Applied Biodiversity Science NSF-IGERT Traineeships

Click on the links below to scroll down to the section.

• ABS NSF-IGERT Traineeships

• Traineeship Selection Criteria

• Steps to Apply for a Traineeship

ABS NSF-IGERT Traineeships

ABS NSF-IGERT Program activities are open to all doctoral students at Texas A&M. The program offers NSF-IGERT Traineeships to support students' participation in ABS activities. NSF-funded Traineeships are only available for US citizens and permanent residents. A limited number of internally funded Traineeships are available for international students. The application process is the same for both.

ABS NSF-IGERT Trainees are expected to conduct field research in Latin America or the US-Mexico border region. They are highly encouraged to develop complementary research projects with students and faculty from outside their discipline and to collaborate with conservation organizations in the field.

The duration of the NSF-IGERT Traineeship is two years. During that time, Trainees are provided with:

• An annual stipend of $30,000;

• Full payment of Texas A&M University tuition;

• Coverage for health care insurance and other fees;

• Access to specialized research equipment and supplies;

• Support for internships with external organizations;

• Funding for preliminary research at the dissertation field site.

• ABS core curriculum;

• ABS Amazon field course;

• Weekly journal club;

• ABS cross-campus seminar series;

• Cross-cultural leadership training workshops and seminars;

• Ecological Integration Symposium;

• Internship with an external organization on a topic related to dissertation research.

As a doctoral student at Texas A&M, Trainees must also comply with the requirements of their home departments. However, the ABS Traineeship has been specifically designed to integrate smoothly with the requirements of associated departments and should not hinder the timely completion of the students' doctoral degrees (ABS Curricular Guidelines).

(Back to top)

ABS-IGERT Traineeship Selection Criteria:

Successful candidates for ABS-IGERT Traineeships will be applicants to or first year students in 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, etc.);

• Essay of 1,500 words or less that describes the student’s research plans, career goals, and his/her experiences with conservation, Latin America and/or interdisciplinary study and research. Should explicitly state what she/he brings to and hopes to take gain from participation in the ABS NSF-IGERT Program;

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

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

(Back to top)

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

Deadline for Traineeships starting Fall 2010 is January 20, 2010.

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:

• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications
• Anthropology
• Biology
• Ecosystem Science and Management
• Entomology
• Geography
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences
• Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
• Veterinary Pathobiology

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, 2009.

Step 4: Submit the following documents electronically to Ms. Kristi Smith, ABS Program Administrative Assistant, at , and to Ms. Elizabeth Shapiro, ABS Program Coordinator at , by January 20th 2010:

1. Application cover sheet (download)

2. IGERT Essay (1,500 words)

3. CV (4 pg max)

4. Unofficial TAMU transcript (for current A&M students only)

(Back to top)