Sikand Student Fellowship in Urban Sustainability

The goal of the Sikand Student Fellowship in Urban Sustainability is to provide funding for students to conduct research, under the direction of a faculty advisor, in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology (ESCT) at Cal State L.A. Research can focus on any aspect of Urban Sustainability. Sustainability Fellows undertake challenging projects that are designed to create an immediate impact, offer a quality learning experience, and foster meaningful collaboration. Fellows work with their advisor on a selected research project for the duration of the fellowship. All undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the fellowship.

Student fellowship application is available for the Summer 2021. Each fellowship focuses on a specific research topic and is hosted by a faculty research lab or research group in the college of ECST under the direction of a faculty advisor. Students need to submit their application documents, including the personal and research statement, as well as the signed endorsement from their faculty advisor, to be considered for the fellowship. In addition to their faculty advisor, students may also include an industry partner as an external advisor.

Fellows are expected to:
• Complete their research project according to the proposed research plan.
• Participate in group meetings or events dedicated to the selected fellows.
• Provide a brief report halfway through the fellowship period to indicate their activities and progress on the proposed project.
• Present their final results in the format of a poster presentation at the Annual Urban Sustainability Symposium organized by the Sikand SITI Center.

For 2021, it is likely that the majority of the research will have to take place remotely.

Fellows will gain:
• Compensation for their research work
• New knowledge and skills in the area of study
• Potential for integration of the fellowship project into a thesis (for graduate students)
• Professional networking with industry partners and access to multidisciplinary research teams

Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend, over the course of the fellowship term (Summer 2021). The faculty advisor will also receive a $1,000 off-semester stipend for their efforts in mentoring the fellows and providing research guidance as well as support for the publication/presentation of the final results. Failure to comply with the fellowship terms may lead to revokation of the award.

Undergraduate students, who are enrolled full-time during spring semester 2021 at Cal State LA, are eligible to apply. International students, who meet the full-time enrollment requirements by Cal State LA’s International Office, are also eligible to apply. Prospective fellows need to work with their faculty advisor to either join a research lab/center or identify a research project to be performed over the fellowship term.

Students need to submit the following documents to be considered for the fellowship. Please type all necessary documents:
• Personal Statement (maximum one-page)
• Research Plan and Impact Statement (maximum one-page)
• Cal State LA Unofficial Transcripts (available through GET)
• Resume
• Endorsement Letter signed by the faculty advisor

It is important to discuss your potential research project with your faculty advisor before submitting your application. Your Research Plan and Impact Statement should be written after consultation with your faculty advisor and in sufficient detail to allow the Selection Committee a basis for evaluation.

The fellowship applications will be reviewed by a selection committee and awarded on the basis of merit, which includes:

• Academic performance
• Quality of the proposed research plan
• Quality of the endorsement letter

Students who are interested in applying for this fellowship need to prepare the required documents in PDF format and submit them in the link below: https://forms.gle/hMTKVXgR5GeemJEx5