EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): Geologic Disturbances Through Time

The National Science Foundation (NSF), NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) supports EGFP designated institutions/programs in EPSCoR jurisdictions by providing funding for graduate fellowships for eligible applicants. Institutions receive a total of three years of stipend and associated cost-of-education (COE) allowance for each NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellow. This award at the University of Wyoming seeks to enhance research competitiveness and capacity through an investment in talent development. Fellow research topics will align with goals and programs supported by the NSF Directorate for Geosciences (GEO). Research topics and activities will focus on how Earth systems create, mitigate, and recover from disturbance events such as volcanic eruptions, fires, landslides, and floods. Understanding modern disturbances is important for the safety of people and infrastructure, as well as management of natural resources. Studying past disturbances is vital for revealing the consequences of natural change and comparing with modern processes to inform management and mitigation strategies. This project will address regional and national needs to produce skilled geoscience graduates that will contribute to the academic, government, and industry workforce, while strengthening Wyoming’s research capacity and competitiveness. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.