The NSF-IGERT Applied Biodiversity Science Program is no longer accepting applications for Fall 2008.  Deadline for traineeships for Fall 2009 is January 14, 2009.

 

Steps to Apply for an Applied Biodiversity Science (ABS)- IGERT Traineeship:

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the NSF-IGERT program and the ABS Program at Texas A&M.

Step 2: Contact one or more participating ABS faculty members about potential sponsorship. This should be done with an email detailing your background, skills, and interests as they specifically relate to the faculty member’s research and to the ABS program as a whole. The earlier you contact a potential advisor, the better.

Step 3: Once you have a faculty sponsor, apply to the PhD program in that faculty member’s department (deadlines vary but are usually December-January). Visit the Texas A&M Office of Graduate Studies website (http://ogs.tamu.edu) and departmental website for complete application instructions.

Here is a list of the participating departments:

To be considered for additional university graduate fellowships, prospective students are strongly encouraged to communicate with a prospective advisor and to apply before December 15, 2008.

Step 4: Send your ABS IGERT essay to your faculty sponsor by January 14, 2009. This essay constitutes your formal application for ABS IGERT Traineeship.

The essay should be 1,500 words, stating your research interests and background in research or biodiversity conservation. Essays might include personal insights about conservation challenges and opportunities in the Americas, interdisciplinary teamwork, personal/professional experiences related to conservation, career goals, and dissertation research ideas. The essay should be submitted to the prospective faculty advisor, who will forward it to the ABS traineeship selection committee.



ABS-IGERT Traineeship Selection Criteria:

Successful candidates for ABS-IGERT Traineeships will be new applicants or students in their first year of a Ph.D. program at Texas A&M who have identified and ‘recruited’ a faculty advisor affiliated with the program. Other criteria upon which traineeship selection will be based include:

  • Record of academic accomplishments and excellence,

  • Research or conservation related experiences (e.g., Masters degree, Peace Corps, professional employment),

  • Essay of 1,500 words or less that describes the student’s research plans, career goals, and experiences and how they relate to the goals of the Applied Biodiversity Science program,

  • Firm commitment of a faculty advisor at Texas A&M who agrees to sponsor the application, and

  • Possession of special knowledge, capabilities, or experiences having the potential to enhance the goals of the ABS program.

 

*  Traineeships are for the PhD degree only, and applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.