We invite current and accepted University of Maryland graduate students to apply to the UMD Global STEWARDS graduate training fellowship. This fellowship was originally funded from 2018-2023 by the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) program. A modified version of the fellowship program will continue beyond the end of the NSF grant by being integrated into the  Global FEWture Alliance Institutional Grand Challenges Program. The fellowship will prepare a cadre of future leaders focused on innovations at the nexus of food, energy, water (FEW), climate and health systems.

UMD graduate students from the life and public health sciences, earth system sciences, engineering and computational sciences, social behavioral sciences, natural resource management, energy and environmental policy, and other FEW-related graduate programs are encouraged to apply. The UMD Global STEWARDS program will train masters and doctoral students to work and communicate across FEW disciplines, from molecular to societal levels and from local to global scales, enabling transformative discoveries that can only be realized through transdisciplinary approaches. The program is meant to complement existing graduate programs at UMD that address critical FEW challenges.

Application Requirements: 

• Minimum current GPA of 3.0 (Fellows must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify for stipends and travel awards)
• Approval from your primary MS/PhD advisor: Advisor acknowledgment form 2025
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A Research Statement (max. 2 pages, size 12 font, double spaced, 1-inch margins) describing your prior research experience, your research interests related to the food, energy, water, climate and health nexus, and why you want to be a UMD Global STEWARD.
• A current UMD Transcript. (An unofficial transcript from Testudo is acceptable)
• A transcript from your most recently completed degree (ie: Masters or undergraduate degree)
• Two letters of recommendation

The UMD Global STEWARDS program is dedicated to increasing the diversity of graduate students. We encourage applications from qualified individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. Applications from minority and women candidates are strongly encouraged.

See our Program Overview and UMD_Global_STEWARDS_2025_Info Sheet for more information.

Recordings from past information sessions (the fellowship was funded by NSF from 2018 – 2023)

View the recording of our 2024 Information Session here with Passcode .um+rU36

View the recording of our 2023 Information Session here with Passcode: c0.j8Xuf

View the recording of our 2022 Information Session here with Passcode: hvA&d=4A

View the recording of our 2021 Information Session here:

View the recording of our 2020 Information Session here:

Questions? Contact us at: umdglobalstewards@gmail.com

Connect with us on social media!

 this is a bigger space  this is a bigger space