EPA Star Fellowship 2013

[withoutwords]

I emailed Brandon Jones but I'm sure he's backed up from the shutdown. From what I understand, much of the sequester is still in place, leading me to believe that we won't hear anything anytime soon. Anyone else have other thoughts?

 

Yeah I am hoping in the next few months they'd let us know, from my correspondence w/ Bronda it sounds like they were making progress on at least awarding an honorary fellowship before the government shutdown, but that they were directing their efforts from that to trying to still get money. I would guess the shutdown would slow things by at least a month, and they were probably at least a few weeks away from doing anything then, so I see this taking a while still to hear anything.

 

I would suggest asking Bronda too, she is more responsive, I'd email her but I think she has heard enough from me.

 

Please let us know if you hear anything!

Edited October 26, 2013 by withoutwords

[Heat_her_bee]

I emailed Brandon early last week. He said, "As you can imagine, things are happening at almost the speed of light.

Unfortunately, there has been no decision on the 2013 STAR Fellowship awards. Many things are tied to the budget and now that we are under another partial Continuing Resolutions, that has added further wrinkles.

Sorry, I don’t have better news."

[dbg6ydr]

I emailed Brandon early last week. He said, "As you can imagine, things are happening at almost the speed of light.

Unfortunately, there has been no decision on the 2013 STAR Fellowship awards. Many things are tied to the budget and now that we are under another partial Continuing Resolutions, that has added further wrinkles.

Sorry, I don’t have better news."

Was Brandon being sarcastic about "things are happening at almost the speed of light?" Help me - I am tone-deaf sometimes.

[Heat_her_bee]

No idea. Though he doesn't seem like the entirely sarcastic type to me.

[Blue Gopher]

Do any of you know who I should contact regarding an address change? I've moved since I submitted my application last year. If I remember correctly, someone else in this thread had a similar issue and contacted Bronda, but I wanted to double check before sending her a bunch of information that she won't do anything with. Thanks in advance. 

[StanfordMonkey]

Hi Blue Gopher,

 

I am the one who had the address change, and yes, I emailed her directly (see below for example) and she replied, "I've forwarded your change of address to the 3 people most likely to need it." And that was it. I didn't get a confirmation or anything. It is amazing to me that we still have no news! Obviously there are still a lot of us who never received a rejection and now are in EPA STAR limbo. And do things in government ever happen at the speed of light?! 

 

Warmly, Stanford Monkey

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Subject: Fwd: GRANTXXXXXXX Grants.gov Agency Tracking Number Assignment for Application

 

Hi Bronda,

 

I spoke with you on the phone regarding my application. Below are my application details. I informed you that I moved addresses (see below) and was wondering if I should have already received my application referee packet/award status. Thank you.

 

Warmly, xxxx

 

I recently moved addresses from:

 

XXXXX

 

to

 

XXXXX

Edited November 5, 2013 by StanfordMonkey

[Blue Gopher]

Thanks StanfordMonkey. I appreciate the reply. I agree, it's hard to believe we're nearly a year out from the submission deadline and a good portion of us have still not heard. I've tried emailing both Brandon and Bronda but haven't heard a peep. I guess no news is better than no news.

[Blue Gopher]

...I guess no news is better than no news.

Correction... No news is better than bad news. Ugh!

[withoutwords]

I broke down and emailed Brandon again, and got a good old:

 

"There still has been no decisions on awards.

Brandon"

 

What is going on!

[Blue Gopher]

I've emailed both Bronda and Brandon, for different reasons, and can't even get a response.

[Anglerfish]

I know! It's maddening. 

On a more productive note, what are your alternatives? 

I'm looking into TA positions for next year and seeking out other drinking water-related fellowships/grants. 

Edited November 18, 2013 by Anglerfish

[withoutwords]

I know! It's maddening. 

On a more productive note, what are your alternatives? 

I'm looking into TA positions for next year and seeking out other drinking water-related fellowships/grants. 

What ones are you considering, the only one I know of is the AWWA abel wolman fellowship

[Lumidee]

EPA Awards $1.65 Million in Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Last week, EPA awarded more than $1.65 million in research fellowships to 33 students pursuing degrees in environmental science and related fields through its Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowship program. This year’s winners are from 19 different states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The 2013 GRO recipients are eligible to receive a fellowship of up to $50,000 for their studies in natural and life sciences, environmental sciences and interdisciplinary programs, engineering, social sciences, physical and earth sciences, and mathematics and computer sciences. EPA’s GRO program also supplements the students’ education with an EPA internship. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the GRO program.

[sone461]

Well go figure!  How strange.  Where/when did you see this, Lumidee?

[jacket24]

I thought the GRO program was only for undergraduates.

[Lumidee]

Internal memo sent out last Thursday I think. But I think its now publicly available online. You are right 

@ NYluie2424 - they are for undergrads

[dbg6ydr]

EPA Awards $1.65 Million in Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Last week, EPA awarded more than $1.65 million in research fellowships to 33 students pursuing degrees in environmental science and related fields through its Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowship program. This year’s winners are from 19 different states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The 2013 GRO recipients are eligible to receive a fellowship of up to $50,000 for their studies in natural and life sciences, environmental sciences and interdisciplinary programs, engineering, social sciences, physical and earth sciences, and mathematics and computer sciences. EPA’s GRO program also supplements the students’ education with an EPA internship. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the GRO program.

 

That's really interesting, Lumidee. I wonder if it means we will be hearing something soon.

[withoutwords]

I hope we hear before the holidays, I wonder if there will be a push to send notifications out before then

[Lumidee]

I hope we hear before the holidays, I wonder if there will be a push to send notifications out before then

Not until they get a budget I think. Got this email from Bronda 11/5/2013.

 

 

The good news is that we haven't given up.  The bad news is that it depends on getting a budget that will allow funding of fellowships.  So the holding pattern remains.

 

Sorry I don't have more,

Bronda

[Blue Gopher]

I know! It's maddening. 

On a more productive note, what are your alternatives? 

I'm looking into TA positions for next year and seeking out other drinking water-related fellowships/grants. 

I have some solid teaching assistantships lined up for during the semester and a research assistantship lined up for the summer; however, if I can get external money to fund me it means that I can focus on my research more. I love to teach, but it takes up a lot of time. Plus, if I can get external money to pay my stipend (grants, fellowships, etc.) I can use assistantship money that was going to come from my adviser and put that into research costs. 

[Anglerfish]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us in the weeks to come.

[Lumidee]

What other fellowships are out there for environmental microbiologists? Seem not to find any

[withoutwords]

A new budget is likely going to be approved soon for 2 years, and there will be more spending for federal programs for the next two years, I wonder if it will be enough for the fellowship to be offered? At minimum hopefully we'll know soon.

 

 

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/12/11/4686495/congress-likely-to-approve-budget.html

[CCA-B2]

I hope we hear something soon. I need closure. 

[Anglerfish]

Agreed. I've been haunting this board forever. 

I've also had dreams about it and rehearsed my possible reactions. It is time.