Graduate Research Grants Available
Natural and Social Sciences
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest, Arizona
Application Deadline: Wednesday, 1 April 2009
For further information, please contact:
Jason Theuer
Phone: 928-524-6228 ext. 268
Email: Jason_Theuer [at] nps.gov
Or:
William Parker
Phone: 928-524-6228 ext. 262
Email: William_Parker [at] nps.gov
Petrified Forest National Park is pleased to announce two research
grants available to graduate students in the natural and social
sciences. The goal of this program is to encourage graduate research in
National Parks and provide opportunities for graduate students to
publish research in NPS and scholarly journals. Awards of up to $4,000
each are available for one natural resource research project and one
cultural resource research project for resources available within
Petrified Forest National Park.
Field research must take place within Petrified Forest National Park's
administrative boundary and fieldwork must be completed by 15 September
2009. Delivery of the final report is subject to the nature of the
research, but is due within 18 months from the start of the project.
Field based research projects are strongly encouraged, although archival
projects utilizing existing collections will also rank highly. Research
projects should address issues of interest to the larger scientific
community, under- or seldom-studied resources, or new approaches and
methods. Research projects that directly contribute to the applicant's
MA, MS, or PhD research will be favored.
Petrified Forest National Park contains an abundance of natural and
cultural resources including: the largest expanse of recovering
short-grass prairie in the Colorado Plateau, fauna, reptiles, one of the
most diverse concentrations of birds in Northern Arizona,
paleontological resources, historic resources, ethnographic resources,
and archaeological resources. The park's paleontological resources span
the Late Triassic and include reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates,
petrified wood, and other plant fossils. The park's cultural resources
include archaeological remains from nearly every major time period from
Paleoindian through Proto-historic periods, including Pueblo and Navajo
materials, evidence of early Spanish explorers and missionaries, U.S.
westward expansion in the 1800's, Great Depression Era Civilian
Conservation Corps works, and historic Route 66.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited MA, MS, or PhD
program with at least two full semester of course work completed by
summer 2009.
To apply, please submit the following no later than Wednesday, 1 April
2009:
- A short research proposal (4 pages max, 12pt, single spaced) that
includes: the title and category of the proposal (Natural or Social
Science), contact information and university affiliation (including
both the applicant and the graduate advisor), a research question /
statement of issue, the proposed methodology and scope of work
(indicate if collections are necessary), and the broader impacts and
public purpose;
- A proposed budget with justification;
- Current Curriculum Vitae;
- Graduate and Undergraduate Transcripts (unofficial transcripts will
be accepted); and
- A letter of support from your graduate advisor or department chair.
Award recipients will be announced Friday, 1 May 2009. Funds will be
distributed in four equal installments: three throughout the
fieldwork, and one which will be withheld until submission of final
report.
For more information please contact:
Jason Theuer, Archaeologist
Phone: 928-524-6228 ext. 268
Email: Jason_Theuer [at] nps.gov
Or:
William Parker, Paleontologist
Phone: 928-524-6228 ext. 262
Email: William_Parker [at] nps.gov