The Botany in Action Fellowship program at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens fosters the development of the next generation of plant-based scientists who are committed, first, to excellent research, and second, to educational outreach. Open to Ph.D. students enrolled at US graduate institutions and conducting plant-based scientific research, the program provides each fellow with $5,000 for use towards research-related expenses at sites in the US or abroad, an all-expenses-paid trip to Phipps, to engage in science outreach training and opportunities to translate and communicate their research to non-scientific, public audiences through written, visual and/or oral means, (contingent on the COVID19 situation) and subsequent opportunities to connect their research with the public through programs, exhibits, and other outreach venues.
Research Priority Areas:
- Ethnobotany, with a special interest in plant use for physical and/or psychological well-being
- Diversity and conservation, particularly in regional (southwest Pennsylvania and adjacent states) and tropical forests
- Landscape and brownfield restoration, particularly in plant-based ecosystem services
- Sustainable landscapes
- Interdisciplinary plant-based research at the intersection of human and environmental health
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For 2022, special consideration is given to the following areas:
- Ethnobotany, biocultural conservation and/or plant-based conservation in Hawaii
- Plant-based ecosystem services for landscape and brownfield restoration
- Sustainable landscapes in the US, particularly applicable to southwest Pennsylvania and adjacent states
- Interdisciplinary plant-based research at the intersection of human and environmental health
Duration of Funding:
A BIA Fellowship consists of one year of support for research funding and educational outreach, as well as life-long membership in a growing network of plant-based scientists connecting their research with the public. BIA Fellows are encouraged to re-apply to the program for continued funding for up to three years of support towards the completion of their dissertation research. (Note, continued funding is not guaranteed and is dependent on the Fellow’sprevious use of funding, proven commitment to furthering their educational outreach, and funding availability. Additional funding after 3 years may be available on a case-by-case basis. All funding expires on Dec 31 of the calendar year it was received. Remaining funds after this date must be sent back to Phipps Conservatory.)
Location:
United StatesBenefits
Open to Ph.D. students enrolled at US graduate institutions and conducting plant-based scientific research, the program provides each fellow with:
- $5,000 for use towards research-related expenses at sites in the US or abroad
- an all-expenses-paid trip to Phipps, to engage in science outreach training and opportunities to translate and communicate their research to non-scientific, public audiences through written, visual, and/or oral means, (contingent on the COVID19 situation) and
- subsequent opportunities to connect their research with the public through programs, exhibits, and other outreach venues.
Eligibilities
- Enrolled in a PhD program at a US graduate institution (US citizenship is not required)
- Conducting plant-based research
- Able to travel to Pittsburgh, PA from a location within the US (costs will be reimbursed) for the duration of the Botany in Action Science Engagement Week, which will be September 15 – 18, 2022 – contingent on the COVID19 situation.
- Able to commit to monthly online outreach (e.g. podcast, blogging, vlogging, etc) after Science Engagement Week.
Application Process
The application package should convince reviewers of the applicant-
- possesses the knowledge and skills to successfully complete and publish the results of the proposed research and
- is committed to connecting their work with non-scientific audiences.
- A complete application includes the following three components:
- Proposal: The required sections for the proposal are listed below in the order they should appear.
- Applicant Contact, University, Research Site, and Recommender Information
- The proposal Title should also appear at the top of the second page.
- Two Abstracts (each 250 words maximum) describing the research and clearly labeled.
- Proposal Body (seven double-spaced pages maximum)
- Literature Cited. Names, not numbers, should be used for citations (e.g., Smith 2000)
- Proposal Budget (one-page maximum), itemized and describing fellowship funding request
- Curriculum Vitae: The CV should include education, research, publications, presentations, grants received or pending, and relevant non-academic and synergistic experiences such as work for conservation non-profits or government agencies, and other outreach and educational activities.
- Two Letters of Recommendation: One recommendation letter should be from the applicant’s research advisor and one letter from a person who has strong knowledge of the applicant’s motivation to enhance public scientific literacy. Each letter should include the recommender’s full contact information and a subject line stating the applicant’s name and whether the letter is in support of the research or outreach capabilities of the applicant.
- Proposal: The required sections for the proposal are listed below in the order they should appear.
- Application Mode of Submission:
- The Proposal and CV must be saved together as a single WORD or PDF file, with the proposal appearing first. The file name should start with the applicant’s last name, followed by the term ‘BIA’, funding year pursued, and ‘App’ (e.g.Smith_BIA_2022_App.pdf). If submitting a PDF, please include an additional WORD file with Applicant Contact Information, University, Research Site, Recommender Information, Proposal Title and Two Abstracts. All application materials should be emailed to [email protected] with subject line ‘BIA 2022 application’ followed by applicant’s last name.
- Each recommendation letter must be sent directly from the recommender. The letter should be saved as a PDF file and named as follows, with underscores between each section: applicant’s last name, ‘BIA’, funding year pursued, ‘Rec’, ‘R’ if supporting research or ‘O’ if supporting outreach, and recommender’s last name (e.g. Smith_BIA_2022_Rec_O_McGuire.pdf). These should be emailed to [email protected].
Application Deadline: January 8, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
