Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA 2015 STAR A3

  • The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emerging Environmental Approaches and Challenges Synthetic Biology for Environmental Purposes (A3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.514 Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship Program.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 13, 2015 and posted on Apr 12, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 26, 2015 Please see the announcement including Section IV for additional submission information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $7,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $132,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • Please see the announcement including Section III for additional eligibility information
Apply for EPA 2015 STAR A3

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Opportunity Summary:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a competitive graduate fellowship opportunity under its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program titled "Emerging Environmental Approaches and Challenges - Synthetic Biology for Environmental Purposes (A3)." The funding is structured as individual fellowships intended to support masters and doctoral students pursuing advanced study in environmental fields, with an emphasis aligned to the solicitation theme of synthetic biology applications and challenges related to environmental purposes. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary EPA funding action and is associated with the STAR Fellowship Program under CFDA 66.514.

The program was designed to make a substantial investment in graduate training by supporting students rather than institutions, helping recipients build the research skills and expertise needed for environmental science and policy challenges. The EPA indicated that, depending on available funds and other considerations, it expected to make about 55 new fellowship awards in Fall 2015. In total, the estimated funding amount attached to the announcement was approximately $7.2 million, reflecting the agency's plan to fund multiple fellows at meaningful levels of annual support.

Financially, the fellowship provides up to $44,000 per year per awardee. Masters students are eligible for up to two years of support, for a maximum total of $88,000. Doctoral students are eligible for up to three years of support, for a maximum total of $132,000, and that doctoral support can be used over a five-year window, which gives recipients flexibility in pacing their funding across their degree timeline. The notice lists an award ceiling of $132,000 and an award floor of $0, and it explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not expected to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving the fellowship.

Key dates and administrative details are clear in the listing. The opportunity was posted on April 12, 2015 (with a creation date of April 13, 2015). Applications were due by May 26, 2015 at 11:59:59 PM, with the same date reflected as both the original and current closing date. The announcement was later archived on June 25, 2015. The funding opportunity number is EPA-2015-STAR-A3, and the activity category is listed under Environment, with the funding instrument type identified as "Other," consistent with fellowship-style support rather than a typical project grant.

Eligibility is broadly summarized in the notice as "Others," with direction to consult the full announcement for details, particularly Section III for eligibility requirements and Section IV for submission instructions. The listing also points applicants to the full announcement for additional instructions and indicates that those who have difficulty accessing the announcement electronically should refer to the contact guidance provided in Section VII of the announcement. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an EPA-supported graduate fellowship program focused on building the next generation of environmental researchers and professionals, specifically encouraging work that intersects with synthetic biology approaches and the environmental questions, opportunities, and challenges that come with them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this EPA funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a competitive graduate fellowship offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program. The specific fellowship theme is titled "Emerging Environmental Approaches and Challenges - Synthetic Biology for Environmental Purposes (A3)."

Is this a grant to an institution or a fellowship to an individual student?

It is structured as an individual fellowship intended to support graduate students (masters and doctoral). The program is described as supporting students rather than institutions.

What is the focus or topic area of the fellowship?

The solicitation emphasizes synthetic biology applications and challenges related to environmental purposes, within broader environmental fields aligned to EPA priorities in environmental science and policy.

Which EPA program is associated with this announcement?

The opportunity is associated with the EPA STAR Fellowship Program.

What is the CFDA number for this fellowship program?

The CFDA number listed is 66.514.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is EPA-2015-STAR-A3.

How much funding is available per fellow per year?

The fellowship provides up to $44,000 per year per awardee.

What is the maximum total funding for a masters student?

Masters students are eligible for up to two years of support, with a maximum total of $88,000.

What is the maximum total funding for a doctoral student?

Doctoral students are eligible for up to three years of support, with a maximum total of $132,000.

Does the doctoral funding have to be used consecutively?

No. The notice states that doctoral support can be used over a five-year window, allowing flexibility in how the funding is paced across the degree timeline.

What is the award ceiling and award floor listed in the notice?

The award ceiling is $132,000 and the award floor is $0.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

How many new awards did EPA expect to make?

EPA indicated it expected to make about 55 new fellowship awards in Fall 2015, depending on available funds and other considerations.

What was the estimated total funding amount for the announcement?

The estimated total funding amount attached to the announcement was approximately $7.2 million.

What type of EPA funding action is this?

It is categorized as a discretionary EPA funding action.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is listed as "Other," consistent with fellowship-style support rather than a typical project grant.

What activity category is associated with this opportunity?

The activity category is listed under Environment.

Who is eligible to apply?

The notice summarizes eligibility as "Others" and directs applicants to consult the full announcement, especially Section III, for detailed eligibility requirements.

Where can applicants find submission instructions?

The notice directs applicants to the full announcement, particularly Section IV, for submission instructions.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 12, 2015 (with a creation date of April 13, 2015).

What was the application deadline?

Applications were due by May 26, 2015 at 11:59:59 PM. The same date is shown as both the original and current closing date.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The announcement was archived on June 25, 2015.

What should someone do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?

The listing indicates that applicants who have difficulty accessing the announcement electronically should refer to the contact guidance provided in Section VII of the full announcement.

What is the overall purpose of the STAR graduate fellowship program described here?

The program is described as making a substantial investment in graduate training by helping recipients build research skills and expertise needed for environmental science and policy challenges, with this specific solicitation encouraging work at the intersection of synthetic biology and environmental questions, opportunities, and challenges.

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