The Jonathan O. Davis Fellowship

About the Jonathan O. Davis Fellowship for Graduate Student Quaternary Science Research in the Great Basin

Jonathan O. Davis

The Desert Research Institute Jonathan O. Davis Research Fellowship is awarded annually to outstanding Masters and PhD students conducting research relevant to the Quaternary geology, geomorphology, and/or geoarchaeology of the Great Basin. Awards will be made to the highest-ranking Masters and PhD student proposals. A Masters student will be funded up to $2500 and a PhD student will be funded up to $5000. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a Masters or PhD program in the United States. If the award nominee’s enrollment status changes during the semester in which the award is made, the fellowship funds will be forfeited. Previous awardees in each category (Masters or PhD) are ineligible for subsequent submission in the same category. However, awardees at the Masters level are eligible for subsequent submissions at the PhD level. The fellowship funds are intended to support students conducting graduate research activities within the Great Basin. Students doing research on any aspect of the Quaternary geology, geomorphology, and/or geoarchaeology of the Great Basin are encouraged to apply.

Jonathan O. Davis was a Quaternary geologist, geoarchaeologist, and DRI faculty member who was dedicated to research in the Great Basin. The endowment that supports this award was established in his memory by his family and friends to support and promote Quaternary research that impacts the understanding of the Quaternary science of the Great Basin.

Applications should include:

1. Cover letter: One page. A cover letter addressed to the committee should introduce the applicant, explain their eligibility, describe their research experience and interests, and demonstrate the significance of the proposed research to Quaternary geology, geomorphology and/or geoarchaeology in the Great Basin.

2. Research Proposal: Up to 2 pages of text and up to 3 pages of figures. The research proposal should include a title and the following sections:

  • Summary: One paragraph that summarizes the proposal.
  • Introduction: Explain the background and significance of the research to the Great Basin.
  • Study area:  Describe where the study takes place.
  • Hypotheses: Present the hypotheses or research questions that guide the research.
  • Methods: Explain how geological methods are essential to your research question, how the study will be achieved, and what activities will take place.
  • Anticipated Results and Significance: Describe the anticipated results. Explain how the data generated from the methods will be used to evaluate the hypotheses or answer the research question. Explain the significance of the anticipated results and their impact on understanding the Great Basin.
  • Figures: Up to 3 pages of figures with captions should follow the text.
  • References: Should follow the figures. No page limit.
  • Proposal formatting: Single spaced, 11-12 pt Arial or Times New Roman font, left justified, include a space between paragraphs. Reference formatting and style should be consistent and should follow that of a major journal in the discipline with which the proposal is aligned.

3. Budget justification: One page. Describe how the funds will be allocated to the research activities. Include any other sources of funding to demonstrate feasibility of the project. Funding for field work and laboratory analysis is preferred.

4. Curriculum Vitae

5. Letter of support: One page. A letter written by the research supervisor should document the student’s abilities and potential as a Quaternary scientist, the advisor’s involvement in the development of the proposal, and the advisor’s role in the execution of the proposed research activities.

The application package should be submitted as a single PDF to JODFellowship@dri.edu by December 1, 2024 for consideration. Proposals will not be returned.

Email questions to JODFellowship@dri.edu. 

CONTACT

JODFellowship@dri.edu

LOCATION

Desert Research Institute
2215 Raggio Parkway
Reno, NV 89512

DIVISION

Earth & Ecosystem Sciences