The information below is from the 2023 request for proposals. Please see the opportunity website for updated information.
The Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Fellows Program is intended to support UCLA graduate students from any discipline. The Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLA GC) seeks passionate, innovative and highly motivated graduate students to work with UCLA faculty mentors in partnership with external partners to discover and co-develop sustainable interventions that center on improving equity, diversity and inclusion in the Los Angeles region.
External partners include:
- City of L.A.’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Office
- L.A. County Chief Sustainability Office
- L.A. Metro Chief Sustainability Office and Office of Equity & Race
Project ideas may be as diverse as the disciplines from which students come. The SLA GC welcomes ideas ranging from identifying and quantifying equity metrics, to an art piece, mural, play or poem focused on equity in urban sustainability — and everything in between.
Fellows will help to advance regional sustainability goals and deepen SLA GC’s relationship with their external partners.
Award Amount and Details
- SLA GC EDI Fellowships will be awarded as Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) at the rate appropriate for the student’s academic training and relevant prior experience.
- These GSR positions may include tuition and fee remission benefits, as applicable.
- SLA GC anticipates funding up to three fellows.
- And for the first time, one of these fellowship opportunities will be named the Liquid I.V. Impact EDI Fellowship, which will support a student in water equity scholarship — a guiding priority of SLA GC's ongoing partnership with Liquid I.V. The remaining two fellowships are open to any equity-in-urban-sustainability topic.
Deadlines and Date Information
The due dates listed below are the most recent due dates our office is aware of. Please see the opportunity home page for information about potential upcoming deadlines or other opportunities.
Fellowship Timeline
- Monday, March 20, 2023: Fellowship Opportunity Announcement
- Monday, May 1, 2023: Applications Due
- Friday, May 19, 2023: Applicants Notified & External Mentors Matched
- Summer Quarter (06/26/2023) or Fall Quarter (09/25/2023): Fellowship Begins; Co-Develop Project with Mentors and Begin Project Execution
- Fall Quarter 2023: Project Execution, Data Collection
- Winter Quarter 2024: Project Execution, Data Collection & Analyzation
- Spring Quarter 2024: Project Finalization, Prepare and Deliver Project Report
Eligibility Information
- Applicants must be enrolled as a graduate student (Doctorate or Master’s) in good standing at UCLA from any department or unit.
- Applications from any scholarly field are welcome, including, but not limited to Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Policy, Engineering, Life Sciences, Geography and Physical Sciences, as long as the applicant’s research and scholarly activities are focused on advancing equity, access and justice in urban sustainability.
- Black, Indigenous and People of Color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Please see RFA for more details on fellowship expectations and terms.
