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Now Accepting Applications for Mountains to Sea Graduate Research Fellowship

Marsh at sunset. Sky appears in bands of pink, blue, and purple. Green marsh grass in the middle, and blue water at the bottom, with reflections of marsh grass.

For immediate release

ContactJohn Fear, jmfear@ncsu.edu or Kaitlin Tucker, ktucker@ncsu.edu 

North Carolina Sea Grant and the NC Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) are seeking applications for graduate student research projects. Graduate students in good academic standing and currently enrolled in accredited colleges and universities in North Carolina are eligible to apply by 5 p.m. on November 17, 2023.

“We’re seeking proposals for research on coastal or freshwater resources issues,” says John Fear, deputy director for both programs. “Research can be focused anywhere in the state, from the mountains to the coast.”

Each applicant should propose research they will conduct under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Proposals from students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), as well as from students from traditionally underserved and underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged.

“We encourage proposals from graduate students who can demonstrate how their work and related outreach will benefit underserved and underrepresented communities,” notes Fear.

Each research project should align with the strategic plans of NC Sea Grant and/or NC WRRI, as well as with the programs’ shared vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Research should address one or more of these focus areas:

  • Emerging Regulated and Unregulated Contaminants of Concern
  • Microplastic Pollution and Marine Debris
  • Aquatic Invasive Species
  • Harmful Algal Blooms and Associated Toxins
  • Nuisance Flooding and Climate Impacts
  • Erosion and Sediment Control
  • Groundwater Quality and/or Quantity
  • Water Treatment, including Aquaculture Effluent
  • Planning and Policy related to Water Resources Management

The fellowship is $10,000. Complete instructions are available online at https://wrri.ncsu.edu/funding.

For more information, contact: John Fear, jmfear@ncsu.edu or Kaitlin Tucker, ktucker@ncsu.edu.