Other Funding Opportunities
Under Development! If you have opportunities you would like to add, please send them to us via the Contact form.
A variety of funding resources exist for graduate student research, teaching, and outreach endeavors. Many current and former GSA members have successfully received funding from these opportunities, owing to the strength of student backgrounds as well as the status of SUNY-ESF as a diverse and committed research institution with considerable resources. For assistance in seeking funding opportunities, the GSA offers a Grant Writing Workshop (Fall: October 6, 2011; Spring: TBA). There are also resources for proposal writing available. Be sure to check out our Grant Writing Workshop Handouts from Spring 2011 and Fall 2011, which feature great tips, as well as a list of grants awarded to ESF students on page six (spring 2011). These resources can be found under the Professional Development.
A variety of funding resources exist for graduate student research, teaching, and outreach endeavors. Many current and former GSA members have successfully received funding from these opportunities, owing to the strength of student backgrounds as well as the status of SUNY-ESF as a diverse and committed research institution with considerable resources. For assistance in seeking funding opportunities, the GSA offers a Grant Writing Workshop (Fall: October 6, 2011; Spring: TBA). There are also resources for proposal writing available. Be sure to check out our Grant Writing Workshop Handouts from Spring 2011 and Fall 2011, which feature great tips, as well as a list of grants awarded to ESF students on page six (spring 2011). These resources can be found under the Professional Development.
Cave Research Foundation Graduate Research Grant
Cave Research Foundation
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: U.S. and International Students, application in English
Funding Amount: $1,000 to $3,000 typically
Cave Research Foundation
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: U.S. and International Students, application in English
Funding Amount: $1,000 to $3,000 typically
Hudson River Graduate Fellowship Program
Hudson River Foundation, New York, NY
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Graduate students conducting research on the Hudson River system. Must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral or master's program, have a thesis advisor and advisory committee, and a thesis research plan approved by the institution or department.
Criteria: No specific criteria noted.
Funding Amount: $15,000 stipend, $1,000 research budget
Hudson River Foundation, New York, NY
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Graduate students conducting research on the Hudson River system. Must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral or master's program, have a thesis advisor and advisory committee, and a thesis research plan approved by the institution or department.
Criteria: No specific criteria noted.
Funding Amount: $15,000 stipend, $1,000 research budget
Hyuck Preserve Grant
Hyuck Preserve, Rensselaerville, NY
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: The second Friday in March, annually
Eligibility: Scientists and graduate students conducting research at Hyuck Preserve.
Funding Amount: $2,000 (typical)
Hyuck Preserve, Rensselaerville, NY
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: The second Friday in March, annually
Eligibility: Scientists and graduate students conducting research at Hyuck Preserve.
Funding Amount: $2,000 (typical)
American Ornithologists' Union Research Award
American Ornithologists' Union
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Winter
Eligibility: Students or postdoctoral researchers without access to funds from major granting agencies.
Funding Amount: Up to $2,500
American Ornithologists' Union
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Winter
Eligibility: Students or postdoctoral researchers without access to funds from major granting agencies.
Funding Amount: Up to $2,500
Anchor QEA Graduate Scholarship
Anchor QEA
Recommended by: Environmental Resource Engineering (ERE) Department
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Full-time graduate students or persons accepted to an United States graduate school. Undergraduate GPA equivalent of B average or higher; Majoring in: fisheries; environmental sciences; planning/land use; landscape architecture; or coastal, geotechnical or environmental engineering (any of which has an aquatic/waterfront emphasis)
Funding Amount: $500 - 5,000
Anchor QEA
Recommended by: Environmental Resource Engineering (ERE) Department
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Full-time graduate students or persons accepted to an United States graduate school. Undergraduate GPA equivalent of B average or higher; Majoring in: fisheries; environmental sciences; planning/land use; landscape architecture; or coastal, geotechnical or environmental engineering (any of which has an aquatic/waterfront emphasis)
Funding Amount: $500 - 5,000
Burroughs Wellcome Collaborative Research Travel Grants
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Winter
Eligibility: PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows and faculty researchers from degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada.
Funding Amount: Up to $15,000
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Winter
Eligibility: PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows and faculty researchers from degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada.
Funding Amount: Up to $15,000
E.O. Wilson Conservation Award
The National Academies
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Active members of the Animal Behavior Society
Funding Amount:Up to $2,000
The National Academies
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Active members of the Animal Behavior Society
Funding Amount:Up to $2,000
Fellowship in Ecological Restoration
Garden Club of America
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Winter
Eligibility: Open to graduate students in related fields of study.
