The SEEDS Fellowship allows undergraduate students to complete an independent research project. This project includes working with program staff to select a research site and mentor, writing a research proposal and budget, conducting research in the field and/or lab, analyzing results and writing a paper, and presenting research at an ESA Annual Meeting. Each Fellow has a research mentor, a PhD ecologist from the ESA membership, to provide support throughout the project. The SEEDS program also provides support through stipends, designated staff, networking with other Fellows, workshops, etc.

Fellowship Information

Eligibility: The SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship is intended for undergraduate students who have a sincere interest in pursuing an ecology career and promoting the mission of SEEDS, have gained some experience in the field, and will be a sophomore, junior, or senior during the 2007 – 2008 academic year, with a graduation date no earlier than May 2008. Five SEEDS fellowships are available.

Mentor Matching Process: SEEDS fellows will conduct an independent ecological research project with the help of a mentor scientist. The mentor will be an ESA member, working outside the student’s home institution. The most unique aspect of the SEEDS Fellowship is that the student-mentor match is a highly individualized process. SEEDS staff work with each fellow once they have been accepted to find a mentor that is working in the student’s interest area and also in a close proximity to the student, when possible and when desired, to best facilitate the year-long format of the fellowship. On the application, students must also indicate their willingness to travel, if a local match cannot be made.

Stipend: For participating in the SEEDS fellowship, students receive a total stipend of $6,000, plus a total of $3,000 for research, travel, and housing expenses, in addition to all travel expenses for two ESA Annual Meetings and a professional development meeting (a total award of over $13,000).

Requirements: Once students are matched with their mentors, the Fellowship officially begins at a kick-off, informational meeting in February 2007 at a location to be determined. During the academic year, fellows are required to keep in touch with their mentors at least once a month through email, phone, or in person; complete a research proposal; and participate in monthly conference calls with the SEEDS fellow cohort. Fellows can also begin conducting research (i.e., collecting data, doing field work) during the academic year, but the SEEDS fellowship does not require students to begin this most intensive period of the fellowship until the academic year has ended. Most SEEDS fellows’ field season will take place in the spring and summer of 2007 and 2008 if necessary. The fellowship concludes at the 2008 ESA Annual Meeting where students will present their research, giving fellows ample time to analyze their results and prepare for their presentation. Attendance at two ESA Annual Meetings and the kick-off informational meeting is required. A fellowship timeline that provides a timeframe for all of the project components can be found below.

Application: The 2008-2009 fellowship application will be available early in the summer of 2007.

Fellowship Timeline

Year 1

Year 1-2

Year 2

Year 2-3

Year 3

June

September

mid-October

November - January

February

March

mid-April

late April

mid-May

May - August

August

Fall - August

March 1

August

SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship applications available

SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship applications due

Students notified about application decisions

Students matched with ESA member mentor

Fellowship officially begins; monthly conference calls begin

Fellows participate in a professional development workshop hosted by SEEDS

Students complete a research proposal detailing their project and projected expenses

Students receive comments on research proposals and begin revisions accordingly

Revised proposals due

Students' field season; students carry out their independent ecological research project with the help of their mentor

Fellows attend the ESA Annual Meeting

Students finish-up research if necessary, work on ESA presentation, work on publication, send their presentation and/or paper around for peer review.

ESA abstracts due

Fellows present their research at the ESA Annual Meeting

Meet the Fellows

2007-2008 Fellows
The 2007-2008 fellows are selecting their research mentors, will be conducting research this summer and attending the 2007 ESA Annual Meeting in August.

Jarrod Blue Davidson College Mentor: Scott Collins Visit the December 2006 Newsletter to learn more about Jarrod.

Annette Cardona Texas A&M University Mentors: Rick Tinnin and John Williams Visit the December 2006 Newsletter to learn more about Annette.

Colleen Cooley Northern Arizona University Mentor: Elizabeth Sulzman Visit the December 2006 Newsletter to learn more about Colleen.

Micki Lindeman United Tribes Technical College Mentor: Sarah Gergel Visit the December 2006 Newsletter to learn more about Micki.

Sheena Hillstrom Washington State University Mentor: Charles Halpern Visit the December 2006 Newsletter to learn more about Sheena.

2006-2007 Fellows
The 2006-2007 fellows finished their first field season and will be analyzing their data over this academic year to present at the 2007 ESA Annual Meeting in August.

