Epscor graduate fellowship program (EGFP): enhancing ecological resiliency in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology at the university of nevada, reno

The National Science Foundation Division of Graduate Education awarded $318,000 to the University of Nevada, Reno on March 15, 2027, under the EPSCOR Graduate Fellowship Program to provide three years of stipend and cost-of-education allowances for graduate fellows in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology.

The award funds graduate fellowships for qualified applicants enrolled in UNR's Ecology, Evolution, Conservation Biology graduate program, with fellow research topics aligned to NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences priorities and NSF initiatives in biotechnology and artificial intelligence. The program aims to enhance research competitiveness and capability in the Nevada EPSCOR jurisdiction by attracting talented students who will advance ecological knowledge, sustainability science, and species conservation.

Performance runs through February 28, 2030, at the Reno, Nevada campus. No sub-awards are planned. The funding falls under NSF STEM Education (CFDA 47.076), which supports talent development and research capability in EPSCOR-designated jurisdictions.

Abstract

The national science foundation (NSF), NSF epscor graduate fellowship program (EGFP) supports EGFP designated institutions/programs in epscor jurisdictions by providing funding for graduate fellowships for eligible applicants. Institutions receive a total of three years of stipend and associated cost-of-education (COE) allowance for each NSF epscor graduate fellow. This award at the university of nevada reno (UNR) seeks to enhance research competitiveness and capability through an investment in talent development. Fellow research topics will align with goals and programs supported by the NSF directorate for biological sciences (BIO). Funding will enhance the capacity and competitiveness of the nevada epscor jurisdiction by attracting students who will produce impactful research advances. The UNR ecology, evolution, conservation biology graduate program is a state-level leader in interdisciplinary graduate education and mentoring. The program has a strong record of retaining and fostering the scientific and professional development of graduate students in the field of ecology, evolution, quantitative, and conservation biology. This experience will effectively train existing qualified eecb graduate students and strengthen the program by recruiting talented fellows to build ecological knowledge, sustainability science, and species conservation in nevada. The research and training students will participate in is aligned with the NSF priorities in biotechnology, and AI. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.