Funding Amount: $8,000 for study and research at a leading accredited university in the United States.
Garden Club of America
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Winter
Eligibility: Open to graduate students in related fields of study.
Funding Amount: $8,000 for study and research at a leading accredited university in the United States.
Ford Diversity Fellowship
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF Graduate Office
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: U.S. Citizen or National, planning a career in teaching and research at the collegiate or university level in a research-based field of science, social science or humanities.
Criteria: Please see the National Academies announcement at the link above.
Funding Amount: $20,000 - 40,000
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF Graduate Office
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: U.S. Citizen or National, planning a career in teaching and research at the collegiate or university level in a research-based field of science, social science or humanities.
Criteria: Please see the National Academies announcement at the link above.
Funding Amount: $20,000 - 40,000
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
U.S. State Department, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: U.S. citizens and non-citizens; graduating college seniors, graduate students
Criteria: Check the site for more information.
Funding Amount: Up to one year of academic support
U.S. State Department, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: U.S. citizens and non-citizens; graduating college seniors, graduate students
Criteria: Check the site for more information.
Funding Amount: Up to one year of academic support
Graduate Travel Grants
Office of Instruction and Graduate Support, SUNY-ESF
Recommended by: ESF Graduate Office
Deadline: Fall/Spring
Criteria: 1) level of participation (e.g., delivering a paper or invited presentation or invited panel participation receives the highest consideration, poster presentations next, and general participation and attendance is least favored); 2) significance of the meeting (national and international conferences receive greater weight than local and regional meetings or workshops); 3) stage of progress toward degree (near-defense students receive higher priority); 4) strength of major professor’s recommendation with regard to professional development and ESF programs; 5) availability of matching funds (not required, but definitely helpful); 6) degree level, e.g., all other things being equal, PhD students receive first priority, MS second, MPS & MLA third.
Funding Amount: $300 - 600 (typical)
Office of Instruction and Graduate Support, SUNY-ESF
Recommended by: ESF Graduate Office
Deadline: Fall/Spring
Criteria: 1) level of participation (e.g., delivering a paper or invited presentation or invited panel participation receives the highest consideration, poster presentations next, and general participation and attendance is least favored); 2) significance of the meeting (national and international conferences receive greater weight than local and regional meetings or workshops); 3) stage of progress toward degree (near-defense students receive higher priority); 4) strength of major professor’s recommendation with regard to professional development and ESF programs; 5) availability of matching funds (not required, but definitely helpful); 6) degree level, e.g., all other things being equal, PhD students receive first priority, MS second, MPS & MLA third.
Funding Amount: $300 - 600 (typical)
Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent resident aliens in a research focused Master's or Ph. D with less than twelve months of full-time graduate study completed.
Funding Amount: $30,000 annual stipend, $10,500 tuition and fees (up to 3 years)
The NSF-GRFP is one of (if not) the largest funding opportunities available for graduate students in the United States in terms of total number of awards made each year (approximately 2,000). It also has the distinction of being the oldest fellowship of its kind.
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent resident aliens in a research focused Master's or Ph. D with less than twelve months of full-time graduate study completed.
Funding Amount: $30,000 annual stipend, $10,500 tuition and fees (up to 3 years)
The NSF-GRFP is one of (if not) the largest funding opportunities available for graduate students in the United States in terms of total number of awards made each year (approximately 2,000). It also has the distinction of being the oldest fellowship of its kind.
Joseph Grinnell Student Research Award
Cooper Ornithological Society
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Multiple awards available
Eligibility: Open to all graduate students that are members of the COS and enrolled in a Doctoral program after August 2009 specializing in ornithology.
Funding Amount: Up to $1,000
Cooper Ornithological Society
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Multiple awards available
Eligibility: Open to all graduate students that are members of the COS and enrolled in a Doctoral program after August 2009 specializing in ornithology.
Funding Amount: Up to $1,000
Long Island Research Fellowship
The Nature Conservancy, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Any full-time graduate level student in environmental studies, natural resource management, economics, marine affairs, marine science, geology, public affairs, and regional land management, associated with an accredited academic institution is eligible to apply for funding. Awards will be made by November 7, 2011.
Funding Amount: Up to 25,000$ for 1-2 years.
The Nature Conservancy, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Any full-time graduate level student in environmental studies, natural resource management, economics, marine affairs, marine science, geology, public affairs, and regional land management, associated with an accredited academic institution is eligible to apply for funding. Awards will be made by November 7, 2011.
