Paul G. Silver Young Scholar Research Enhancement Award Grant

The Paul G. Silver Young Scholar Research Enhancement Award honors the legacy of Paul G. Silver by providing funding between $2000-$5000 to young scholars, including undergraduates and graduate students, pursuing innovative geophysical research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This award aims to support projects that extend beyond typical research boundaries, fostering creativity and mentorship in the field. Eligible candidates must demonstrate how this funding will facilitate new research opportunities and collaborations.

Paul G. Silver received his PhD in geophysics from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD in 1982 and went on to a highly distinguished career. He applied seismology in innovative ways to study a range of topics from earthquake triggering, through upper mantle flow, to core-mantle boundary structure. He led several international projects that resulted in new insights on directionally-dependent wave propagation associated with crust and/or mantle deformation. Paul was particularly well-known for his creativity and successful mentoring of young scholars, both being outcomes of his inquisitive and open, yet focused on the end-result, approach to science.
In recognition of Paul’s mentorship, and to enable young scholars to pursue a new idea, the Paul G. Silver Young Scholar Research Enhancement Award will provide funds to extend work beyond what would typically be within reach for a young investigator. Awards of $2000-5000 are offered through a competitive application process, open to undergraduates, graduate students, or new researchers (< 4 yr post PhD) who are pursuing geophysical research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.
A main goal of the scholarship is to allow applicants to accomplish some research that would otherwise not be possible. The application should thus tie the request to accomplishing some aspect of research that would extend beyond already-envisioned work, but which would not be done without this support. Examples of requests include, but are not limited to: a visit to another lab to acquire or process data or learn new methods, a pilot field study, acquisition of agency or commercial data, or travel to an in-depth topical workshop where significant interaction with colleagues could enhance research outcomes.

Eligibility

Awards are offered through a competitive application process, open to undergraduates, graduate students, or new researchers (< 4 yr post PhD) who are pursuing geophysical research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.

Ineligibility

Requests less tied to new research, such as travel to present results at meetings, or purchase of a new computer, are less likely to be funded.