Opportunities

2010 Student Research Funding

Request for proposals

Submission deadline: April 1, 2010

The Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences is soliciting graduate and undergraduate student research proposals that will advance the Rice Center’s mission in environmental science, health and education. Research grants up to $1,000 (undergraduate and graduate students) or $1,500 (Ph.D. students) may be used to purchase supplies and equipment, defray related travel expenses, and possibly to provide partial summer stipends. Eligible research activities are field studies conducted at the Rice Center property inclusive of the tidal James River, its tributaries, and associated riparian and upland landscapes in the vicinity of the Rice Center. Projects that involve nearby public lands owned by Rice Center partners, such as the USFWS and VDGIF, are also encouraged. Collaborative projects are encouraged and students may submit joint proposals. In the case of joint submissions, the total funds requested should reflect the number of students involved (e.g. a joint submission by two graduate students could request up to $2,000). Within the proposal narrative, students should specify their individual contributions to the overall project.

Located on the James River, one of the nation’s most ecologically and culturally significant rivers, the 343-acre Rice Center offers field opportunities for Life Sciences researchers and students. The James River is the longest and, arguably, the most significant river in the southeast. Draining more than 15 percent of the Chesapeake Bay’s 64,000 square-mile watershed, it is one of the largest tributaries to the bay. The Rice Center is located below the fall line at the tidally influenced lower reach of the river in the Coastal Plain ecoregion. The coastal and aquatic landscapes surrounding the Rice Center incorporate diversities of climate, physiography, plants, animals, and human influence.

Requirements

Applications must be received no later than April 1, 2010, and should include a cover letter, a brief proposal (maximum of five pages) that includes project title, introduction, objectives or hypothesis, methods or approach, expected results or benefits, schedule of activities and a detailed budget. The budget should include total project expenses, not just those being requested from Rice funds and how those additional funds are to be covered (e.g. other grants to the student or PI). In addition, applicants must include a letter of support from a VCU faculty adviser and unofficial transcripts, and must be enrolled in a VCU degree program at the time of submission. Award decisions will be made no later than May 1, 2010. Questions may be directed to Cathy Viverette at cbvivere@vcu.edu.

Submit applications

Please submit one electronic copy (PDF format) of the proposal to:

Cathy Viverette

VCU Center for Environmental Studies

Trani Life Sciences

1000 West Cary Street

P.O. Box 843050

Richmond, Virginia 23284-3050

Phone: (804) 828-2428

E-mail: cbvivere@vcu.edu