The VCU Rice Rivers Center (ricerivers.vcu.edu) offers the following funding opportunities for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Student Research Scholarships: Competitive awards of $600 (undergraduate), $1,200 (masters) and $1,500 (doctoral) are available for field projects conducted at the Center and environs. Priority is given to projects that will advance our understanding of riverine ecosystems inclusive of their aquatic and terrestrial components. Collaborative (joint) proposals are welcomed, may request up to $2,000, and should clearly define individual roles and contributions to the overall project. Prior Scholarship recipients may apply for travel awards (up to $500) to present their findings at a national or regional meeting.

Graduate Fellowships: Up to three Summer Stipends ($6,000 each) will be awarded to support graduate student research in wetlands or restoration ecology. Candidates must be a current VCU graduate student in good standing or a recently-graduated undergraduate who has been accepted into a VCU graduate program for Fall, 2018. Projects conducted at the VCU Rice Rivers Center and environs are encouraged; however, proposals for relevant work in other locations will be considered. Proposals that add new value to existing and ongoing research (e.g. thesis, dissertation) are especially encouraged. Recipients should not hold a second VCU job during the
period of the Fellowship (mid-May thru mid-August) and there may be other requirements, which will be outlined in the award letter.  Applicants may also submit to the Student Research Scholarship program (see above) as a separate proposal.

Applications for research awards and graduate fellowships must be submitted as an attachment to cbvivere@vcu.edu by 28 March, 2018. Research proposals will include: a) cover letter, b) letter
of support from a faculty mentor, and c) 3-4 page proposal that includes project title, brief introduction, objectives/hypothesis, methods, expected results, schedule of activities, and a detailed budget. The budget may include funds for equipment, supplies, laboratory analyses and travel costs, and should indicate all funding sources, including those requested from the Center. Applications for graduate fellowships should include: a) cover letter, b) CV or Resume, c) personal statement explaining how the fellowship will advance our knowledge in the areas of wetlands or restoration ecology, and d) letter of support from faculty advisor. Decisions will be made in April and funds will be available in May. Questions may be directed to Dr. Cathy Viverette at cbvivere@vcu.edu or Dr. Greg Garman at ggarman@vcu.edu.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Internship: CBF is collaborating with the Rice Rivers Center to offer a paid internship position ($6,000) in Summer, 2018. The Intern will assist the CBF Virginia Senior Scientist with projects related to the conservation and restoration of the Bay, including: review of current regulatory and voluntary nutrient reduction programs, evaluating approaches for achieving nutrient load reductions, assisting with GIS database creation and maintenance, assisting with oyster restoration efforts, and participating in educational boat trips. The successful candidate must be a current VCU student (graduate or undergraduate) with completed coursework in ecology and/or environmental studies. This internship is a part-time CBF position which will consist of 30 hours per week during the summer (start and end dates are negotiable). Applicants for the Internship should electronically submit a) cover letter, b) CV or resume, and c) letter of support from faculty advisor by 28 March to Dr. Joe Wood at jwood@cbf.org.