Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program

USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program

USGS Mendenhall Posdoctoral Research Fellowship Program

[Last revised Thursday, 12-Apr-2012 13:02:09 EDT ]

WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.
THE NEXT APPLICATION PERIOD WILL BEGIN AFTER JUNE 2012.

APPLICATIONS FILED BY THE FEBRUARY 21, 2012, DEADLINE
FOR THE FY-2013 ROUND OF COMPETITION ARE CURRENTLY UNDER PANEL REVIEW.
CHECK HERE FOR PERIODIC UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF FY-2013 APPLICATIONS.

General Schedule for the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program (dates are approximate)

March 2011-December 2011 Research Opportunities identified through internal USGS competition

December 2011 Research Opportunities posted on the web, ads begin to appear in professional journals, recruitment begins

February 2012 Application closing date

February-April 2012 Application evaluation

April 2012 Selection of Mendenhall Fellows and Notification

A downloadable graphic describing the Program is available here for use in presentations:: PowerPoint slide [327 KB] | JPG file [109 KB] | PDF file [251 KB]

THE BASICS When Research Fellowships Begin - Qualifications - When and How To Apply - Special Requirements - What Happens Next

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES Summary of Opportunities and List of Research Advisors/Role for FY 2013

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PROJECT PROFILES
Summary of research conducted under the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program

In Fiscal Year 2001 (October 1, 2000-September 30, 2001), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started a new postdoctoral research program called the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program (now the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program) in honor of Walter C. Mendenhall (1871-1957), the fifth Director of the USGS. President Hoover appointed Mendenhall as the Director in 1930 when the USGS's budget was $2.87 million. Today the total USGS budget is over $1 billion.

Mendenhall joined the USGS in 1894 upon graduation from Ohio Normal University. He mapped Appalachian coal fields, did pioneering work on the geology of Alaska, and was one of the first ground water specialists in the Water Resources Branch in 1903. His study of the principles of ground water hydrology helped to establish it as a field of scientific endeavor. Mendenhall was also the Chief Geologist for 8 years prior to his appointment as the Director.

Mendenhall's directorate was pivotal in the history of the U.S. Geological Survey. In spite of the difficult times during the Depression and the beginning of World War II, he encouraged the USGS, as he had the Geologic Branch, to emphasize the necessity of basic research and created an environment in which, in the words of the Engineering and Mining Journal, "scientific research, technical integrity, and practical skill could flourish."

PROGRAM CONTACTS
Dr. Rama K. Kotra
Office of Science Quality and Integrity
703-648-6271 - rkotra@usgs.gov

Return to Office of Science Quality and Integrity

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http:// geology.usgs.gov /postdoc/index.html
Direct inquiries to Rama K. Kotra at rkotra@usgs.gov
Page Contact Information: Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program Web Team
Last modified: 13:02:09 Thu 12 Apr 2012


General Schedule for the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program (dates are approximate)
March 2011-December 2011	Research Opportunities identified through internal USGS competition
December 2011	Research Opportunities posted on the web, ads begin to appear in professional journals, recruitment begins
February 2012	Application closing date
February-April 2012	Application evaluation
April 2012	Selection of Mendenhall Fellows and Notification

A downloadable graphic describing the Program is available here for use in presentations:: PowerPoint slide [327 KB] \| JPG file [109 KB] \| PDF file [251 KB]


THE BASICS	When Research Fellowships Begin - Qualifications - When and How To Apply - Special Requirements - What Happens Next

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES	Summary of Opportunities and List of Research Advisors/Role for FY 2013

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PROJECT PROFILES Summary of research conducted under the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program

In Fiscal Year 2001 (October 1, 2000-September 30, 2001), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started a new postdoctoral research program called the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program (now the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program) in honor of Walter C. Mendenhall (1871-1957), the fifth Director of the USGS. President Hoover appointed Mendenhall as the Director in 1930 when the USGS's budget was $2.87 million. Today the total USGS budget is over $1 billion. Mendenhall joined the USGS in 1894 upon graduation from Ohio Normal University. He mapped Appalachian coal fields, did pioneering work on the geology of Alaska, and was one of the first ground water specialists in the Water Resources Branch in 1903. His study of the principles of ground water hydrology helped to establish it as a field of scientific endeavor. Mendenhall was also the Chief Geologist for 8 years prior to his appointment as the Director. Mendenhall's directorate was pivotal in the history of the U.S. Geological Survey. In spite of the difficult times during the Depression and the beginning of World War II, he encouraged the USGS, as he had the Geologic Branch, to emphasize the necessity of basic research and created an environment in which, in the words of the Engineering and Mining Journal, "scientific research, technical integrity, and practical skill could flourish." PROGRAM CONTACTS Dr. Rama K. Kotra Office of Science Quality and Integrity 703-648-6271 - rkotra@usgs.gov