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Wednesday, October 20, 2004
EPA Awards Fellowships to Students in Environmental Fields

EPA has awarded 156 research fellowships under the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) and the Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) fellowship programs for students pursuing degrees in environmental fields. These fellowship programs are designed to ensure a well-trained scientific workforce that can address future environmental issues. The Science to Achieve Results (STAR) graduate fellowship program supports promising masters and doctoral candidates in environmental fields at accredited U.S. colleges or universities.

For 2004 awards, nearly 1,700 applicants competed for 124 STAR fellowships. Research fellows selected represent 95 universities in 40 states, with students pursuing degrees in biology, toxicology, ecology and environmental sciences. The Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) fellowship program funds undergraduate and graduate students conducting environmental research at universities that receive $50 million or less in annual federal research funds. Students at schools with substantial minority enrollment are particularly encouraged to apply, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Native American Tribal Colleges. More than 200 GRO applicants competed this year for 32 fellowships.

A 2002 National Academy of Science report rated the STAR program as outstanding and concluded that STAR research has improved the scientific foundation for decision making at EPA. As an example of the high quality of STAR research, a student at Boston University will study statistical modeling of the interaction between multiple chemicals in the environment. Chemical mixtures may produce dramatically stronger effects (synergy) than would be predicted by a merely additive model, so development of new models is critical to understanding environmental impact. Projects undertaken by previous fellows have included genetic approaches to biodiversity, environmental toxicology, and research on watersheds.

EPA is now accepting applications for 2005 STAR and GRO fellowships. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The preliminary deadline is Nov. 23, 2004, and application information is available at:
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/ .

The names of the 2004 STAR and GRO Fellows are listed at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/fellow/recipients/star_fellow04.html and http://es.epa.gov/ncer/fellow/recipients/gro_fellow04.html.

For more information about the both fellowship programs, go to: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/fellow .

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