THE USDA FaST PROGRAM
The USDA FaST program (Faculty and Student Team) is pleased to extend an invitation to apply for our exciting 2009 summer fellowships! Choose from a variety of 7 ecology-focused projects all around the U.S that best matches the field research experience you seek! The FaST program is a unique program allows faculty and students affiliated with any of the 219 HSI-designated universities (Hispanic Serving Institutions) the opportunity to experience cutting edge research and technologies to enhance their own research, collaborate with selected National Research Initiative (NRI) facilities, expand their professional networking while serving as a mentor to the two students you choose to complete your team. Your students will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems with leading researchers, preparing them for future employment opportunities with the USDA. In addition, they will gain experience presenting a paper at a national conference and networking opportunities of their own. The FaST program provides a very generous stipend to its participants and lots of flexibility. Faculty receive a stipend of $12,500 and each student $6000 for the summer. If you are not at a qualifying HSI institution (see the link in the WHO section below for full list of schools) but know of a colleague or friend at one of these institutions who might be interested, please forward this great opportunity on to them! The ESA server will not allow an attachment of the applications. Please feel free to contact me with questions, application requests, full project prospectives, or any other details! Deadline to apply is May 11th, 2009! Rachel Hill Program Coordinator - USDA FaST Program The Culture and Policy Institute One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX 78249 Work: (210) 458-2654 Cell : (210) 313-5232 Fax : (210) 458-2655 Email: [email protected] USDA FaST FACTS WHO Any faculty and students, regardless of ethnicity, who work or attend any designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) qualify. See HACU's member list of 219 qualifying US universities and colleges: http://www.hacu.net <http://www.hacu.net/assnfe/CompanyDirectory.asp?STYLE=2&COMPANY_TYPE=1, 5&SEARCH_TYPE=0> Teams will consist of 1 faculty member and 2 students (any mix of undergraduate or graduate). The faculty member will recruit 2 students to complete his/her team. The faculty will then submit all 3 applications as a complete package. WHAT Faculty will gain exposure to cutting edge technologies and practices to enhance their own research, collaboration opportunities with selected National Research Initiative (NRI) facilities, and professional networking. Students have the opportunity to work on real-world problems with leading researchers, preparing them for future employment opportunities with the USDA. Faculty receive a stipend of $12,500 and each student $6000 for the summer. WHEN Summer 2009 for an 8 to 10 week placement (* flexible schedules*) Deadline to apply is May 10th, 2009! WHERE Choose from a variety of 7 Ecology-focused projects all around the U.S. that best matches the field research experience you seek! 1. Louisiana State University (LSU) Project: Molecular Genetics of weedy traits in red rice Project Director: Prasanta Subudhi 2. Ohio State University Project: Ecosystem Response to Invasive Species Project Director: John Cardina 3. Rutgers University (NJ) Project: Using Citizen Scientists to Collect Weedy Invasive Data Project Director: Rebecca Jordan 4. University of Cincinnati Project: Use of Chloroplast DNA to Determine Maternity of Wild Callery Pear Trees Project Director: Theresa Culley 5. University of Colorado @ Boulder Project: Ecosystem management of invasive plants in an era of global environmental change Project Director: Timothy Seastedt 6. University of Hawaii @ Manoa Project: Using population biology & niche modeling to predict invasions along climatic gradients Project Director: Curt Daehler 7. Washington University (MO) Project: Spatial management Lonicera maackii, a bird-dispersed invasive shrub Project Director: Tiffany Knight