Chris McLaughlin Sitting Bull College Mentor: Tony Joern Visit the May 2006 Newsletter to learn more about Chris. Chris was also the All Nations AMP's featured student

Colibri Sanfiorenzo University of Puerto Rico Mentor: Luis Garcia Barrios Colibri's article in the October 2006 Newsletter

Marla Striped Face - Collins United Tribes Technical College Mentor: Carol Johnston Marla's article in the November 2006 Newsletter

Ku'ulei Vickery University of Hawai'i at Manoa Mentor: Mike Heithaus Ku'ulei's article in the December 2006 Newsletter

2005-2006 Fellows
The 2005-2006 fellows completed their fellowship by presenting their research at the 2006 ESA Annual Meeting.

Noemi Baquera Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at El Paso Mentor: Jeff Herrick Abstract: Determining vegetation coverage and changes in land use under the Quesungual slash and mulch agroforestry system. Noemi's article in the December 2005 SEEDS Newsletter

Jorge Ramos Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at El Paso Mentor: Myra Shulman Abstract: Population sizes, site usage, and behavior of harbor and gray seals in the Isles of Shoals, Gulf of Maine. Jorge's article in the February 2006 SEEDS Newsletter

Andrea Rivera Undergraduate Institution: University of Hawaii at Manoa Mentor: Hunter Lenihan Abstract: Andrea will present her research at the 2007 ESA Annual Meeting. Andrea's article in the March 2006 Newsletter

Christina Wong Undergraduate Institution: Occidental College Mentor: Nancy Grimm Abstract: Desert crusts in an urban landscape: responses of N2 fixation to anthropogenic C and N deposition. Christina's article in the April 2006 Newsletter

2004-2005 Fellows

Ricardo Colon Undergraduate Institution: University of Puerto Rico at Humacao Mentor:Alberto Sabat Abstract: The effects of predator abundance and food availabilty on the abundance of the sea urchin Diadema Diadema antillarum. 2005 Annual Meeting Profile Poster

Julie James Undergraduate Institution: Haskell Indian Nations University Mentor: Alan Knapp Abstract: Phenology and allocation to flowering in C3 and C4 grasses in a mesic grassland: implications for climate change.. 2005 Annual Meeting Profile Poster

Bruce Machona Undergraduate Institution: Wiley College Mentor: Gary Lovett Abstract: Effect of nitrogen addition on fine roots in an oak forest.. 2005 Annual Meeting Profile Poster

Thalia Tooke Undergraduate Institution: University of Kansas Mentors: Luis Garcia Barrios and Tracy Benning Abstract: Weeding strategies and the potential for adoption of glysophate-based technology in traditional maize production systems in Central Chiapas. 2005 Annual Meeting Profile Poster

Lucero Vasquez-Radonic Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at El Paso Mentor:Rebecca Ostertag Abstract: Understanding the interrelations of native and introduced species in the Hawaiian lowland wet forest through seed rain and soil seed bank quantification.. 2005 Annual Meeting Profile Poster

2003-2004 Fellows

Patricia Gillespie Undergraduate Institution: Johnson C. Smith Unversity Mentor: Inna Sokolova Abstract: The effects of heavy metals on disease prevalance in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

Rendie McHenry Undergraduate Institution: Dillard Unversity Mentors: Lee Dyer and Jeff Chambers Abstract: Leaf production, chemical defense, and maintenance costs for tropical rain forest shrub.

Chalita Johnson Undergraduate Institution: Johnson C. Smith Unversity Mentor: Inna Sokolova Abstract: The Subcellular distribution of cadmium in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica.

 

Fellowship Mentors

What is required of mentors?
Fellowship mentors must be ESA members conducting research, working outside the student’s home institution. Mentors must commit the needed time to be a good mentor, which will require anywhere from a few hours a month to a few hours a week given the period of the fellowship. Mentors must also agree to work with a student from a diverse cultural background in a positive and inclusive manner. Fellowship mentors are strongly encouraged to attend the ESA Annual Meetings during the course of their mentee's fellowship, and also serve as students’ meeting mentors, providing guidance throughout the meeting. Fellowship mentors are typically sought out each year in accordance with a student's interest area.

What is the benefit of being a mentor?
SEEDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship mentors will be recognized at the ESA Annual Meetings. SEEDS staff send letters acknowledging the meaningful volunteer effort of mentors to administrators at their home institution. SEEDS also enables mentors to work with top students that are underrepresented in the field, while handling all of the student’s financial logistical arrangements.

Questions can be directed to Melissa Armstrong, SEEDS Coordinator, at Melissa@esa.org or 928-214-7301.