*Mianus River Gorge Research Assistantship Grant for Graduate Students* Application Deadline: *May 1st 2014*
*Program Description:* Each year, the Mianus River Gorge in Bedford, NY, awards a Research Assistantship Program (RAP) grant to fund a graduate-level study that investigates environmental challenges in urban and suburban ecosystems. *RAP students are awarded a grant of $5,000/yr for two (Master's) or three (Doctoral) years.* *RAP students also mentor a high school student in our authentic research program, the Wildlife Technician Program (WTP).* WTP students work at the MRG on 3-year projects that require regular interaction and advisement from their RAP mentor. WTP projects are usually related to the RAP students' own research; such as a smaller question that adds or complements the thesis research, or a facet of the larger project that the RAP student may not have the time/resources to address themselves. Developing and planning objectives, study design, and logistics are primarily up to the RAP mentor and the WTP mentee, with MRG staff support. Proposed projects can be multi-disciplinary and cover a range of topics, e.g., wildlife biology, human ecology, watershed or forest management, and ecosystem processes; however, projects are evaluated under certain criteria. *Evaluation Criteria:* * The MRG focuses its research, education, and grant support toward 4 main goals: 1. Maintaining and restoring forest diversity in eastern old-growth and post-agricultural second-growth forests in fragmented, suburban areas. 2. Evaluating and counteracting the trophic effects caused by super-abundant white-tailed deer. 3. Invasive species ecology and/or control, including *Amynthas *earthworms, hemlock-wooly adelgid, and common invasive plant species (e.g., Japanese stiltgrass, Japanese barberry, mile-a-minute weed, etc.). 4. Watershed protection, land prioritization, and suburban landscape ecology. 5. Wildlife ecology, behavior, and conservation in developed, fragmented, and urban areas. *Applicants should illustrate how their proposed research would address these goals.* * *Mentor potentia*l - Does the project provide potential research opportunities for a high school student? * *Project Timeline *- Can the project provide meaningful results during the student's tenure? * *Funding *- Can the research be completed with existing resources? * *Management Relevance *- Can the research provide usable recommendations to land managers to improve ecosystem quality and function? *Eligibility Details*: * Candidates must be enrolled in a U.S.-accredited college (Master's or PhD program). * Applicant must be willing to mentor a high school student in our authentic research program, the Wildlife Technician Program (WTP). * All proposed studies should include the Gorge and/or its watershed as one of the study sites, although other sites may be used as well. *Application Process* Applications are reviewed in two stages. To attract a broad array of ideas, we ask candidates to describe their project in two to three pages, a one-page preliminary budget, and a one page description of a few potential projects for their WTP mentee. Those candidates whose application successfully meets the above evaluation criteria will be interviewed and asked to provide further details before a final decision is made. We encourage prospective applications to contact us if they have any questions. Please apply at: http://www.mianus.org/what-we-do/research-and-education/graduate-level/rap -application/ For examples of previous RAP and WTP projects, see: http://www.mianus.org/what-we-do/research-and-education/ Feel free to contact [email protected] with questions. -- Chris Nagy, Ph.D. Director of Research and Land Management - Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Bedford, NY [email protected] <[email protected]> 914.234.3455
