WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.000 2 00:00:03.900 --> 00:00:07.500 for joining. As Elijah mentioned, 3 00:00:08.180 --> 00:00:09.660 today we're going to be just 4 00:00:09.660 --> 00:00:13.260 flagging some key guide points 5 00:00:13.260 --> 00:00:15.820 and highlights related to two 6 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:17.660 fellowship opportunities that we 7 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:20.320 have through the USGS National 8 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:21.800 Climate Adaptation Science 9 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:23.940 Center and the broader CASC 10 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:27.820 regional network. The two 11 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:30.620 fellowships are the Science 12 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:33.380 to Action Fellowship, or we 13 00:00:33.380 --> 00:00:36.020 abbreviate that as S2A just for 14 00:00:36.020 --> 00:00:38.020 shorthand, and the Diverse 15 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:39.240 Knowledge Systems Fellowship, 16 00:00:39.540 --> 00:00:41.420 and we abbreviate that as DKS. 17 00:00:42.980 --> 00:00:45.540 Just to go quickly through what 18 00:00:45.540 --> 00:00:47.840 we're planning to showcase today, 19 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.200 we're going to give a bit of a 20 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:52.200 program overview for both of the 21 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.440 programs, highlight important 22 00:00:54.440 --> 00:00:56.640 dates and deadlines, talk a bit 23 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.020 about the actual financial award 24 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:02.080 and what 25 00:01:02.080 --> 00:01:03.800 responsibilities come with 26 00:01:03.800 --> 00:01:06.480 accepting a fellowship. Second, 27 00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:08.360 we'll go through the eligibility 28 00:01:08.360 --> 00:01:09.840 criteria, which is actually 29 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.060 slightly different between the 30 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:13.680 two programs. Then we'll 31 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:15.040 highlight a little bit about the 32 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:16.340 application process, hopefully 33 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:18.860 making it a little clearer and 34 00:01:18.860 --> 00:01:21.260 easier to navigate, and then 35 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:24.020 end with giving a 36 00:01:24.020 --> 00:01:26.240 few key dates and points 37 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:27.660 regarding the application 38 00:01:27.660 --> 00:01:30.300 process. Then Elijah is going 39 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:32.160 to help facilitate the question 40 00:01:32.160 --> 00:01:33.540 and answer at the end. Hopefully, 41 00:01:33.540 --> 00:01:35.660 we can get everyone on the right 42 00:01:35.660 --> 00:01:38.560 track for applying for 43 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:42.740 this year's fellowships. Just 44 00:01:42.740 --> 00:01:44.620 to highlight the 45 00:01:44.620 --> 00:01:47.080 differences between these two 46 00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:49.220 programs. The Diverse Knowledge 47 00:01:49.220 --> 00:01:51.780 Systems Fellowship has an aim to 48 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:54.320 support the use of diverse 49 00:01:54.320 --> 00:01:55.980 experiences, viewpoints, and 50 00:01:55.980 --> 00:01:57.320 value systems, as well as 51 00:01:57.320 --> 00:01:59.420 cultural knowledge to strengthen 52 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:01.320 climate adaptation efforts. 53 00:02:02.180 --> 00:02:04.040 This is a slightly different 54 00:02:05.100 --> 00:02:07.580 focus for the fellowship program 55 00:02:07.580 --> 00:02:09.440 than the Science to Action 56 00:02:09.440 --> 00:02:11.840 Fellowship, which is aimed to 57 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:13.680 support development of a product 58 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.380 that directly applies 59 00:02:15.380 --> 00:02:18.100 scientific research to 60 00:02:18.100 --> 00:02:20.400 climate change 61 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:23.600 impacts on fish, wildlife, and 62 00:02:23.600 --> 00:02:25.980 ecosystems, but transitioning 63 00:02:25.980 --> 00:02:28.460 that to making 64 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:31.060 decisions and applying those in 65 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:32.680 management related to natural 66 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:36.980 resources. Just very quickly, 67 00:02:36.980 --> 00:02:38.660 to go over 68 00:02:38.660 --> 00:02:41.500 key deadlines and 69 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:43.160 time points regarding the 70 00:02:43.160 --> 00:02:44.780 application process for these 71 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:47.460 two fellowships. Both of them 72 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:50.400 are now open for what we're 73 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.060 calling Statements of Interests, 74 00:02:52.100 --> 00:02:55.200 or SOIs. Today, we're having 75 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:57.040 our informational webinar, but 76 00:02:57.040 --> 00:02:58.980 the Statements of Interests are 77 00:02:58.980 --> 00:03:01.680 due January 18th, so you have a 78 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:03.860 little bit over a month to put 79 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:07.340 that together. Then the review 80 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:09.420 committees for both fellowships 81 00:03:09.420 --> 00:03:11.760 will meet 82 00:03:11.760 --> 00:03:14.660 to evaluate all of 83 00:03:14.660 --> 00:03:16.460 the submitted Statements of 84 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:18.280 Interests. We should have 85 