Environmental Policy Initiative

EPI PhD Dissertation Proposal Summer Research Grants

The Environmental Policy Initiative offers a research grant program for OSU graduate students preparing doctoral dissertation proposals for work in environmental policy. Recipients receive an award of $1200/month over the summer, and also have the opportunity to present their work before the EPI membership the following year.

Any doctoral student planning to write a PhD on any aspect of environmental policy, and expecting to take the PhD general exam by Winter Quarter of the next academic year, is eligible to apply.

The award from EPI is typically $1,200 per month for three months, starting on July 1, and does not include a tuition or fee waiver. Departments may supplement the stipend at their discretion. The student applicant and the dissertation advisor should collaborate on the proposal, which must be no longer than two pages in length, and should contain:

(i) a brief biosketch of the graduate student applicant including full name, department, expected graduation date, and name and department of the student's advisor;

(ii) a brief description of the proposed dissertation research idea;

(iii) a brief description of how the proposed dissertation research will advance the advisor's research program and prospects of future external research funding;

All information must be submitted electronically to epi@osu.edu by Friday, May 18th, 2007.

The Environmental Policy Initiative is offering Graduate Student Professional Travel Grants of up to $600 for graduate students presenting research papers at professional meetings related to environmental policy.

The EPI Professional Travel Grant Program is intended to increase graduate student involvement in EPI, and to increase EPI visibility beyond Ohio State.  EPI will allocate $4,000 of the annual budget to support graduate student participation in professional meetings related to environmental policy.

The travel fund program is offered to graduate students who hold associate membership status in EPI and are advised by an EPI faculty member. To qualify for a travel grant the graduate student must be the primary author and presenter of a paper at a professional conference related to environmental policy.  In return for travel support, the recipient agrees to acknowledge the support of the Environmental Policy Initiative in a footnote on the conference paper and/or on a title page of their presentation.

Interested EPI members will submit an application to the EPI office prior to travel.  The application will include the following:

(i) a cover letter detailing the applicant's relationship to EPI (applicant should be an associate member, adviser should be a member);

(ii) the title of the paper, and conference details (name, location, date, sponsor, and how it relates to environmental policy);

(ii) evidence that the paper is included on the program and that the applicant is both the primary author and the presenter;

(iii) a completed OSU Travel Request Form detailing expected expenditures for registration, travel, and hotel accommodations.

Applicants who qualify for the travel fund program will be notified, and must submit original receipts for reimbursement promptly after travel has been completed.

A maximum of $600 per paper will be awarded.  Only one person per paper may receive funding through EPI.  Awards will be granted on a first come / first serve basis as long as the allocated funds last.  Applications should be sent via email to epi@osu.edu.