Murie Science and Learning Center 2012 Research Fellowship Program

The Murie Science and Learning Center Research Fellowship supports field research in any of the national park service units coordinating with the MSLC. Two broad ecological areas (arctic and interior Alaska) are part of two Inventory and Monitoring Networks: the Arctic Network (Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve); and the Central Alaska Network (Denali National Park and Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, and Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve).

To encourage scientific and scholarly research that (1) fills gaps in the ecological or cultural understanding of park resources or (2) addresses management issues, the National Park Service (NPS) and Alaska Geographic established the Murie Science and Learning Center Fellowship Program through the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC), located in Denali National Park and Preserve. Selected fellows conduct research or scholarship projects in arctic and subarctic parks to address issues of importance to park managers, and share their research with others through some form of educational outreach.

Fellowship applications will be considered for funding requests up to $8000. Funds may be used over one or two years. More than one fellow may be selected. The fellowship program supports field research in the

biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences. Project requests are more likely to be successful if they address topics that will help park managers tackle management issues. Collaborative projects are encouraged.

The fellowship program is designed to provide funding for graduate students, but may also be appropriate for

college and university faculty, undergraduate students, state and federal agency scientists, and private-sector

researchers. Research fellows must be self-directed individuals whose work will contribute to the scientific

knowledge of the natural and cultural resources of arctic and subarctic parks. The fellow must be able to complete

the proposed project within one or two years (depending on the funding and timing requested) and provide a final

report, even if the project is part of a larger thesis project. Recipients may apply for a Fellowship in subsequent

years, but project proposals will be evaluated independently of the previous year?s work.