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:20.560 decisions back to all applicants 86 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:24.020 by February 23rd. If 87 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:24.740 applicants 88 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:27.440 are 89 00:03:27.440 --> 00:03:30.420 selected to be 90 00:03:30.420 --> 00:03:32.160 invited for a full proposal 91 00:03:32.160 --> 00:03:35.160 between February 23rd 92 00:03:35.160 --> 00:03:38.300 and March 28th, that's the 93 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:39.960 timeframe you have to create a 94 00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:42.980 full proposal. During that time, 95 00:03:43.100 --> 00:03:45.080 you'll be matched with a 96 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:47.900 mentor from the USGS side. 97 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:51.140 One very common question that we 98 00:03:51.140 --> 00:03:52.360 have regarding both of these 99 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:53.580 fellowships is if you have to 100 00:03:53.580 --> 00:03:56.260 have a mentor from USGS 101 00:03:56.260 --> 00:03:58.020 identified before you submit a 102 00:03:58.020 --> 00:03:59.240 Statement of Interest. The 103 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.660 answer to that question, just to 104 00:04:01.660 --> 00:04:03.040 hedge that one off, is no, you 105 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:05.560 don't have to have identified 106 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:07.200 mentor before you apply for the 107 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:09.440 Statement of Interest. At that 108 00:04:09.440 --> 00:04:11.300 stage, you really just have to 109 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:14.140 focus on developing your 110 00:04:14.140 --> 00:04:14.800 potential 111 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.279 concept 112 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:21.760 or highlighting what you plan to 113 00:04:21.760 --> 00:04:24.580 propose. At that secondary stage, 114 00:04:25.340 --> 00:04:26.760 we go ahead and match you up 115 00:04:26.760 --> 00:04:29.340 with someone who's most closely 116 00:04:29.340 --> 00:04:31.220 affiliated with the work you're 117 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:35.200 hoping to do. Then at that 118 00:04:35.200 --> 00:04:37.260 full proposal stage, so the 119 00:04:37.260 --> 00:04:39.660 applications are due at the end 120 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:42.220 of March, March 28th. Then by 121 00:04:42.220 --> 00:04:43.920 March 26th, we'll have decisions 122 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:49.320 out to candidates. In terms 123 00:04:49.320 --> 00:04:52.280 of what the actual award 124 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:55.400 amount is, so each fellow 125 00:04:55.400 --> 00:04:57.120 receives a $10,000 126 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.240 award. This is 127 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.640 not considered a 128 00:05:02.640 --> 00:05:05.160 stipend by any means and it 129 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:07.720 should not be used by your 130 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:09.300 academic institution to 131 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:11.060 substitute for a graduate 132 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:14.340 stipend. This is fully 133 00:05:14.340 --> 00:05:17.140 independent from what you 134 00:05:17.140 --> 00:05:19.500 should get in terms of your 135 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:21.700 annual stipend for 136 00:05:21.700 --> 00:05:24.320 school and 137 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:28.240 through the university. One 138 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:30.180 other thing that it is important 139 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:31.820 to note, because this is a 140 00:05:31.820 --> 00:05:35.160 separate financial award, when 141 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:36.840 you do your annual taxes, you do 142 00:05:36.840 --> 00:05:38.960 have to claim those on your 143 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:41.640 taxes. You will have taxes 144 00:05:41.640 --> 00:05:43.180 associated with this award. 145 00:05:43.900 --> 00:05:46.300 Again, just to emphasize that 146 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.500 this is not intended to 147 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:52.200 substitute for a stipend, and 148 00:05:52.200 --> 00:05:53.880 it cannot be used in replacement 149 00:05:53.880 --> 00:05:56.780 or in addition to trying 150 00:05:56.780 --> 00:05:58.880 to cobble together an annual 151 00:05:58.880 --> 00:06:00.620 stipend. It's separate from that 152 00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:05.440 award. Maybe one other point to 153 00:06:05.440 --> 00:06:06.740 make in terms of the financial... 154 00:06:06.815 --> 00:06:08.500 or let me go back . 155 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:10.100 Just one more point to 156 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:11.420 make in terms of this financial 157 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:14.260 work. Often, this is a point of 158 00:06:14.260 --> 00:06:16.320 clarification that the fellows 159 00:06:16.395 --> 00:06:18.880 will want to have, is that the 160 00:06:18.880 --> 00:06:21.100 intent of these funds are to be 161 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:23.540 used directly related to the 162 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:25.880 fellowship, but this is at the 163 00:06:25.880 --> 00:06:28.520 discretion of the fellows. They 164 00:06:28.520 --> 00:06:30.000 can be used for travel 165 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.660 associated with any element of 166 00:06:33.660 --> 00:06:35.760 your fellowship project 167 00:06:35.760 --> 00:06:38.340 or any other 168 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:42.000 related event, but it's separate 169 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.740 from your standard research 170 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:49.020 graduate funding. Then moving 171 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:51.700 quickly on to responsibilities 172 00:06:51.700 --> 00:06:53.660 associated with the fellowships. 