Delta Science Fellowship Grant

Delta Science Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Sea Grant
Amount: Up to US $163,736
Last Updated: May 01, 2024

Summary

The Delta Science Fellowship, administered by California Sea Grant, offers a unique opportunity for postdoctoral, Ph.D., and master's fellows to conduct impactful research in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The program aims to advance scientific knowledge in priority areas and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through mentorship and collaboration. Successful applicants will receive funding for research projects up to two years, including stipends and support for education-related expenses, enhancing their contributions to Delta management and policy.

Overview

NOTE: Applicants are required to fill out an online form signifying their Notice of Intent to submit an application for this opportunity in order for their application to be accepted and reviewed. The NOI is not evaluated and is used to help connect applicants with community members as well as identify appropriate reviewers for the review process. Mission The mission of the Delta Science Program is to provide the best possible unbiased scientific information to inform water and environmental decision-making in the Delta. The Delta Science Program carries out its mission by funding research, synthesizing and communicating scientific information to policy and decision makers, promoting independent scientific peer review, and coordinating with Delta agencies to promote science-based adaptive management (Delta Reform Act 2009, Water Code section 85280(b)(4)). Delta Science Fellows Program The Delta Science Program and California Sea Grant are excited to announce the Delta Science Fellowships. This fellowship funds research projects of up to two years in duration that will advance the state of knowledge underlying high priority science issues that affect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and its management as an integrated socio-ecological system. The purpose of the Delta Science Fellows Program is to train the next generation of science leaders in the Delta by bringing together fellows with research mentors and community mentors in collaborative research, data analysis, and synthesis projects relevant to Delta policy and management. California Sea Grant will administer and manage the fellowship program on behalf of the Delta Science Program. Fellowships will be awarded based on the intellectual merit and broader impacts articulated in the application and the expected contribution of the work to the priority issues identified in the Science Action Agenda. Additionally, proposals will be assessed for the degree to which the proposed activity will promote high quality mentorship of the fellow by research and community mentor(s), as well as contribute to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and other beneficial, broader societally-relevant impacts in the sciences. Goals The goals of the Delta Science Fellows Program are to: Engage highly qualified scientific talent to help advance the state of scientific knowledge on the Delta Plan policy areas and high priority science actions identified by the SAA. Provide support for the training and development of social and biophysical scientists to work on research projects that support resource management in the Delta and contribute to DEI in Delta science; and Promote scientific partnerships across research institutions, agencies, non-profit organizations, Delta communities, and multiple disciplines. To be eligible, applicants must identify at least one community mentor (more than one is acceptable) and a research mentor. A community mentor is a subject matter expert who conducts science or uses scientific information to further scientific understanding, management, or decision making in the Delta. Community mentors may work for tribal governments; state, federal, or local agencies; nonprofit or private organizations; or possibly universities. The community mentor(s) will provide guidance for the fellow's project with respect to outreach and communications, relevance to management, and the timeliness of the research questions and approach. The research mentor, typically the fellow’s advisor or committee chair, will serve as the lead mentor for the fellow, providing broad oversight and review of the fellow’s research and products. During the fellowship, the fellow, community mentor(s), and research mentor will collaborate on the approved project, and together they will provide regular progress updates to the Delta Science Program that include information about outreach products, conference abstracts, and draft or published scholarly manuscripts. A mentoring plan between the fellow, the research mentor, and the community mentor(s) will be required within one month after the fellowship is initiated. Applicants are encouraged to use existing data sets to the maximum extent feasible. If collection of new data is part of the proposed research, the prospective fellow should clearly explain how these new data will supplement available data and what existing data will be used as part of the project. Fellowship Program Award The fellowship will provide up to two (2) years of support based on scope/type of projects and contingent upon the availability of funds, for postdoctoral, Ph.D., and master’s fellows. The award includes funds for a monthly stipend and for research- and/or education-related expenses including tuition and/or health benefits. Once the successful fellows are selected, California Sea Grant will issue the award (including stipend and research-related expenses) to the university, college, or research institution that is the affiliation of the fellow and research mentor. Postdoctoral fellows will receive a stipend up to $66,868 per year. Ph.D. and master’s fellows will receive a stipend of up to $45,000 per year, for a maximum duration of two years. In addition, each fellow may request funds (up to $15,000 per year for postdoctoral fellows or $25,000 per year for Ph.D. and master’s fellows) for research supplies/equipment, travel, and other expenses necessary for carrying out the proposed research, as well as education-related expenses including tuition and/or health benefits. Travel may include attendance at scientific meetings either virtually or in person, including the Bay-Delta Science Conference or State of the Estuary Conference Continued support after the first year will be contingent on satisfactory performance of the fellow and on the availability of funds. Mentorship Program A formal mentoring plan will be required to be submitted within one month after funds are awarded and the fellowship is initiated. The purpose of the mentoring plan is to ensure a quality experience for the Fellow that provides a springboard to a career in scientific research or program implementation. Priority Topic Areas The Delta Science Fellows Program is requesting research proposals that are responsive to one or more of the priority Management Needs and associated Science Action(s) identified in the Science Action Agenda (SAA). Improve coordination and integration of large-scale experiments, data collection, and evaluation across regions and institutionsEnhance monitoring and model interoperability, integration, and forecastingExpand multi-benefit approaches to managing the Delta as a social-ecological systemBuild and integrate knowledge on social process and behavior of Delta communities and residents to support effective and equitable managementAcquire new knowledge and synthesize existing knowledge of interacting stressors to support species recoveryAssess and anticipate climate change impacts to support successful adaptation strategies

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Proposed fellowship projects must either be physically located in the Delta or provide a demonstrable link to the Delta and address the priority research topics identified in the Science Action Agenda. A link to the Delta could include hydrologic connection, tribal ancestral/spiritual connection, social/cultural connection, etc. The “Delta” means the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (see Appendix B) as defined in Water Code Section 12220 and the Suisun Marsh as defined in Public Resources Code Section 29101 (Water Code Section 79702[e]).Applicants must identify at least one community mentor (more than one is acceptable) and a research mentor. A community mentor is a subject matter expert who conducts science or uses scientific information to further scientific understanding, management, or decision making in the Delta. Community mentors may work for tribal governments; state, federal, or local agencies; nonprofit or private organizations; or possibly universities. The community mentor(s) will provide guidance for the fellow's project with respect to outreach and communications, relevance to management, and the timeliness of the research questions and approach.Postdoctoral FellowshipsProspective postdoctoral science fellows must have completed a Ph.D. before the starting date of the fellowship. The degree must be from a program in the environmental sciences, engineering, social sciences, human dimensions or in a related field appropriate for disciplines identified under “Fellowship Opportunities.”Any postdoctoral researcher associated with an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning for the duration of the grant may apply. Postdoctoral fellowships will not be awarded unless and until the prospective fellow has fully completed the Ph.D. degree.PH.D. (Graduate Doctoral) FellowshipsProspective Ph.D. science fellows must, at the time of application, be in or have recently been admitted to a Ph.D. degree program in natural resources, environmental sciences, environmental policy and management, engineering, social sciences, human dimensions, or coastal, aquatic or related sciences at any accredited U.S. institution of higher education. Candidates must remain associated with an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning for the duration of the award.Masters (GraduateMaster's) FellowshipsProspective master’s science fellows must, at the time of application, be actively enrolled or recently been admitted to a master’s degree program in natural resources, environmental sciences, environmental policy and management, engineering, social sciences, human dimensions, or coastal, aquatic or related sciences at any accredited U.S. institution of higher education.Candidates must remain associated with an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning for the duration of the award.