How much funding does EREF Scholarships Program provide?

The listing does not state a funding amount. Check the funder's announcement for specifics.

When is the deadline for EREF Scholarships Program?

The funder has not published a deadline for this grant.

Who is eligible for EREF Scholarships Program?

Eligible applicants: Full-time Master's or Doctoral students; Students pursuing excellence in sustainable waste management practices.

How often is EREF Scholarships Program offered?

EREF Scholarships Program runs on an annual cycle.

EREF Scholarships Program

Environmental Research & Education Foundation

Foundation Annual Grants for Science Research Environmental Education Grants

Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle: Annual
Tracked since: April 2026

Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

Full-time Master's or Doctoral students
Students pursuing excellence in sustainable waste management practices

Other requirements

Clearly demonstrated interest in solid waste management research
Must be, or will be in the upcoming year, a full-time Master's or Doctoral student
Must have clearly demonstrated interest in solid waste management research

Overview

Focus Area: Graduate scholarships for Master's and Doctoral students pursuing research in sustainable waste management

Geographic Scope: United States

Eligibility:

Full-time Master's or Doctoral students
Clearly demonstrated interest in solid waste management research
Students pursuing excellence in sustainable waste management practices

Award Types:

PhD scholarships
Master's (MS) scholarships
Named scholarships (e.g., Tom J. Fatjo Scholar, DCA Scholar, Smith Gardner Scholarship, Ruterra Group Doctoral Scholarship)

Research Focus Areas:

Anaerobic digestion and biogas production
Plastic waste recycling and reuse (pavements, concrete reinforcement)
Food waste management
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment and degradation
Landfill leachate and condensate management
Organic waste management systems and life cycle assessment
Fly ash beneficial reuse in concrete
Waste reduction and circular economy
Municipal solid waste (MSW) management
Industrial solid waste by-products

Program History:

EREF has funded over $18.5 Million in research grants and scholarships since 1992
In 2020, 9 scholarships awarded (12 PhD, 4 MS were funded in 2022)
In 2022, record-breaking 16 new scholarships awarded
Total of 30 active scholars as of 2022
40% of EREF scholars employed in the solid waste field

Contact Information:

Email: proposals@erefdn.org
Phone: (919) 861-6876
Address: 1000 Social St, Suite 320, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
Website: erefdn.org

Organization: Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) - 501(c)(3) nonprofit

How to Apply

Application Process

Timeline:

Applications for the 2021-2022 school year were due late Spring 2021
Scholarships are awarded annually

Eligibility Requirements at Time of Application:

Must be, or will be in the upcoming year, a full-time Master's or Doctoral student
Must have clearly demonstrated interest in solid waste management research

Selection Criteria:

Credentials
Potential contributions to the solid waste industry and scientific community
Quality of proposed research

Application Materials:

Submit application via erefdn.org website

For More Information:

Visit erefdn.org for current application details and submission portal

Apply with Grantable Learn more

What Environmental Research & Education Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2024

Grants in 2024: 18
Total given: $739K
Median grant: $20K
Range: $3,703–$182K

By dollars: North Carolina 32%, Ohio 25%, Nevada 20%. Top recipient cities: Raleigh, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Columbus, OH.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
25% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

The Ohio State University · Columbus, OH

Control and mitigation of persistent herbicides in msw composts

$182K
University of Nevada · Reno, NV

Selective carbon dioxide capture and conversion from landfill gas

$150K
University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC

Determination of microplastics counts in leachate from us landfills

$90K
Yale University · New Haven, CT

Cost and climate change impacts of waste valorization pathways for decarbonizing the…

$39K
University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL

Comparison of field measurements to methane emissions models at msw landfills

$37K