BRIAN KELLER MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP
IN CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH
Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center (NSU OC) has established the Brian Keller
Memorial Fellowship in Coral Reef Ecosystem Research to provide assistance for graduate student
thesis or dissertation expenses to Oceanographic Center graduate students
PhD or MS graduate students involved in approved thesis or dissertation work only may apply for an
award.
Preference will be given to graduate students whose proposals for funding address one or more of the
following research areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary:
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Coral restoration
Long-term coral reef monitoring programs
Effectiveness of management zones, especially no-take reserves
Principles associated with connectivity to inform science-based management
Management of coral reefs across multiple spatial scales.
One or more awards of up to $15,000 are anticipated to be made in 2015 to a NSU Oceanographic
Center graduate student in good academic standing.
Students may receive the Brian Keller Memorial Fellowship once during their graduate studies at the
Oceanographic Center.
Upon receipt of the award, the amount requested by the awardee(s) will be transferred to their advising
faculty member’s restricted account, and all related thesis expenses included in the proposal will be
paid/reimbursed in accordance with NSU policies.
If there are any remaining funds at the end of the award period, these will be transferred back into the
Brian Keller Memorial Fellowship account.
APPLICATION FOR A BRIAN KELLER MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP AWARD
Application for an award should be made in writing by the graduate student (and submitted in PDF
format) to the Associate Dean of Academic Programs of the Oceanographic Center at
spielerr@nova.edu. The project design should be of the quality to yield a scientific publication in a
peer-reviewed journal.
Applications are due no later than December 1, 2014. Applications will be reviewed by a committee
chaired by the Associate Dean and including the Dean and additional faculty and researchers as may be
needed. Award announcements will be made by January 15, 2015.
Applications should contain the following elements:
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Submission Date:
Student Name:
Student Signature:
Advisor Name:
Advisor Signature:
Project Title for which the Award will be used:
Proposal Text:
A proposal, limited to three pages, (not including References, Experience and Qualifications, and the
Budget), using 12-point font, in English, is required from prospective fellowship candidates. The
proposal should include the following sections:
Introduction: Place the proposed research in context. Include clearly stated rationale, research
objectives, the question that is driving the research, and the relevance of the study within the context of
the literature and the fellowship.
Methods: Include hypotheses, methods, and experimental design, including details on field or
laboratory techniques, and how data will be analyzed.
Results: Briefly outline expected outcomes and how the work is relevant to the priorities of the
fellowship and how it relates to the approved thesis or dissertation. Implications of the work related to
science-based management needs should be identified. Local and regional management needs are
considered a priority, but application to global needs should also be noted, if appropriate.
References: Include references cited in the proposal.
Experience and Qualifications: A one-page CV should include research experience and other
qualifications that demonstrate abilities and competency to successfully complete the research.
Resources Needed (budget): A detailed budget should describe and justify the amount requested (up to
$15,000). The budget can be spent over one or two years.
Students who receive awards must acknowledge in publications, presentations, and reports, that support
was received from the Brian Keller Memorial Fellowship at Nova Southeastern University
Oceanographic Center. Students who receive awards must also provide the Associate Dean with a
report of their research progress every six months after receipt of the award, until completion of the
project. The report must include a summary of work completed and funds spent.
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