mountaingirl

Hi everyone, I'm a 2012 STAR fellow and have been anxiously awaiting my renewal contract. I sent out several emails to folks at the EPA this morning. I was told this: "EPA intends to satisfy our commitments to fund existing STAR Fellowships awarded in 2012 and prior years, subject to the availability of funds. No decisions have been made regarding the Fall 2013 EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study RFA." Good luck to everyone.

I got an email this morning stating they mailed my award letter yesterday. They attached electronic copies of the documents and are allowing us to send them back via email. @ckpdx --- My advisor worked with the graduate college at my university to put a hold on my account so I wouldn't be charged late fees for tuition.

The announcement, which includes that year's FONs, usually goes out in September. You can view last year's here: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2012/2012_star_gradfellow.html

I'm setting up this forum as a space for the 2012 EPA STAR fellows to discuss issues pertaining to the fellowship. Has anyone received an official award letter?

Has anyone who's been selected for funding received the followup email? My project officer said I would receive an email with further instructions by Tuesday, but I didn't get anything.

@evolveecon -- No, when I called this morning I remained anonymous and the guy honestly didn't sound like he knew that much. He did, however, say that he thought they worked through FONs and that there were still panels that needed to meet. I'm guessing my call was at the front end of what in the past has been a week of calls. So don't lost hope!

Just got a call from the man who is now my project officer telling me I've been selected for funding! He said I'll receive an email with further instructions on Tuesday. 7% of applicants were funded this year.

I called the EPA and received some cryptic information. The contact said they *think* they work through the FONs in sequence, and send out rejection letters from a given FON at once. The person also said it was their understanding that there was still a lot of internal review work to be done, and they doubted the process would be finished by May 1st. They also said they didn't think they made calls, which we know to not be the case based on fellows from previous years. And the waiting continues...