Funding Amount: Up to 25,000$ for 1-2 years.
Louis Agassiz Fuertes Award
Wilson Ornithological Society
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Available to all ornithologists, although graduate students and young professionals are preferred. Any avian research is eligible.
Funding Amount: Up to $2,500
Wilson Ornithological Society
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Available to all ornithologists, although graduate students and young professionals are preferred. Any avian research is eligible.
Funding Amount: Up to $2,500
NOAA Coastal Management Fellowships
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C.
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Students who will complete a master's, doctoral, or professional degree in natural resource management or environmental-related studies at an accredited U.S. university between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012.
Funding Amount: Two year, competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C.
Recommended by: ESF Office of Research Programs
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Students who will complete a master's, doctoral, or professional degree in natural resource management or environmental-related studies at an accredited U.S. university between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012.
Funding Amount: Two year, competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement.
Presidential Management Fellows
U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Washington, D.C.
Recommended by: ESF Graduate Office
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Candidates must earn a graduate degree in an appropriate discipline between 9/1/2013 – 8/31/2014. Candidates must pass a qualifying exam. Candidates must be US Citizens or permanent residents (i.e. hold a “green card”).
Funding Amount: Two years of salary and benefits, 160 hours of formal classroom training
U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Washington, D.C.
Recommended by: ESF Graduate Office
Deadline: Fall
Eligibility: Candidates must earn a graduate degree in an appropriate discipline between 9/1/2013 – 8/31/2014. Candidates must pass a qualifying exam. Candidates must be US Citizens or permanent residents (i.e. hold a “green card”).
Funding Amount: Two years of salary and benefits, 160 hours of formal classroom training
Research Assistantship Program
Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Bedford, NY
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Qualified graduate students in the field of ecology, wildlife, forestry, and the social sciences
Criteria: 1) Demonstrate how their [student] research will contribute to our knowledge of suburban and urban wildlands, and 2) serve as a mentor to a high school wildlife technician on a multi-year project.
Funding Amount: $5000 annual for two (masters students) to three (doctoral students) years
Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Bedford, NY
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Qualified graduate students in the field of ecology, wildlife, forestry, and the social sciences
Criteria: 1) Demonstrate how their [student] research will contribute to our knowledge of suburban and urban wildlands, and 2) serve as a mentor to a high school wildlife technician on a multi-year project.
Funding Amount: $5000 annual for two (masters students) to three (doctoral students) years
Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Fellowship
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF GSA Graduate Members
Deadline: Check website for more information
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents attending a fully accredited U.S. college or university.
Criteria: Research of scientific and social importance within chosen environmental field of study; explanation of how your thesis is relevant to the protection of human health and the environment, and how it relates to the chosen funding opportunity track. Broader societal and environmental applications are also part of the review criteria.
Funding Amount: Up to $42,000 per year of, including $12,000 per year for tuition and fees, $25,000 per year in a monthly stipend, and an annual expense allowance of $5,000. Masters level students can receive support for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students can be supported for a maximum of three years with funding available, under certain circumstances, over a period of four years.
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
Recommended by: ESF GSA Graduate Members
Deadline: Check website for more information
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents attending a fully accredited U.S. college or university.
Criteria: Research of scientific and social importance within chosen environmental field of study; explanation of how your thesis is relevant to the protection of human health and the environment, and how it relates to the chosen funding opportunity track. Broader societal and environmental applications are also part of the review criteria.
Funding Amount: Up to $42,000 per year of, including $12,000 per year for tuition and fees, $25,000 per year in a monthly stipend, and an annual expense allowance of $5,000. Masters level students can receive support for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students can be supported for a maximum of three years with funding available, under certain circumstances, over a period of four years.
Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship
Department of Energy
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Summer
Eligibility: Students pursuing a Ph. D in a stewardship science, including properties of materials under extreme conditions and hydrodynamics, nuclear science, or high energy density physics.
Funding Amount: Up to $36,000 yearly stipend, $1,000 yearly academic allowance, all tuition and fees.
Department of Energy
Recommended by: ESF GSA Members
Deadline: Summer
Eligibility: Students pursuing a Ph. D in a stewardship science, including properties of materials under extreme conditions and hydrodynamics, nuclear science, or high energy density physics.
Funding Amount: Up to $36,000 yearly stipend, $1,000 yearly academic allowance, all tuition and fees.