NSF IRES Cameroon Collaboration Application

Investigating Anthropogenic Perturbations on Carbon Cycling in an Urbanized Tropical Estuary

About the Program  |  Application Information  |  Project Participants  |  Research Updates  |  Summary 

Seeking undergraduate and graduate students to take part in a collaborative project that will provided the opportunity for international education, training, and research in marine geochemistry, and carbon cycling in the Atalantic coast of Cameroon, West Africa.

General Application Information

Application Deadlines

• Application Deadline: March 7 
  
• Notification to Applicants: March 22
  
• Deadline for students to accept: March 31
  

Priority deadline for completed applications, documents, and recommendations is March 1st (the application portal will remain open till March 7th). Late applications will only be considered if available openings are not filled.

Selected applicants will be offered a research slot no later than March 22 and will have until March 31 to accept.

Link to applplication form at the bottom of this page.

Program Dates

This is a three year program. The second phase of the project originally planned for summer 2020 has been extended to summer 2021. Applicants who applied for summer 2020 with be reviewed with priority for summer 2021.

Year 2 of the project (summer 2021) will last from the last week of May through the end of June/early July pending flights and airline ticket schedules. Specific travel details will be arranged with participants as soon as selection is finalized.  

Student Participants Program Information

During the duration of the project 12 students (~ 9 undergraduate and 3 graduate students) will be selected to travel to Cameroon to participate in international research experience for students. Selected students will:

• Be required to have a valid passport and require travel immunization
• Enroll in and participate in pre-travel preparation course at FHSU or UD
• Participate in project requirements as required by the project needs

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following minimum expectations:

• be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. The National Science Foundation, which supports the program, requires students to be US citizens, US nationals, or permanent residents of the US.
• be enrolled in a degree program leading to a baccalaureate or graduate degree
• be able and willing to enroll and participate in a pre-travel preparation course at FHSU or UD
• be willing to travel to selected research sites and during selected research dates
• have/or be able to obtain a valid passport and immunizations for international travel
• be able and willing to work in a developing country and tropical environments
• have an interest in or background in STEM specifically physical science and geoscience fields
• have an interest in International travel 
• be able and willing to attend pre-travel and research meeting
• be able and willing to work in a developing country and tropical environment (identify additional criteria such as working conditions, health requirements, etc.)

Canditates should have following experience or knowledge/coursework:

• College interest in or background in STEM specifically physical science and geoscience fields (geology, aqueous geochemistry, hydrology, marine sciences, physical geography, environmental science/geology, bio-geoscience, etc.)
• Scientific curiosity and motivation
• Able to and willing work in open (sea) water
• have and interest in international travel

FHSU and UD are equal opportunity employers and encourages applications from under-served and under-represented groups of students.

How to Apply

Please complete the application form, all required application materials, and submit by the deadline. Link to application form at the bottom of this page, please read carefully and have all information prepared before completing the application form.

Documents Required for Application

• Application Form - Plan to have all application materials prepared prior to filling out the on-line form. Link to application form at the bottom of this page.

• Personal Statement of Interest - Please attach an essay with your application (minimum 500 words, maximum 1,000 words). Click here to see questions that you need to address in your personal statement.
  
• Letters of Recommendation - Two Academic or Professional Reference letters must be sent by your reference(s) directly to the principle investigators on the project. Click here to download/print a document to provide to your reference(s). Reference letters must be postmarked by the application deadline and should address the points identified in the reference document. Academic or Professional Reference letters must be sent by your reference(s) directly to 

Note to student applicant: Make sure you have two people who have agreed to provide a reference for you before starting the application process. Please indicate the name of all recommenders on your application form.

APPLY NOW

For questions, contact:

Dr. Hendratta Ali via email to hnali@fhsu.edu or mail to:

Dr.Hendratta Ali
Department of Geosciences
FHSU, 600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601

Dr. Eliot Atekwana, via email to eatekwana@udel.edu or mail to:

Dr. Eliot Atekwana
Dept. of Geological Sciences
UD, 101 Penny Hall
Newark, DE 19716