INSTAAR Summer Scholarships for grad students

The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research invites applications from INSTAAR graduate students for our Summer Scholars program. These awards are intended to support the scientific research of INSTAAR graduate students who contribute to the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mission of INSTAAR. Each scholarship recipient will be awarded compensation in the form of a research stipend, equivalent to a ~50% RA position for three summer months.

Sáde Cromratie Clemons uses a hand auger to take a tree ring sample

Eligibility

Current or accepted Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØgraduate student, with an advisor who is an INSTAAR member.

Preference will be given to applicants who:

  1. Plan to continue their research at INSTAAR for at least one academic year following the scholarship award.
  2. Have not received the award previously (though previous awardees are able to apply).

As INSTAAR is dedicated to broadening support in Earth and environmental science, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who are members of communities that are historically marginalized in the sciences, including students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latinx. We also encourage applications from students who can show dedicated engagement with Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles.

Required application materials

ÌýDeadline March 5th

Submit two pdf documents as follows:

´¡.ÌýStatement from the student (PDF #1, maximum 1 page of text with an optional 2nd page of figures). ÌýIt should cover these 3 points:

  1. Describe your anticipated summer research project.
  2. Describe how you and/or your work help INSTAAR meet its mission of becoming an inclusive and just institute.
  3. Commit to a 15-minute talk about the results of your summer/ongoing research at the INSTAAR seminar series prior to completing your degree.

µþ.ÌýStatement of commitment from the student’s faculty advisorÌý(PDF #2, maximum 1 page).ÌýIt should not be a letter of recommendation; instead, it should cover these 3 points:

  1. Confirms an intent to mentor the student for the duration of the project.
  2. Commits to providing additional financial support if needed to ensure equity among research group members.
  3. Affirms plans to provide continued mentorship and financial support to the student beyond the summer.ÌýÌý

Please note that this summer scholarship is considered aid and may impact other aid packages a student has received. If you have concerns about the potential impact, the awarding committee is happy to work with you to maximize benefits.

We anticipate making final decisions by April.Ìý If you have any questions about the application process, please email Sarah Elmendorf. For any technical questions about Google Forms, please email instaarit@colorado.edu

Requires that you log in to your Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Google account
Deadline March 5th

Recipients

Harry Allbrook & Hunter Geist-Sanchez (2025)
Natalie Aranda & Jed Lenetsky (2024)
Holly Olivarez & Rahila Yilangai (2023)
Sáde Clemons & Tina Geller (2022)

Recipient news

Spotlight: Hunter Geist-Sanchez is pioneering restoration methods for Colorado grasslands and reconnecting with his ranching roots

Geist-Sanchez is following his life-long love of nature to develop new methods for preserving Colorado natural areas and rangelands. As a sixth-generation Coloradoan, he hopes his research can help keep grasslands sustainable as the West heats up.

Get to know INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholars

A Q&A with PhD students Harry Allbrook and Hunter Geist-Sanchez, INSTAAR’s 2025 summer scholarship recipients. The scholarship will go toward the students’ continued research in marine biology and grassland restoration throughout the summer.

2024 INSTAAR Summer Scholars

INSTAAR has announced its Summer Scholars for 2024: Natalie Aranda and Jed Lenetsky. They will each be awarded a stipend for the summer months to continue their research projects.

Take 5 with Rahila Yilangai

Published January 2024Five questions & answersRahila Yilangai is a PhD student from Nigeria, who navigates her research with deep curiosity and a passion for ecohydrology. A PhD student in Geography, she is part of INSTAAR’s Ecohydrology Lab led by Holly Barnard.Rahila won an INSTAAR Summer Scholarship in 2023 and used it to support her investigations of the relationship between trees, water, and climate. We caught up with her to ask about her summer and get to know her and her work.Questions & Answ...

INSTAAR Summer Scholars share research plans

INSTAAR’s first cohort of Summer Scholars has been announced. Sáde Cromratie Clemons and Christina Geller will each be awarded a stipend for the summer months to continue their research projects.

Help our summer student scholars

ÌýContribute to our General Fund to support our most pressing needs that aren’t handled through grants, like our summer scholarships for grad students, diversity and inclusion work, partnerships between artists and scientists, lab start-up funds for new faculty, and more.

INSTAAR grad student scholarships

INSTAAR provides special funding opportunities that help support INSTAAR graduate students either annually or during summer research. Those from backgrounds underrepresented in their fields of study are especially encouraged to apply.

Provides a ~50% GRA salary for the three summer months to a Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulderÌýgrad student working in the Arctic, Antarctic, or alpine. The application deadline is typically in late February.

Provides $4,000 total to support the research of one to several INSTAAR graduate students studying polar or alpine regions, such as their field or lab work. The application deadline is typically in late February.

Provides a ~50% GRA stipend for the three summer months for severalÌýINSTAAR grad students. The application deadline is typically in March.

Provides up to $3,000 of support for a year to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder grad students doing collaborative water-related research. The application deadline is typically in early December.