Travis Toth (Atmospheric Science) receivies an NASA Fellowship award
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program – 2016
NASA received a total of 767 applications in 2016 to the NASA Earth and Space Science (NESSF) Fellowship Program announced in November 2015 among Earth Science Research, Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research, and Astrophysics Research – the four research programs of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters.
These four SMD science divisions make respective selection of applications for award on a competitive basis. Criteria for evaluation included: (a) the scientific merit of the proposed research; (b) the relevance of the proposed research to NASA’s objectives in Earth or space science; and (c) academic excellence based upon an applicant’s transcripts, the letter of recommendation by the student’s academic advisor, and the degree to which it supported the proposed research. Evaluation was conducted via either mail or panel review, or both, and by the relevant expertise in the science divisions of SMD.
The purpose of the NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines required to achieve NASA’s scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection are made in the form of training grants to the respective universities and educational institutions, with the faculty advisor serving as the principal investigator.
NESSF awards are made initially for one year and may be renewed for no more than two additional years, contingent upon satisfactory progress, as reflected in academic performance, research progress, and recommendation by the faculty advisor, and the availability of funds. An award is $30,000 per annum, including $24,000 student stipend and an allowance of up to $6,000, consisting of $3,000 for student expenses and $3,000 for university expenses.
The student allowance may be used for tuition; fees; travel in support of the research investigation to conferences, symposia, or collaborative meetings; books; expendable laboratory supplies; page charges for journal articles; printing of a thesis; health insurance; and other similar expenses related to the proposed research investigation. The university allowance may be used for tuition or research expenses, if agreed upon by the student and faculty advisor; it may also support research-related travel for the advisor (i.e. to accompany the student to a scientific meeting, oversee the student’s research, etc.); or by the student. The budget in these two allowance categories may be exchanged, as long as the total sum for the two combined allowance categories does not exceed $6,000.
An individual accepting this award may not concurrently receive other Federal fellowships or traineeships. However, NASA may allow an applicant to receive supplements from other U.S. Federal agencies to cover expenses not covered by NASA’s graduate fellowships; for example, the purchase of equipment, which is not permitted through a NASA fellowship.
Travis Toth (Student); Jianglong Zhang (Advisor); University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
Investigating Seasonal and Annual Variability in Particulate Matter Pollution over China
16-EARTH16F-0188
