ND WRRI invites applications for graduate research fellowships The North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute (ND WRRI) has announced its 2008 Graduate Research Fellowship program. UND and NDSU graduate students who are conducting or planning research in water resources areas may apply for fellowships varying from three summer months to a full year in duration. Typically in the past, fellowship awards for master’s degree students have been in the range of $800 to $1,000, and for doctoral students is has been $1,000 to $1,400 per month. The fellowship funds must be applied between March 1, 2008 and Feb. 28, 2009. Projects proposed for fellowship support should relate to water resources research issues in the state or region. Regional, state or local collaborations or co-funding will strengthen an application. Fellowships have a matching requirement of two non-federal dollars to one federal dollar. Applicants should have a plan of study filed and should have a thesis research topic chosen at the time of applying. Applications need to be prepared in consultation with advisers. Advisers of the applicant should co-sign the applications. Applications from students and advisers who have not met the reporting requirements of their previous fellowship projects will not be considered for funding. The general criteria used for proposal evaluation include scientific merit, originality of research, research related to state or region, and extent of regional, state or local collaboration and/or co-funding. Applications are due in the office of the director by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. The proposals will be reviewed by a panel of faculty members and state water resources research professionals. Announcement of awards will be made by early January. Consult the ND WRRI website, http://www.ndsu.edu/wrri, for background on the program, and guidelines for preparation of applications. Applicants and advisers who are new to the program are urged to contact ND WRRI director, G. Padmanabhan, at (701) 231-7043, or G.Padmanabhan@ndsu.nodak.edu. Send applications to Dr. G. Padmanabhan, Director, ND Water Resources Research Institute, NDSU, CIE 201E, Department of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 5285, Fargo, ND 58105. -- Steve Bergeson, Senior Writer, NDSU University Relations, steven.bergeson@ndsu.edu, 701 231-6101