EMERGE Alaska

Details about this new program will be forthcoming. However, we will provide a brief synopsis here:

The NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) provides an opportunity for applicants who received the distinction of GRFP Honorable Mention no more than three years before the proposal due date to be named NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellows and obtain financial support for their graduate education at an institution in an EPSCoR jurisdiction. EGFP aims to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of EPSCoR jurisdictions by providing funding to graduate degree-awarding institutions to support NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellows as they pursue graduate degrees in the disciplines specified by the NSF Directorates and Office that are participating in the EGFP funding program. Fellows may pursue degrees in field that differ from the field or sub-field of study that the GRFP Honorable Mention recipients previously listed in their GRFP application. 

The EMERGE Alaska Program seeks to enhance graduate education and marine ecosystem research in Alaska, and contribute to a well-prepared workforce in the marine sciences. The program is anchored on four interactive components: academic training, research and innovation, professional development, and student success support. EMERGE Alaska will be housed in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), which has three departments: Fisheries, Marine Biology, and Oceanography. Fellows will be enrolled in PhD programs within CFOS, collaborate with federal and state agencies to conduct impactful research in the Arctic and Subarctic, develop academic-industry partnerships, and engage with local communities. Fellows will be entrained into graduate student support programs within UAF and CFOS and will be paired with CFOS faculty with similar research interests, who will serve as their main advisors. Professional development opportunities will be available to Fellows throughout their entire graduate school experience through formal coursework, workshops, participation in scientific societies, conferences, and Alaska EPSCoR sponsored events. With the four interactive components of the program, Fellows will be in excellent positions to conduct innovative research that is relevant to Alaska, advances marine ecological research, and enhances the marine sciences-related workforce. 

The project will provide support for 12 PhD students over three years.