, and 3) they have identified an appropriate supportive faculty mentor at UC Santa Barbara.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be within 2 years of receiving their PhD at the time of application or expect to have their PhD by Sept 1 2023. The program is open to both US and international students. Applicants from any PhD program, including UCSB, are welcome to apply but UCSB applicants may not be continuing their existing research programs but starting new research programs with new mentorship. The fellowship is expected to begin sometime between July 1, 2023 and Sept 1, 2023, although an earlier start date may be possible on request.
DETAILS
1. A 3-4 page project proposal including the following: A) A brief 1-2 paragraph abstract for the project that includes a solutions statement explicitly stating how the research funded will translate to near-term action for conservation of the natural world; B) A full description of the research project explaining its scientific and environmental merit; C) A description of the applicant's prior research and how it relates to or informs the new work proposed here (this component should be no more than 1 page). References are not included in the 4 page limit.
2. A CV of the applicant (2 pages maximum), including date of PhD receipt (or expected date if not yet awarded).
3. A short letter of support from the proposed mentor at UCSB, explaining the fit of the student with their research program and identifying what resources (physical or human) the advisor will provide to the student to aid them in their proposed research. The letter may be included as part of the application package or may be sent separately to schmidt.fellows@gmail.com and are due with the rest of the application. If sent separately please put SCHMIDT POSTDOCTORAL MENTOR - [APPLICANT LAST NAME] in the subject line of the email.
4. Two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant's primary PhD advisor. The letter may be included as part of the application package or may be sent separately to schmidt.fellows@gmail.com) and are due with the rest of the application package. If sent separately please put SCHMIDT POSTDOCTORAL REFERENCE - [APPLICANT LAST NAME] in the subject line of the email. For applicants that have not yet received their PhD the letter from the advisor should specify that they are on track to receive their PhD by Sept 1, 2023.
5. We are strongly committed to fostering diversity in Environmental Sciences. Please include a statement describing any contribution the applicant student makes to diversity in the sciences. There is no limit to the length of this statement.
Please contact schmidt.fellows@gmail.com with questions.
Please send all documents (excepting references, which may be sent separately) as a single PDF to schmidt.fellows@gmail.com. Please title the PDF as [APPLICANT LAST NAME] SCHMIDT POSTDOCTORAL.