CHANGE Fellows Program

Application Deadline — January 2

The CHANGE Fellows program is a highly selective funding opportunity for new incoming UW-Madison Ph.D. students who want to build a rigorous interdisciplinary training component into their quest for a doctorate in a field related to environmental sustainability. CHANGE Fellows funding will cover annual tuition, health insurance, and provide a $30,000/year stipend for one or two years. CHANGE Fellows also receive supplemental funding for international research travel, and can apply for mini-grants to cover specific research expenses.

Students accepted as CHANGE Fellows will enroll in the Nelson Institute's graduate Certificate on Humans and the Global Environment (CHANGE) program, which is designed to provide participants with the skills and training needed to become exemplary interdisciplinary researchers and teachers. They will also be expected to participate in other activities related to the CHANGE-IGERT.

Important Note: Environmental problems can affect any racial, ethnic, or national group. The CHANGE Fellows program is committed to building a diverse student body. We are also interested in students whose research is relevant to diverse populations: for example, examining the ways that environmental issues intersect with socio-economic, gender, or racial inequality. Minority and economically disadvantaged applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility: Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to receive funding as CHANGE Fellows. CHANGE Fellowships are limited to students who are planning to pursue a Ph.D. We recognize that students in some disciplines will complete a master's degree on the way to a Ph.D. To ensure eligibility you should clearly explain your intent to pursue a Ph.D. both in your Graduate School application and especially on your application for the CHANGE Fellowship.

CHANGE Fellowship Application Process

Step 1. Review the research themes of the CHANGE-IGERT program and the faculty pages.

Step 2. Contact one or more of the IGERT faculty with a letter or email of interest about the CHANGE-IGERT Fellowship. Send a copy of your letter to the graduate admissions office for the Nelson Institute and to Rob Beattie, the IGERT Associate Director. It is very important that you try to start a dialog with your chosen faculty member(s) about their work and your interests. If you are having trouble getting in touch with them, email Dr. Beattie or Carmela Diosana for assistance.

Step 3. Review the UW Graduate School's admissions requirements and use their online form to apply for admission in a graduate program associated with the CHANGE faculty member(s) whose work interests you. Note that some CHANGE faculty are associated with multiple graduate programs - pick the one that is right for you and your research interests! The Graduate School application can be sent to as many as three programs for one application fee.

Step 4. In addition to your Graduate School application, you must fill out an online CHANGE Fellowship application form. The form asks you to send us a brief application essay that explains why you want to participate in the CHANGE IGERT, and how your research will relate to the goals of the CHANGE IGERT, which are described throughout this website. Scroll down on this page for some application tips.

CHANGE Fellowship applications must be submitted by January 2.

CHANGE Fellowship Evaluation Process

The best CHANGE applications respond directly to the goals and vision of our program. Before you apply, talk to or email the faculty, staff, and students identified on the CHANGE website. We want to help you put together the best application possible. What follows are the guidelines that the CHANGE faculty use to evaluate incoming applications. If you read through them you should get some insights about how to put together your strongest application.

A committee of CHANGE IGERT faculty will review all applications using the following criteria:

1. Quality of applicant as a prospective interdisciplinary environmental scholar as measured by past academic achievement, external letters of support, and professional or personal achievements.

2. Academic status of applicant, particularly whether the applicant shows strong promise of being accepted into a Ph.D. program with a clear connection to the goals and mission of the CHANGE IGERT. Applicants who are in their last semesters of an M.S./M.A. program and who show commitment toward completion of a Ph.D. will also be considered, but they must be accepted into a new Ph.D. program before they can become a CHANGE Fellow.

3. Commitment of the applicant to completion of a Ph.D. degree with a focus on interdisciplinary research that examines the sustainability and/or vulnerability of linked human non-human natural systems, particularly as it relates to the thematic areas highlighted throughout the CHANGE program website.

4. Commitment of the applicant to assume a leadership role in sustainability-related fields upon completion of the Ph.D.

5. Commitment of the applicant to complete the graduate Certificate on Humans and the Global Environment as part of their graduate coursework.

6. A commitment on the part of prospective UW faculty advisor(s) to support applicants participation in CHANGE-IGERT training, particularly a strong commitment toward continued financial support for the student during years when they are not funded by the IGERT. Members of the committee may contact faculty advisors to assure their commitment to advising, mentoring, and supporting a CHANGE Fellow beyond their IGERT support.

7. Due to NSF and UW-Madison funding restrictions, approximately one half of the CHANGE Fellows selected should be eligible for in-state tuition at UW-Madison.

The applicant's application essays and external letter(s) of recommendation are critical toward assessment of commitment (criteria 3-5). Members of the review committee may also contact and interview applicants, their referees, or possible faculty mentors for further evidence of commitment.