RISE

Resilient Interdisciplinary Social-Ecological Program

RISE group photo on a pier

The Resilient Interdisciplinary Social-Ecological (RISE) Fellowship is a competitively paid summer research fellowship for high-achieving undergraduates at UCSB from underrepresented backgrounds in the marine sciences to conduct social-ecological research under the mentorship of a graduate student.

This incubator program targeted at supporting and fostering diversity and inclusion in marine science research will provide fellows with professional development training, one-on-one networking opportunities with top experts in the field, and transformative hands-on research experience.

Student writes on whiteboard in front of peers

Inclusive Research,
Diverse Voices

Conducting social-ecological research requires diverse and interdisciplinary teams, and increasingly policy-makers are recognizing the value of fresh perspectives and diverse voices to solve marine dilemmas currently facing California’s seas. This means that inclusive research, involving diverse voices, is particularly well-suited to social-ecological marine science. Training a diverse and inclusive next generation of marine social-ecological researchers is vital to provide the solutions we need for the oceans and coastal communities that California depends on.

Applications for Summer 2023:


Graduate student applications are now posted and due May 11th

Applications for RISE Graduate Fellows are due THURSDAY, May 11th, at noon 12:00pm (note, applications will be accepted after this date on a rolling basis, but priority will be given to applicants that apply by May 11th).

To know more on the role of RISE Graduate Fellows Download download the PDF document.

To submit your application, please fill out the RISE Fellowship: Graduate Student Application. We will review applications and inform selected fellows ASAP. Thank you for your interest.

Undergraduate student applications are now posted and due June 2nd

Applications for RISE Undergraduate Fellows are due FRIDAY, June 2nd, at 6:00pm (note, applications will be accepted after this date for 2 weeks, but priority will be given to applicants that apply by June 2nd).

To learn more about the RISE Undergraduate Fellowship, download the PDF INFO document below.

To submit your application, please fill out the short Google Form – Application for RISE Undergraduate Fellowship. We will review applications and inform selected fellows by June 10. Thank you for your interest.

Extensive Training and Practice

Inclusive, diverse, independent social-ecological researchers

The objective of this fellowship program is to support the pipeline for inclusive, diverse, independent social-ecological researchers. This program will provide extensive training and practice for graduate students in supporting and mentoring students underrepresented in marine science, as well as train underrepresented undergraduate students in designing, conducting, and presenting research.

Group photo at graduation

This program will take an emerging approach with a proven track record of success at UCSB involving paired undergraduate and graduate students, giving the graduate students experience in mentoring diverse and underrepresented undergraduates, and the undergraduate students direct support and mentoring. Further mentoring will be provided by a mentor web including administrators with deep experience in programmatic activities for underrepresented groups; experts from diverse fields involved in the two research projects; each other (cohort effect); and the research leads (Elwell and Quintana).

The methods to be used in the research projects include:

  • Project 1—Ecological sampling, interviews, social-science surveys, and modeling
  • Project 2—Social-science surveys, community-based work, quantitative data analysis

This project has the potential to address short-term and long-term aims related to inclusive research on marine systems.

Short Term

In the short term, this project will foster research skills of undergraduate students and provide training to graduate students in inclusive mentoring, which they can immediately put to use.

Medium Term

In the medium term, the research that the RISE fellows conduct will contribute to building theory on sustainable fisheries and coastal resilience, which is essential for building long-term solutions for healthy California coasts and coastal communities.

Long Term

In the long term, the research skills that RISE fellows build will set them up to be leaders in social-ecological marine research, which has the potential to contribute diverse and new voices that will generate innovative and transformative solutions to marine environmental problems in California.

Contact

Tammy Elwell
Research Fellow
Universidad Austral de Chile
Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Anastasia Quintana
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Bren Hall 4322
Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara
anastasiaquintana@ucsb.edu

Underwater rocks and coral