[Plsgs] FW: Funded opportunity for plant sciences students

Tue Feb 3 14:53:58 MST 2015

UA Science: Sky School Graduate Fellowships

For the 2015-2016 academic year, the Sky School will offer at least six graduate fellowships. The fellowships are designed to connect graduate students with K-12 students as research mentors and educators during residential educational programs. The fellowship is a unique opportunity to gain experience with science education and communication. Sky School staff will provide training for effective mentoring of students. Fellows will then mentor groups of K-12 students on 2-4 day programs throughout the year. Programs may include instruction on general themes relevant to Sky Island ecology, geology, astronomy, culture, and history, as well as in research projects on topics close to Fellows’ dissertation. Sky School staff will provide feedback to Fellows on improving their facilitation and teaching skills.

Learn more at our pizza meet-and-greet! We are inviting the graduate student community to an informal happy hour with our Fellows and staff. Join us at Grimaldi's Pizza (6th St. & Campbell) from 5 - 7 PM on Tuesday February 17th, 2015. Food will be provided.

Eligibility
Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Arizona for 2015-2016. Fellows must be able to transport themselves to the SkyCenter campus to participate in multiple educational programs on or near Mount Lemmon or Sabino Canyon. Some programs may require overnight stays at the SkyCenter campus. Graduate students may receive this fellowship more than once and do not need to be United States citizens.

Compensation
Each fellow will receive a stipend of $4,500, paid half in fall 2014 and half in spring 2015. Meals and lodging will be provided while at the SkyCenter.

Fellow Commitments

Instruct and mentor K-12 participants designing, carrying out, and presenting research projects on Mount Lemmon for a total of 20 overnights over the course of the academic year. Programs tend to be scheduled between September – November and March – May. Multi-day programs are usually during the week. Efforts will be made to accommodate the graduate fellow’s academic schedule where necessary.

•      Pass background check and register fingerprints with UAPD

•      Be interviewed for website, assemble online resources and a reading list for students, and obtain equipment required for conducting specialized research

•      Attend mandatory training events on the main University campus as well as on Mt. Lemmon

Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be primarily evaluated for the ability of the Fellow to communicate with and relate to participants. Also important is the development, clarity, and age-appropriateness of the potential research projects proposed. A research connection to resources unique to Mount Lemmon or the Sonoran Desert is helpful but not necessary. Non-science graduate students are also encouraged to apply.  We try to maximize the diversity of subject areas covered by all fellows. Experience teaching or mentoring youth as well as experience in the outdoors are helpful but not required. Fellows will ideally represent diverse backgrounds and research areas. Applicants early in their graduate programs are especially encouraged to apply to facilitate holding a multi-year fellowship with the SkySchool.

Application Process
Please email application materials to uaskyschool at gmail.com<mailto:uaskyschool at gmail.com> by Sunday March 22nd (last day of spring break). Interviews and final decisions will be made no later than Friday April 4th 2014.

Application materials:

•      Brief statement of interest, explaining your prior experience and qualifications, as well as your desired personal outcomes for the fellowship (one page limit)

•      Brief description of your research interests written at a level appropriate to generate understanding and curiosity for a typical 8th grade student (one page limit)

•      Curriculum vitae, including any past educational, outdoor, or outreach activities relevant to this fellowship (two page limit)

•      Letter of support from your advisor (can be sent under separate cover)

Further Information
More information about the UA Science: Sky School program is available online at https://skyschool.arizona.edu/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uaskyschool, or by emailing uaskyschool at gmail.com<mailto:uaskyschool at gmail.com>. Examples of existing curriculum and lessons can be found on our interactive wiki site: https://skyschool.arizona.edu/skyschoolwiki.

Please contact us or any of our current graduate fellows with any questions if you are considering applying.

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Benjamin Blonder
University of Arizona

UA Sky School: https://skyschool.arizona.edu/
on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/uaskyschool

Website: http://www.benjaminblonder.org
Photo-blog (Natural Curiosities): http://bblonder.wordpress.com/
Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=l3FNoE8AAAAJ

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A. Elizabeth (Betsy) Arnold
School of Plant Sciences
The University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721

http://arnoldlab.net
barnoldaz at gmail.com<mailto:barnoldaz at gmail.com>
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