School of Earth & Sustainability
Graduate scholarships & awards
For NAU-wide scholarships for graduate students, visit the Graduate College.
Thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends, and foundations, the School of Earth & Sustainability also has numerous scholarships specifically for graduate students in our programs and areas of research. See each award below for application instructions. Questions about any of the awards can be directed to Rebecca.Best@nau.edu (Environmental Sciences & Sustainability) and/or Nancy.Riggs@nau.edu (Geology). For additional scholarships and community resources specifically to support students from diverse backgrounds, please also check our Diversity and Inclusion page.
Upcoming deadlines: Wyss Scholars: Jan 19, 2021.
Awards for students focused on:
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Environmental sciences, conservation, sustainability Tab Open
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Water, surface processes, geomorphology Tab Closed
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Geology Tab Closed
Environmental sciences, conservation, sustainability Accordion Open
Wyss Scholars Program for the Conservation of the American West
Graduate students in their first year of the MS program in Environmental Sciences & Policy are eligible to apply for this award, which is focused on supporting future leaders in conservation. The deadline is the earliest of all the awards listed here: January 19, 2021. For more information and to apply see the Wyss Scholars Announcement 2021.
Application requirements and submission instructions for the following awards will be posted early spring 2021.
The John Prather Graduate Scholarship in Conservation Biology
The John W. Prather Scholarship supports graduate student research in conservation biology. Application is open to all graduate students in good standing at Northern Arizona University who are engaged in research related to the conservation of biological diversity. Selection of the awardee will be based on the quality of the application materials and the student’s potential impact in the field of conservation biology. Amount: $1000.
John Prather, 1969-2006, was an ecologist with great intellect and love for nature. His research focused on the ecology, behavior, and distribution of terrestrial vertebrates, with an emphasis on birds. John was also a thoughtful and passionate participant in grassroots democracy and was an eloquent spokesman on issues related to human rights, peace, and justice.
Brad McRae Fellowship for Innovation in Conservation of Biodiversity
The McRae Fellowship supports graduate student research in the conservation of biodiversity or wilderness. Students must be enrolled (or accepted, with enrollment before an award is made) as a degree-seeking student in a thesis-based graduate program with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the graduate program. Selection is based on innovation, scientific rigor, and practical utility.
In his NAU graduate thesis, Brad McRae (PhD, NAU School of Forestry, 2004) invented the circuit theory model of gene flow and animal movement. Circuit theory quickly became a dominant paradigm in conservation biology and other scientific disciplines. In the wake of Brad’s untimely death in July 2017, his family and colleagues established this award to help NAU graduate students develop their own innovative ideas. Amount: 1 to 3 fellowships of $2500 to $7500 each.
Henry Hooper Student Fund
The Henry Hooper Student Fund is intended to support student projects that involve an environmental or sustainability issue or activity in research, education, or service. Amount of award varies: up to $1,000.
Bill Morrall Conservation Scholarship
The Bill Morrall Conservation Scholarship was established in 1983 by the Arizona Wildlife Federation to honor the memory of Bill Morrall. Bill was actively involved in the work of the foundation and conservation issues important to Northern Arizona. Past recipients may apply. Recipients must be US citizens, enrolled in conservation-related studies, and continuing at NAU next year. Amount of award varies: approximately $500
Water, surface processes, geomorphology Accordion Closed
Application requirements and submission instructions will be posted early spring 2021.
Muehlberger Family Award
This Fund was established by Mr. Eric Muehlberger who earned both his BS & MS degrees in Geology from Northern Arizona University. This fund is established in honor of his family to encourage and support a graduate student or students conducting research in water, surface processes, or geomorphology, broadly defined. Open to applications from graduate students in the School of Earth & Sustainability.
Geology Accordion Closed
Application requirements and submission instructions will be posted early spring 2021.
Montgomery Award
A former NAU professor, Dr. Errol “Monte” Montgomery, is the founder of Montgomery and Associates, a water resources firm based in Tucson, Arizona, and has generously supported NAU-Geology over the years. In 2009, he established the Montgomery Prize for the best graduate student poster on her/his MS research. Evaluation criteria include the communication skills demonstrated by the presenter as well as the quality of the research.
Becker Family Award in Geology
The Ulf and Kelly Becker award funds a graduate / undergraduate team to do research that generally aids the graduate student’s MS in Geology or PhD in SES.
Ronald Blakey Award
NAU Professor Emeritus Dr. Ron Blakey was honored in 2010 by the Geology faculty and alumni with the establishment of a new endowed NAU Foundation fund in his name. The fund was set up to support graduate research in areas related to Dr. Blakey’s interests in stratigraphy and regional tectonics.
McCullough Award
Application requirements and submission instructions will be posted early spring 2021.
Award benefits geology graduate student research on some aspect of the Grand Canyon or the drainage basin of the Colorado River.
Pioneer Natural Resources Award
The Pioneer Natural Resources company has provided generous funds to the NAU Geology program since 2011. Approximately half will be awarded to meritorious projects in the general field of stratigraphy/sedimentation/basin analysis, and the remainder will be awarded to projects falling within any field in the geosciences. The funds can be used to support research-related expenses or professional development activities (e.g., participation in a meeting or workshop; research-instrument training, etc).
David Sanders Geology Research Assistantship Award
Dave Sanders is a Geology MS alumnus with a successful career in the oil-and-gas business, most recently with Pioneer Natural Resources. This award is intended to support graduate research in geology by providing funding for a one-semester RA to a graduate student in the Geology Program.
Basin-Structure Research Award
An alumni fund (Basin-Structure Research Fund) was set up in 2004 – 2005 by three former NAU-Geology graduate students, Luke Martin, Travis Loseke and Nathan Blythe. The award is meant to assist in tuition, field, and/or laboratory expenses. Successful proposals must be focused on some aspect of Cenozoic tectonics, including sedimentary and structural processes in the Basin and Range and/or Transition zone of southern Nevada or Arizona.
Geology Graduate Student Scholarship Award
This award is given to support an MS student in Geology. It has been funded by generous contributions from Geology alumni. Applications judged based on research, teaching, service to the department, and / or justification of financial need.
Friday Lunch Clubbe Awards
The Friday Lunch Clubbe awards are provided by alumni in support of Geology graduate student research projects. Funding decisions are made by a committee of alumni following evaluation of rigorous proposals submitted by graduate students.