173 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.860 Both of these fellowships last 174 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:58.360 approximately one year, though I 175 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:01.160 will say that in most 176 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.660 cases, the relationship you 177 00:07:02.660 --> 00:07:04.420 establish with a mentor does 178 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:07.200 exceed much more than one year. 179 00:07:09.880 --> 00:07:13.940 Historically, we've planned to 180 00:07:13.940 --> 00:07:17.600 have fellows work in residence 181 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.480 with their 182 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:23.340 CASC mentor. In 183 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:25.300 previous years, this has often 184 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:28.100 been for two months 185 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:30.820 during the summer when students 186 00:07:30.820 --> 00:07:33.380 aren't in class, but there 187 00:07:33.380 --> 00:07:35.220 is a lot of flexibility in this 188 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:38.780 arrangement. A few things that 189 00:07:38.780 --> 00:07:40.040 are required of the fellowship 190 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:42.960 are to have update meetings 191 00:07:42.960 --> 00:07:46.340 with the review committee. That 192 00:07:46.340 --> 00:07:47.840 is fully the responsibility of 193 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:49.800 the fellows to schedule those 194 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:51.900 meetings, develop an agenda, and 195 00:07:51.900 --> 00:07:53.560 provide a small or short 196 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:55.540 progress report that they share 197 00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:57.620 with the review committee. 198 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:01.360 Those are intended to serve 199 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.880 as a means to check in with the 200 00:08:03.880 --> 00:08:05.120 review committee, make sure that 201 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.740 everything is on track, and make 202 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:09.320 sure that things are well- 203 00:08:09.320 --> 00:08:13.040 aligned. In addition to that, 204 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:14.780 at the end of the fellowships, 205 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:17.540 we ask that all of the fellows 206 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:19.880 provide a formal presentation, 207 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:23.740 which has in recent 208 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:26.460 years been a webinar 209 00:08:26.460 --> 00:08:28.720 that is presented to 210 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.960 all CASC staff. In addition 211 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.600 to that, many fellows present in 212 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.299 many other venues as well within 213 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:39.820 their home institutions or 214 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:41.320 within professional conferences. 215 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.000 That's always very highly 216 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.480 encouraged. For example, some of 217 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:49.160 the fellowship funds, fellows 218 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:50.840 have often used fellowship funds 219 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:52.920 to do such things as present at 220 00:08:52.920 --> 00:08:57.080 conferences. Then the one other 221 00:08:58.140 --> 00:09:01.120 final responsibility for 222 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.440 fellows is to provide a final 223 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:05.080 report that's highlighting 224 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.820 their experience and providing 225 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:09.560 some lessons learned and advice 226 00:09:09.560 --> 00:09:11.420 for future students. 227 00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:14.460 I would encourage folks that are 228 00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:16.760 interested in applying, almost 229 00:09:16.760 --> 00:09:19.300 all of the out-year 230 00:09:19.300 --> 00:09:20.920 fellows have 231 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:23.900 their final reports listed 232 00:09:23.900 --> 00:09:25.240 on the website. You can get 233 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:27.500 some advice from taking a look 234 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:30.300 at some of their final reports 235 00:09:30.660 --> 00:09:35.340 to ensure that what 236 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:37.140 they've done is aligned with 237 00:09:37.140 --> 00:09:38.020 what you're hoping this 238 00:09:38.020 --> 00:09:40.940 experience would be. It's a 239 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:43.100 useful exercise just to review 240 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:46.620 those final reports. Then one 241 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:49.300 other recent addition in terms 242 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:52.920 of responsibilities adding 243 00:09:52.920 --> 00:09:55.760 to the final 244 00:09:55.760 --> 00:09:57.680 report is to actually do a more 245 00:09:57.680 --> 00:09:59.540 public-facing communications 246 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:02.220 process, working 247 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:04.020 with the National Climate 248 00:10:04.020 --> 00:10:05.080 Adaptation Science Center 249 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:07.100 communications staff. That will 250 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.840 be in the form of something like 251 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:10.660 a blog post describing 252 00:10:10.660 --> 00:10:13.260 your experience as a fellow. 