BRIAN KELLER MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP

IN CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH

Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center(NSU OC) has established the Brian Keller Memorial Fellowshipin Coral Reef Ecosystem Researchto provide assistance for graduate student thesis or dissertation expenses to Oceanographic Center graduate students

PhD or MS graduate students involved in approved thesis or dissertation work only may apply for an award.

Preference will be given to graduate students whose proposals for funding address one or more of the following research areasin the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary:

  • Coral restoration
  • Long-term coral reef monitoring programs
  • Effectiveness of management zones, especially no-take reserves
  • Principles associated with connectivity to inform science-based management
  • Management of coral reefs across multiple spatial scales.

One or more awards of up to $15,000are anticipated to be made in 2015 to a NSU Oceanographic Center graduate student in good academic standing.

Students may receive the Brian Keller Memorial Fellowship once during their graduate studies at the Oceanographic Center.

Upon receipt of the award, the amount requested by the awardee(s) will be transferred to their advising faculty member’s restricted account, and all related thesis expenses included in the proposal will be paid/reimbursed in accordance with NSU policies.

If there are any remaining funds at the end of the award period, these will be transferred back into the Brian Keller Memorial Fellowship account.

APPLICATION FOR A BRIAN KELLER MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP AWARD

Application for an award should be made in writing by the graduate student(and submitted in PDF format) to the Associate Dean of Academic Programs of the Oceanographic Center at . The project design should be of the quality to yield a scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Applications are due no later than December 1, 2014. Applications will be reviewed by a committee chaired by the Associate Dean and including the Dean and additional faculty and researchers as may be needed. Award announcements will be made by January 15, 2015.

Applications should contain the following elements:

Submission Date:

Student Name:Student Signature:

Advisor Name:Advisor Signature:
Project Title for which the Award will be used:

Proposal Text:

A proposal,limited to three pages, (not including References, Experience and Qualifications, and the Budget), using 12-point font, in English, is required from prospective fellowship candidates. The proposal should include the following sections:

Introduction: Place the proposed research in context. Include clearly stated rationale, research objectives, the question that is driving the research, and the relevance of the study within the context of the literature and the fellowship.

Methods: Include hypotheses, methods, and experimental design, including details on field or laboratory techniques, and how data will be analyzed.

Results: Briefly outline expected outcomes and how the work is relevant to the priorities of the fellowship and how it relates to the approved thesis or dissertation. Implications of the work related to science-based management needs should be identified. Local and regional management needs are considered a priority, but application to global needs should also be noted, if appropriate.

References: Include references cited in the proposal.

Experience and Qualifications:A one-page CV should include research experience and other qualifications that demonstrate abilities and competency to successfully complete the research.

Resources Needed (budget): A detailed budget shoulddescribe and justify the amount requested (up to $15,000). The budget can be spent over one or two years.

Students who receive awards must acknowledge in publications, presentations, and reports, that support was received from the Brian Keller Memorial Fellowship at Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center. Students who receive awards must also provide the Associate Dean with a report of their research progress every six months after receipt of the award, until completion of the project. The report must include a summary of work completed and funds spent.

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