FY13 Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for independent graduate-level studies in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, social science and resource management of ocean and coastal areas), particularly to women and minorities. Individuals who are U.S. citizens and are applying to or have been accepted to a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution may apply. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application, but must be admitted to a graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. Scholarship selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, research and career goals, and financial need. Applicants must have and maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.5 and maintain full-time student status for every term, and for the duration of their award. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships may provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to an education allowance of up to $12,000), and up to $10,000 of support for a four to six week program collaboration at a NOAA facility. Completion of one (1) program collaboration is required for every Doctoral scholarship award, with a second recommended, but not required. For Master's degree level scholars, completion of program collaboration is strongly recommended, but is not required. A maximum of $94,000 may be provided to Master degree students (up to 2 years of support and one program collaboration opportunity) and up to $188,000 may be provided to Doctoral students (up to 4 years of support and two program collaboration opportunities). Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will be required to participate in a NOAA Orientation Training to meet with Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) staff at a date and location to be determined during the month of either July or August, 2013. If scholarships have not been awarded before this mandatory training, recipients may be required to incur pre-award costs that will be reimbursed after award funds have been issued. The program collaboration opportunity is designed to allow scholars to participate in research activities for four to six weeks at a field office of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, or other NOAA program offices. Federal support for the program collaboration may be used toward allowable costs such as: travel to and from the NOAA facility, housing, per diem, laboratory costs, research vessel support, and consumables while conducting research at the NOAA facility. Scholars are required to provide their own health insurance coverage during the program collaboration. Master's degree level scholars must identify their program collaboration in the first year, and Doctoral scholars must identify their program collaboration within the first two years. Approval from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is required prior to embarking on the program collaboration. Additional information about the scholarship can be obtained in the full announcement text of the Federal Funding Opportunity.
