Applications Open for 2026-27 Global Change Research Fellows

November 19, 2025 Maira Brondizio 4-min. read

Group photo of the 2024-25 Global Change Research Fellows

The Global Change Research Fellows program provides financial, scientific, and professional-development support for graduate students who are incoming to or currently enrolled at a Consortium University or a citizen of a USET member Tribal Nation in the Southeast attending any university.

SE CASC’s mission is to provide science that helps fish, wildlife, water, lands, and people adapt to changing climate and land use. We invite applications from students who are interested in interdisciplinary research related to this mission, and especially those students who seek to do work that informs or directly addresses challenges associated with global change.

Scientific and Professional Development

Recipients will join an interdisciplinary community of graduate students and faculty with interests in global environmental change.

Global Change Research Fellows will be required to participate in:

An expenses-paid, one-week-long Climate Adaptation Science Field Intensive to be held in either August or December 2026, focused on principles of SE CASC mission and climate adaptation challenges and strategies of resource managers. The location of the field intensive will be in the SE CASC footprint.
Weekly virtual cohort meetings and skill-building workshops. Fellows will meet in Fall and Spring semesters on Tuesdays from 10:15-11:30 ET (all fellows must have this time available in their schedules to participate in the program).
A Team Science Synthesis Project, SE CASC-funded Working Group, or SE CASC Communications Project as a research assistant.
Implementing at least two convenings related to the mission of the SE CASC within the academic year of 2026-27. These could be seminars, coffee hours, or panel discussions.
Developing a Researcher Spotlight highlighting their research and experience in the program.
Other professional development opportunities throughout the year.

Financial Support

We expect to fund 10 to 14 students for the 2026-27 academic year. Stipends (in the form of Research Assistantships) will be paid at a rate determined based on their university and college affiliation or set by NC State University, approximately $28,957-$32,000 stipend plus tuition and health insurance for the period August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027. Consortium student support will be provided as a subaward to their Consortium university, to their Tribal Nation, or to USET.

Support after the Fellows program year of funding is the responsibility of the student’s advisor and/or graduate program, and the faculty advisor must demonstrate commitment to fully supporting the remaining graduate program for accepted students. This commitment should be expressed in the faculty member’s letter of recommendation. Students will be responsible for paying any student fees. Some additional funds may be available for student travel and professional development opportunities.

Faculty Involvement

Applicants should request a letter of recommendation from their faculty advisor who either currently is, or will apply to be, a SE CASC Research Affiliate. SE CASC accepts requests on a rolling basis from faculty who would like to be listed as Research Affiliates. Faculty advisors are expected to actively participate in the Global Change Research Fellows program by participating in SE CASC activities such as seminars, mentoring graduate students in their research programs, encouraging student participation in Fellows activities, and guiding Fellows projects in cooperation with other faculty, SE CASC leadership, and partners.

Guidelines and directions for upload are available at: 2026-27 GCRF Letter of Recommendation Guidelines.pdf.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in or entering a PhD or Masters degree program at a Consortium university or must be a citizen of a USET member Tribal Nation in the Southeast who is enrolled in or entering a Masters or PhD degree program at any university. For PhD students, preference will be given to students who are in years 1 through 4 of their PhD program during the Fellows program year.

Application and Selection Process

Full applications must be submitted by January 12, 2026 via this Google form, providing general information about the student applicant and supplying these documents:

Statement of Interest formatted according to the provided template: 2026-27 GCRF Statement of Interest Template.pdf
Applicant’s curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum; we suggest using the following resource in developing a CV)
A copy of applicant’s unofficial transcript
Name and contact information for the faculty advisor who will be submitting a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be uploaded directly by the faculty advisor by the application deadline via this Google form: 2026-27 SE CASC Global Change Research Fellow Letters of Recommendation, following provided guidelines.