National Academies of Sciences’ Gulf Research Program Awards Five LSU College of the Coast & Environment Faculty and Graduate Students Prestigious Fellowships
08/10/2020
BATON ROUGE – Five LSU College of the Coast & Environment faculty, graduate students and alumnae have been awarded prestigious 2020 fellowships by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program, or GRP. LSU College of the Coast & Environment’s Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences Assistant Professors Cassandra Glaspie and Michael Polito are among the 20 U.S. faculty selected for the Early-Career Research Fellowships. Now in its sixth year, the fellowship is awarded to emerging scientific leaders who are prepared to work at the intersections of environmental health, community health and resilience, and offshore energy system safety in the Gulf of Mexico and other U.S. coastal regions.
LSU College of the Coast & Environment’s Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences alumnae Hanna Bauer and Jeanne Bloomberg, who both have received Master of Science degrees in oceanography and coastal sciences, and Department of Environmental Sciences doctoral candidate Rachel Correll are among the nine recipients of the program’s 2020 Science Policy Fellowships.
“Our faculty and students conduct research at the forefront of the world’s most pressing coastal and environmental challenges. With this support from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program, these talented researchers will be able to advance knowledge and implement strategies that will ensure that future generations can value, conserve and enjoy the natural resources in the Gulf Coast region,” said Chris D’Elia, LSU College of the Coast & Environment dean.
The two-year Early-Career Research Fellowships, which begin on September 1, are awarded to tenure-track faculty at colleges, universities and research institutions. Each of the 20 selected fellows receives a $76,000 financial award, mentoring support and a built-in community of colleagues who share an interest in the well-being of Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems. Since the award is not attached to a specific project, fellows are able to use the support to pursue bold, nontraditional research that they otherwise might not be able to conduct.
“The early years of a researcher’s career are a critical time. This program gives fellows the independence and flexibility to explore untested ideas and develop lasting collaborations,” said Lauren Alexander Augustine, GRP executive director. “The 2020 class of fellows are a distinguished group of individuals who have demonstrated superior scholarship, exceptional scientific and technical skills, and the ability to work across disciplines.”
Nearly 88 Early-Career Research Fellowships have been awarded since 2015.
Also beginning September 1, the science policy fellows will spend one year on the staff of federal and state government agencies, public health departments and nonprofit organizations in the Gulf of Mexico region. Bauer will be working for Texas Parks and Wildlife in Coastal Fisheries. Bloomberg will be working in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, RESTORE Act Science Program. Correll will be working in the Houston Applied Research Center.
“The GRP seeks to enhance offshore safety, environmental protection and the health and resilience of its communities. We are excited that our science policy fellows will tackle these societal issues in the Gulf region,” Augustine said.
Now in its fifth year, the science policy fellowship program has a network of nearly 50 alumni. It supports the development of scientists from a range of disciplines including social and behavioral sciences, health sciences and medicine, engineering and physical sciences, and earth and life sciences. The nine fellows bring to the program extensive experience in research design and evaluation, teaching, volunteerism and their personal passions for health equity, environmental justice and community resilience. Beyond gaining rigorous work experience, fellows receive a mentor and access to training and professional development.
Additional Links:
Full list of the 2020 Early-Career Research Fellows: https://www.nationalacademies.org/gulf/fellowships-and-grants/current-and-past-early-career-research-fellows
Full list of the 2020 Science Policy Fellows: https://www.nationalacademies.org/gulf/fellowships-and-grants/current-and-past-science-policy-fellows
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Contact Alison Satake
LSU Media Relations
c. 510-816-8161
asatake@lsu.edu