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The newly formed UF Biodiversity Institute encourages interdisciplinary research and training with two main foci:  (1) using big data –  informatics, modeling, computation of heterogeneous data – to describe, understand, explain, and predict patterns of biodiversity and the processes that generated those patterns, and (2) translating knowledge on biodiversity into action – conservation, policy, law, education, etc. – through relevant partnerships with journalists, social scientists, education specialists, lawyers, representatives of state and federal agencies, and others.

To enhance interdisciplinary training in biodiversity-related fields, the UF Biodiversity Institute is offering Graduate Student Fellowships, beginning with the 2016-17 academic year.  These 9-month Fellowships are geared toward mid-PhD students whose dissertation projects could particularly benefit from interdisciplinary opportunities with faculty, post-docs, and students outside their departments or programs.

The UFBI also anticipates funding Summer Fellowships, beginning Summer, 2017; further information about this program will be available during the 2016-17 academic year.

AWARD INFORMATION
Number of Awards:  4 Awards
Amount of Awards:  $20,000 for academic year 2016-17, plus tuition
Submission Deadline:  May 20, 2016, 5:00 pm

EXPECTATIONS OF AWARDEES
Fellows will be provided with office space at the UFBI (CSE Building, Rms. E252-268; shared with the UF Informatics Institute) and will be expected to participate in UFBI activities, including seminars, discussions, and other events, and to spend on average one day per week at UFBI.  Applicants may propose specific synergistic activities at UFBI that are relevant to their work.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Students from any department, interdisciplinary program, or College/School with an approved doctoral program in the Graduate School are invited to apply.

• A complete application for a UFBI Graduate Student Fellowship consists of the following:
• A cover sheet completed by the student.
• A 1-page proposal that:  (1) summarizes the dissertation research and how it will benefit from the interdisciplinary opportunities provided by the UFBI; (2) describes the applicant’s goals for the year; and (3) details how the applicant plans to achieve the goals, including a specific plan of work and the names of the faculty and programs with whom the applicant plans to work.  The proposal should address the importance of the student’s proposed work and its interdisciplinary nature and make a strong case for why the fellowship will be beneficial in meeting the goals.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV).
• An endorsement form that includes:
  • Endorsement by the applicant’s advisor, limited to 250 words and focusing on (i) why the applicant is particularly suited to this fellowship program and (ii) how he/she will benefit from participating as a UFBI Fellow.
  • Signature of the applicant’s Chair/Director, acknowledging that if a fellowship is offered and accepted, the student will not be assigned any teaching or other departmental duties that would require a significant time commitment during the fellowship period.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applications, composed of a single merged pdf that includes the cover sheet, 1-page proposal, and CV, must be submitted by email to psoltis@ufl.edu.  The subject line of the email should use the format UFBI APPLICATION LASTNAME FIRSTNAME. The endorsement form, completed by the advisor and departmental/program chair, should also be submitted as a pdf to psoltis@ufl.edu.  The subject line of the email should note the name of the applicant and use the format UFBI ENDORSEMENT LASTNAME FIRSTNAME. The submission deadline is May 20, 2016, at 5:00 pm.

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
Applications must be single-spaced; font size no less than Times New Roman 11-point or Arial 10-point; 1-inch margins.

REVIEW PROCESS
A selection committee composed of members of the UFBI Advisory Board and other UF faculty will evaluate the applications and select the awardees.

NOTIFICATION OF AWARDS
We anticipate announcing the award recipients by July 1, 2016.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
All fellows are required to submit a one-page report at the conclusion of their fellowship, summarizing their accomplishments, including posters, oral presentations, publications, etc., during the fellowship year.

QUESTIONS
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:
Dr. Pamela Soltis, FLMNH, UFBI Director
Email: psoltis@flmnh.ufl.edu