Bridging the Gap Fellowships
Recruiting six MS Students interested in studying Data Science in the Natural Resource Sciences in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. This program is funded through a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Program (NNF). Candidates who do not see themselves historically represented in data sciences and natural resources are especially encouraged to apply.
Data science is an interdisciplinary approach that combines scientific knowledge and methods from a variety of disciplines with algorithms, processes and systems to extract information from structured and unstructured data. Data science combines classic statistical methods and data analysis techniques with modern approaches such as machine learning and data mining performed on large datasets. The natural resource sciences have entered an era in which both in-situ and remote sensing observations are dense and global. The opportunity to discover is no longer limited by the collection and processing of data, but also by the management, analysis and data inference using powerful statistical, machine learning, and modeling techniques and cloud computing.
We aim to accelerate the bridging of the gap between sustainable resource management and data sciences by establishing leadership focused, diverse graduate fellowship in SEFS at UW. We will use evidence-based experiential learning frameworks, harnessing big data and apply those to large-scale integrated social and biological issues faced by the forest and natural resources industries. We focus on Data Science, to enable management, analysis, research, and communications through geospatial and other kinds of data.
The program must harness engagement with external stakeholders interested in the Fellows’ Master’s thesis project (the individual will be nominated to serve on the board of the Precision Forestry Cooperative (PFC) for the duration of the fellowship). The fellowship program will integrate stakeholder-driven, applied research by leveraging individual thesis projects defined in conjunction with private, public, and non-profit sector stakeholders.
Fellowship requirements: Core competencies that each Fellow will be expected to attain come from a combination of course work and experiential learning requirements. Fellows will complete courses in at least three of the four areas below. Each area will have a list of current courses offered within SEFS and other departments on the UW Seattle campus that will satisfy the requirement in that area. A minimum of 11 credits is required, a minimum of three from each of the three areas, and multiple credits can be earned for eScience seminar (2 credits each). The 11 total credits will count toward the minimum number of credits required for the SEFS MS. The areas of focus will include: (1) Software Development, (2) Statistical and Machine Learning, (3) Data Management and Data Visualization, and (4) SEFS graduate requirements courses that include Data Science content but are environmental in application. Fellows will work with their faculty advisors to select graduate level courses from these available at UW.
Per USDA requirements, this program is only open to U.S. citizens or nationals.
Funding details: Successful candidates will become part of a cohort of six students who will be supported with RA-equivalent funding (including tuition and benefits) for two academic years during their MS program (3 quarters each year). Students awarded a Bridging the Gap fellowship will receive two quarters from the NNF program, two quarters from SEFS fellowships, and at least two quarters from grants managed by the faculty advisor. Funding will be awarded for the 2022-23 academic year, with renewal for the 2023-24 academic year based on annual performance evaluation.
Student application process: Interested applicants must complete the Online Application for Graduate Study at the University of Washington by January 10, 2022. Applicants should also consult the application process in the SEFS available here. Applicants may indicate in their research statement that they are applying to the “Bridging the Gap’ program. To be considered for the program, students must be nominated by a faculty advisor, who agrees to provide matching support from research funds. Discuss your research and programmatic interests with potential faculty advisors prior to and after the application deadline.
Applicants who have already applied for the graduate program and who wish to express interest in the program, or applicants with any other questions, should contact Prof. L.M. Moskal lmmoskal@uw.edu.