253 00:10:16.640 --> 00:10:19.640 Now, highlighting a few distinct 254 00:10:19.640 --> 00:10:21.760 differences between the two 255 00:10:21.760 --> 00:10:24.300 fellowships. For the Science to 256 00:10:24.300 --> 00:10:27.880 Action Fellowship, students who 257 00:10:27.880 --> 00:10:29.540 are eligible to apply for this 258 00:10:29.540 --> 00:10:31.520 fellowship are graduate students 259 00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:34.080 that are enrolled full-time at 260 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:36.100 any CASC consortium institution. 261 00:10:37.060 --> 00:10:39.880 Those are basically any of 262 00:10:39.880 --> 00:10:41.940 the universities listed on this 263 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:45.420 map. There are some extenuating 264 00:10:45.420 --> 00:10:47.800 circumstances that we've 265 00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:50.720 had to deal with in terms 266 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.600 of a few of those requirements, 267 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:55.160 in terms of full-time or when 268 00:10:55.160 --> 00:10:57.340 students have graduated. We 269 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.720 address those on a case-by-case 270 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.700 basis. In general, the 271 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.140 eligibility is a full-time 272 00:11:02.140 --> 00:11:04.120 student at any of these CASC 273 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:08.640 consortium schools. For the DKS 274 00:11:08.640 --> 00:11:10.600 or the Diverse Knowledge Systems 275 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:13.420 Fellowship, in addition to 276 00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:16.040 students that are present at any 277 00:11:16.040 --> 00:11:17.900 CASC consortium institution, 278 00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:21.880 students who are at 279 00:11:21.880 --> 00:11:23.960 a minority-serving institution 280 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:25.360 that may not be within the CASC 281 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.500 network are also eligible to 282 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:29.100 apply. These are historically 283 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:30.860 black colleges and universities. 284 00:11:34.020 --> 00:11:35.540 Elijah, I'm blanking on TCU. 285 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:37.460 Tribal Colleges and Universities. 286 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.920 Tribal colleges. Yes, that's 287 00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:39.960 right. Tribal colleges, 288 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.680 Hispanic-serving institution, 289 00:11:41.680 --> 00:11:43.460 and Asian and Pacific Islander- 290 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:45.640 serving institutions. Sorry 291 00:11:45.640 --> 00:11:47.100 about that. Yes, tribal colleges, 292 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:50.900 of course. Students at any of 293 00:11:50.900 --> 00:11:52.520 those institutions, in addition 294 00:11:52.520 --> 00:11:54.620 to the CASC consortium 295 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.300 institutions, are eligible to 296 00:11:56.300 --> 00:12:01.360 apply for the DKS. Jumping 297 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:03.840 quickly on to what the 298 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.320 application process looks like 299 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:08.640 for both of these. At this first 300 00:12:08.640 --> 00:12:09.940 stage, which is the current 301 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:12.880 stage that is open, we're 302 00:12:12.880 --> 00:12:14.420 calling that an SOI stage, which 303 00:12:14.420 --> 00:12:17.520 is Statement of Interest. This 304 00:12:17.520 --> 00:12:19.320 Statement of Interest is a short 305 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:21.680 application, which includes a 306 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:23.640 one-page cover letter, and a one- 307 00:12:23.640 --> 00:12:26.680 page pre-proposal, and your 308 00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:28.420 CV. The pre-proposal is 309 00:12:28.420 --> 00:12:30.420 basically just to highlight what 310 00:12:30.420 --> 00:12:31.780 you anticipate or what you're 311 00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.980 proposing to do for your 312 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:36.000 fellowship project. Again, at 313 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.680 this stage, you do not have to 314 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:40.220 have any USGS mentor 315 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:43.200 identified based on what you 316 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:46.760 provide in the Statement of 317 00:12:46.760 --> 00:12:47.780 Interest. If 318 00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:50.440 you're 319 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.200 selected to go on to the second 320 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:53.800 stage of the proposal and 321 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:55.740 writing a full proposal, we will 322 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:57.600 match you with a USGS mentor 323 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.300 that aligns with your research 324 00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:01.560 interests and broader needs. 