INSTAAR Summer Scholarships for grad students

The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research invites applications from INSTAAR graduate students for Summer Scholarships. These awards are intended to support the scientific research of INSTAAR graduate students who enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within 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.

Closeup view of blueberries and other tundra plants

As INSTAAR is dedicated to broadening support in the Earth sciences, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who are members of communities that are historically marginalized in the Earth 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. Preference will be given to applicants who plan to continue their research at INSTAAR for at least one academic year following the scholarship award and who have not previously recieved the award (though previous recipients are able to re-apply).

Required application materials

Next deadline: TBA, likely around March 1, 2025

Submit two pdf documents as follows:

A. Statement from the student (PDF #1, maximum 1 page).  It should cover these 3 points:

  1. Describe your anticipated summer research project.
  2. Describe how your personal background and life experiences (including cultural, educational, familial, social, etc.) help INSTAAR meet its mission of becoming an inclusive, actively anti-racist 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.

B. Statement from the student’s faculty advisor (PDF #2, maximum 1 page). It 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.  

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.  If you have any questions about the application process, please email Marisa Seitz. For any technical questions about Google Forms, please email instaarit@colorado.edu

Submit your application 

Requires that you log in to your CU Boulder Google account
Deadline TBA

Recipients

Natalie Aranda & Jed Lenetsky (2024)
Holly Olivarez & Rahila Yilangai (2023)
Sáde Clemons & Tina Geller (2022)

Help our summer student scholars

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

Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship 

Sarah Crump, in purple coat, stands in front of a dramatic Baffin Island landscape of colorful tundra suddenly broken by towering cliffs.

Thanks to the efforts of Sarah's family and 1200+ generous donors, we met our first funding goal in May 2023 and created an endowment that supports a CU Boulder grad student every summer. Sarah's summer fellowship gives a boost to their study of Earth or environmental science in Arctic, Antarctic, or alpine regions. It also acts as a lever for equity and underserved communities. Our next goal is to extend summer support into the school year. Please consider contributing.

Learn about Sarah & her fellowship