Sustainability scholarships, fellowships and student project funding

Sustainability Scholarships for Students

USC provides a variety of sustainability-related scholarships and fellowships for students across disciplines. These academic, research and professional opportunities in sustainability are part of a growing collection of on- and off-campus scholarships for students to advance their skills and broaden their field of interests to include the environment. See an annotation list of scholarships and funding opportunities below.

Student Project Funding

  • Green Engagement Fund – Sponsored by Undergraduate Student Government, the Environmental Student Assembly, and the Office of Sustainability, the Green Engagement Fund supports student-driven, innovative projects aimed at increasing sustainability at USC while increasing awareness in environmental stewardship.

Scholarships

  • The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors working in the areas of Native American self-governance or the environment (application through USC).
  • The Fisher Fellows Program supports USC Dornsife students that are first generation college students with demonstrated financial need. This fellowship can support participation in enrichment opportunities like Maymester, academic conferences, field research, etc. (USC program).
  • Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program: DDCSP aims to increase the number of students of color that choose to pursue careers in conservation (external program).
  • Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: two years of academic assistance plus a summer research position at a NOAA facility (external program).

More scholarships >

Fellowships

  • AAAS Environmental Fellowship (post-PhD) – Fellows spend one year at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, DC, working on an array of projects relating to science, policy and the environment.
  • Berggruen Fellowship: The USC Berggruen Fellowship Program is a partnership between the Dornsife Center on Science, Technology and Public Life and the Berggruen Institute and hosts 10-12 fellows working on major shifts in the world’s fundamental systems. 
  • Civic Spark Fellowship: placement in state, local and community based organizations working on social and environmental equity issues.
  • Sustainability Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates offers year-round training and research and development engagement in the science and practice of aquaculture and blue economy at the Algal Lab at the Port of Los Angeles.
  • NOAA Knauss Fellowship: matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid fellowship.
  • Switzer Fellowship: one-year fellowships to highly talented graduate students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds in New England and California whose studies and career goals are directed toward environmental improvement and who clearly demonstrate leadership in their field.
  • Undergraduate Sustainability Grand Challenge Fellowship Program (USGCF) supports multidisciplinary research projects focused on sustainability.  The Fellowship is awarded via a competitive process and sponsored by USC Center for Sustainability Solutions.
  • University of New Hampshire Sustainability Fellowship: placement for seniors, recent grads and graduate students in New England partner organizations working on sustainability initiatives (open to students from any college or university).

How to Find Sustainability Funding Opportunities at USC

Dr. Jill Sohm hosted an event on Sustainability Research and Learning Opportunities at USC.