325 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.080 Then the second stage of the 326 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:08.020 process for individuals that are 327 00:13:08.020 --> 00:13:09.480 invited to submit a full 328 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.540 proposal, there's a bit more of 329 00:13:13.540 --> 00:13:16.220 an expanded application 330 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:19.040 stage. You have to create a full 331 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:23.320 proposal. You can include a 332 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:25.340 revised cover letter, an updated 333 00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:27.640 CV, if you'd like, a full 334 00:13:27.640 --> 00:13:30.780 project proposal, as well as 335 00:13:30.780 --> 00:13:32.420 letters of recommendation from 336 00:13:32.420 --> 00:13:34.460 your university mentors or 337 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:37.360 advisors, and the individual 338 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:39.060 or individuals that will serve 339 00:13:39.060 --> 00:13:42.040 as your USGS mentors and 340 00:13:42.040 --> 00:13:45.540 advisors. The anticipation at 341 00:13:45.540 --> 00:13:47.840 this full proposal stage is that 342 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:50.660 you do work with your 343 00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:53.420 potential USGS mentor, and that 344 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:55.020 your USGS mentor can help you 345 00:13:55.020 --> 00:13:57.520 develop a full proposal so that 346 00:13:57.520 --> 00:13:59.040 you establish an initial 347 00:13:59.040 --> 00:14:00.080 relationship with that 348 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.420 individual prior to submitting 349 00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:05.040 the full proposal. Again, you 350 00:14:05.040 --> 00:14:06.960 do not have to identify that 351 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.300 individual or individuals 352 00:14:08.300 --> 00:14:11.000 yourself. That will happen on 353 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.780 our end, on the back end after 354 00:14:12.780 --> 00:14:15.320 the Statement of Interest first 355 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:17.600 stage of the application 356 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:22.600 process. Just as a reminder 357 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:25.520 of a couple of 358 00:14:25.520 --> 00:14:28.560 the important dates. All 359 00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:30.720 applicants will be notified via 360 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:33.020 email of the decision 361 00:14:33.020 --> 00:14:35.560 at the first stage by February 362 00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:40.440 23rd. I'm sorry. Applicants 363 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:42.720 who are selected to 364 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:45.340 submit a full proposal, 365 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:47.560 they will be notified of the 366 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:50.920 decision by April 26th. I will 367 00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:56.520 say, just as maybe the most 368 00:14:56.520 --> 00:14:57.580 common questions that I've 369 00:14:57.580 --> 00:15:00.160 gotten via email, are one, the 370 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.320 eligibility requirements. Thank 371 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.760 you for putting that 372 00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:07.920 link in the chat, Elijah. The 373 00:15:07.920 --> 00:15:10.140 other one is if you have to 374 00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:13.600 identify a USGS mentor. I'll say 375 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.180 it one more time, but you do not 376 00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:16.820 need to identify a USGS mentor 377 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.680 before you apply at this first 378 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:21.420 stage. The other thing is 379 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:23.480 in terms of the important dates, 380 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:26.440 the first deadline is January 381 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:28.520 18th. You do have to apply 382 00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:30.100 through our 383 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:32.980 proposal management system, 384 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:35.640 which I would highly recommend 385 00:15:35.640 --> 00:15:38.340 creating an account 386 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:40.240 a few days before the deadline 387 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:43.240 because it can be a little 388 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.920 clunky at times. It's good to 389 00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:48.840 make sure that you can create an 390 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.740 account and have access to the 391 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.200 portal before the deadline. 392 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:54.380 That's another thing that I 393 00:15:54.380 --> 00:15:56.120 highly recommend, is trying to 394 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:58.980 get into the system before 395 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:04.540 it's actually due. Elizabeth, 396 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:06.840 thanks for the question. Here's 397 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:14.020 a few coming in. How we define a 398 00:16:14.020 --> 00:16:15.340 product for decision-making or 399 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:19.060 management is fairly broad. It's 400 00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:21.260 basically anything that will 401 00:16:21.260 --> 00:16:24.140 be basically taking 402 00:16:24.140 --> 00:16:26.560