Woodswoman Scholarship Fund
Criteria: This fund was established to provide graduate financial assistance to female doctoral students with demonstrated financial need who are enrolled in the current graduate program in conservation of natural resources or its equivalent. Preference will be given to students doing research in South or Central America or the Caribbean Region. If possible, the students will continue Dr. LaBastille’s annual censuses and water monitoring of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and the replanting of reeds and small native trees along its shores. There is a preference that the recipient demonstrates proficiency in the language of the county in which their research is to be conducted, via a minimum of one semester of study in that language, as a native speaker, or having otherwise developed proficiency in that language.
Amount and use of funds: The payout on this endowment is ~$16,000 annually. The funds may be used to fund expenses related to a stipend, tuition and fees, travel, or to support other aspects of the student’s research.
Application process:
OPTION 1: RECRUITING: AWARDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH GUANI FELLOWSHIP
Candidates will be assessed based on their graduate school application materials and a brief letter of nomination from the faculty member proposing the candidate for the Guani Fellowship and Woodswoman Scholarship. This nomination letter should address the selection criteria listed above.
Faculty advisors proposing a prospective graduate student should send a nomination letter to the Graduate Field Assistant no later than December 1st and confirm that all application materials are on file for the candidate’s admission to the graduate program in the Field of Natural Resources and the Environment.
OPTION 2: CURRENT/NEW STUDENT: IF NOT AWARDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GUANI FELLOWSHIP
The application must include a proposal of how the funds will be used to advance biodiversity and conservation research in South or Central America or the Caribbean Region. Interested students should provide the following materials to the Graduate Field Assistant no later than March 31st for summer and/or following academic year funding:
1) The student’s CV;
2) A brief description of the student’s research interests and how the funds will be used to advance biodiversity and conservation research in South or Central America or the Caribbean Region;
3) Amount of funding requested;
4) Available or prospective funding support for this student;
5) A letter of nomination from the student’s faculty advisor.
Selection process:
OPTION 1 (AWARDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH GUANI FELLOWSHIP FOR RECRUITING): The Director of Graduate Studies will appoint an ad hoc committee including three faculty from the Graduate Field of Natural Resources and the Environment. It is strongly preferred that one member be female. Applications will be reviewed by the committee and they will submit a recommendation for the award to the Director of Graduate Studies. The Graduate Admissions and Policy Committee will review nominated students during the February admission committee meeting.
OPTION 2 (IF NOT AWARDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GUANI FELLOWSHIP):
The Director of Graduate Studies will appoint an ad hoc committee including three faculty from the Graduate Field of Natural Resources and the Environment. It is strongly preferred that one member be female. Applications will be reviewed by the committee and they will submit a recommendation for the award to the Director of Graduate Studies.
Reporting requirements: Each fellowship recipient will be required to write a brief final report at the end of the funding period that describes their research progress.