WIND INSTITUTE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES
he application period is now closed. NJEDA has entered into agreements with Princeton University, Stevens Institute of Technology and Seton Hall University.
The Wind Institute Fellowship Program for Private Research Universities is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students at New Jersey’s private, public-mission research universities to partake in the Wind Institute Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program is designed to encourage and support student research in topics that further the development of offshore wind in New Jersey and build student and faculty advisor expertise in offshore wind. Participating students (Fellows) will conduct independent research under the tutelage of a faculty advisor at their home institution. Fellows will convene as a cohort to participate in industry trainings, guest lectures, site visits and other activities to support their knowledge of the offshore wind industry and their exposure to industry stakeholders.
Eligible universities can apply to participate and then, if selected, will run an application process for students at their institutions. A total of $844,800 will be available through this program, with a maximum award amount of $281,000 per university to be used for Fellowship Year 2 (academic year 2023-2024) and Fellowship Year 3 (academic year 2024-2025).
This program is part of NJEDA’s efforts to develop the Wind Institute for Innovation and Training.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Each selected university will be allocated four fellowship spots for Fellowship Year 2 and four fellowship spots for Fellowship Year 3.
If selected, each university will:
- Develop and submit a Fellowship marketing and selection process plan that will guide efforts to advertise the program widely and support engagement of a diverse group of students and faculty advisors.
- Conduct an application and selection process with established selection criteria.
- Facilitate connections between Fellows and faculty advisors and relevant resources at the university.
- Submit the names of the selected students, advisors, project descriptions, and signed participation forms to NJEDA within fifteen (15) days of completing the selection process and no later than September 1, 2023 for Fellowship Year 2 and September 1, 2024 for Fellowship Year 3.
- Begin the Fellowship Program no later than the Fall 2023 semester and conclude the program no later than the Summer 2024 semester for Fellowship Year 2 and no later than the Fall 2024 semester and conclude no later than the Summer 2025 semester for Fellowship Year 3. Fellowships should run a minimum of 25 weeks and a maximum of 40 weeks.
- Assign a university representative to support NJEDA staff on communications with the Fellows and advisors throughout the Fellowship Program.
- Disburse and track program expenditures including payments to fellows and honorariums to advisors per the university’s internal policies and procedures.
- Submit a report detailing the use of funds throughout the Fellowship Program no later than September 1, 2024 for Fellowship Year 2 and no later than September 1, 2025 for Fellowship Year 3.
- Return any funds not utilized for the program to EDA by September 30, 2024 for Fellowship Year 2 and September 30, 2025 for Fellowship Year 2. With EDA’s written approval, each university may roll over any unutilized Fellowship Year 2 funding to be used for Fellowship Year 3.
In support of the Fellowship Program, NJEDA will:
- Provide communication materials and support the schools in marketing the Fellowship Program.
- Organize five to eight Fellowship cohort meetings from October to April of each Fellowship Year for Fellows to participate in industry trainings, guest lectures, site visits, and/or presentations.
- Recruit and engage key industry stakeholders throughout the program to maximize the Fellows’ exposure to the industry.
- Organize the NJ Wind Institute Fellowship Symposium to take place in April of each Fellowship Year.
- Upon receiving the names of the selected students and their project descriptions, provide schools with funding based on the number and graduate level of the selected Fellows for each Fellowship Year.
ELIGIBILTY
Only New Jersey Private, Public-Mission Universities designated by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as R1 (Very High Research Activity) or R2 (High Research Activity) as of December 1, 2022, are eligible to apply for this grant.
The university applicant must be in substantial good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) and NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The university applicant must provide a current tax clearance certificate as part of the application from the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Certificates may be requested through the State of NJ Premier Business Services (PBS) portal online at: https://www16.state.nj.us/NJ_PREMIER_EBIZ/jsp/home.jsp
AWARD SIZE
After the university completes its Fellow selection process and submits the required documentation to NJEDA, funds will be allocated to universities as follows for each Fellowship Year based on:
- $30,000 per graduate Fellow
- $15,000 per undergraduate Fellow
- $1,000 stipend per undergraduate or graduate Fellow for travel, materials, and other Fellowship expenses
- $1,000 faculty honorarium per faculty advisor
- 10% of the grant amount for Facilities and Administration expenses
For each Fellowship Year, the maximum grant amount for each university is $140,800 (calculation based on all four Fellows at the graduate level). The grant award for each university would be less if the university selects fewer than the specified number of Fellows in total and/or a mix of undergraduate and graduate Fellows. The maximum grant amount for the two Fellowship Years is $281,000.
KEY DATES
- Application portal opens: February 24, 2023 at 10am
- Applications due: March 3, 2023 at 5pm
PROGRAM GUIDE
Questions
Please submit all questions regarding this program to windinstitute@njeda.com with the subject line: Question: WI Fellowship Program for Private Research Universities.