Mountain Studies Institute=92s Mini-Grant Research Program=20 2006 Application Instructions
=20 Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) is a non-profit mountain research and education institution and high-altitude field station with headquarters = in Silverton, Colorado and offices at Fort Lewis College in nearby Durango. MSI=92s mission is to enhance understanding and sustainable use of the = San Juan Mountains and its communities through research and education. = Please see HYPERLINK "http://www.mountainstudies.org/"www.mountainstudies.org = for more information. =20 MSI is offering mini-grants for students and postdoctoral associates to conduct studies in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, USA. Research may be in the physical, biological, or social sciences or be interdisciplinary. Each applicant must have an advisor who agrees to = provide guidance on the project. =20 =20 Other Requirements: * Applicant must be a student at an accredited college or university = or have graduated from such an institution within the past two years = (recent undergraduate or master=92s students) or five years (postdoctoral = associates). * Research must have a major component, including field work, focused = on the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, USA. * Research must be related to at least one of the five themes that compose MSI=92s =93San Juan Mountain Futures=94 research program: 1) Communities in Transition: Issues affecting mountain communities in transition from resource extraction to tourism and recreation economies = and cultures (land use change; community planning; ecological, economic, = social, and/or cultural conflicts and challenges). 2) Climate Variability and Change: Studies of past, present, and future climate; effects of climate change on environment and/or society. 3) Air, Ecosystems, and People: Studies of air quality and effect of pollutants on ecosystems and human health. 4) Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Studies of ecological = communities, spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity, environmental controls on biodiversity, links between biodiversity and ecosystem services, value = of biodiversity to society. 5) Water for Ecosystems and People: Controls on water quantity and = quality, effects of drought on ecosystems and people, other ecological or = societal issues associated with water quantity and quality. =20 Funding: Up to $3,000 per proposal with a total available of at least $5,000.=20 Some proposals may be partially funded. $10,000 was awarded in 2005.=20 Time span of funding: One-year. =20 Successful applicants are required to submit a project report and give = an oral or poster presentation by the end of the one-year award period. =20 =20 Selection will be based on the intellectual merit of the proposed study, = the applicant=92s ability to complete the project, and the project=92s = alignment with MSI=92s research themes. Postdoctoral applications also will be = judged on the potential for results to lead to a more extensive research effort = in the San Juan Mountains. Proposals that leverage funds from other = grants, scholarships, or departmental contributions are preferred but not = required. Excellent proposals from applicants with no other support certainly will = be considered. =20 To apply: =20 Submit a proposal (see below), curriculum vitae, and 2 letters of recommendation (including one from the proposed advisor that states he = or she supports the project and will serve as advisor to the applicant). = In addition, undergraduates need to submit undergraduate transcripts and graduate students and postdocs are required to submit graduate = transcripts. Unofficial copies are acceptable, but official copies may be required if = the applicant is selected.=20 =20 The proposal should include the following parts, but not exceed 5 pages = (at least font 11 with one-inch margins).=20 Proposals longer than 5 pages will not be considered. =20 1. Title page (see form on website: HYPERLINK "http://www.mountainstudies.org/"www.mountainstudies.org)=20 2. Introduction (Description of problem or question, objective of = project, and background information from the literature). 3. Methods=20 4. Literature Cited 5. Schedule of work 6. Budget=20 =20 MSI encourages the use of our Avon Hotel field station in Silverton, = which offers dorm-style lodging, common space, a community kitchen, wireless internet, and a classroom. However, applicants need to budget $300 per month or $15 per day from the funds requested for Avon lodging. Summer field lab facilities are available at $25/week for basic use. =20 Example budget categories: =20 Applicant stipend, lodging, travel, equipment, supplies, sample = analyses, and matching funding or in-kind services. =20 Categories that will not be funded: indirect costs or overhead = expenses, faculty salary, travel to professional meetings, publication costs. =20 Submit application to MSI=92s Director of Research and Education: =20 Hardcopies: Send three (3) copies of cover page and proposal, one (1) = copy of transcript(s), and one (1) copy of curriculum vitae (CV).=20 Electronic copies: Email cover page, proposal, and CV (as doc or pdf attachments).=20 Letters of recommendation: May either be sent in unopened, signed = envelopes OR emailed directly from the person writing the letter. =20 DEADLINE: All material sent by mail must be postmarked on or before = March 10, 2006.=20 All emails must be sent by 5 pm MST on March 10, 2006. =20 Send hard copy of all materials to:=20 Dr. Koren Nydick Mountain Studies Institute Department of Geosciences Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive Durango, CO 81301 =20 Email cover page and proposal to HYPERLINK "mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]"[EMAIL PROTECTED] Questions? Call 970-247-7071 or email above. =20 --=20 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.17/228 - Release Date: = 1/12/2006 =20
