Sustainability Scholarships and Funding

USC students across disciplines have access to a variety of financial support, training, and paid positions to advance your academic pursuits, research projects, and professional development in sustainability.

What’s New

  • Research Assistantship: The USC Center for Sustainability Solutions (CSS) has an opening for a 50% graduate research assistant (GRA) effective immediately. The assistantship includes a tuition-and-fee waiver and a 9-month stipend. The position may be renewed for up to 3 years subject to satisfactory progress. Learn more and apply.
  • Postdoctoral Fellowships for Sustainability Solutions: The Fellowships aim to accelerate sustainability research and train future leaders in academia, government and non-governmental organizations, and industry. Learn more and apply by November 15, 2022.
  • President’s Sustainability Research Award (PSRA): This award ($250,000 – $1,000,000) will provide seed funding to enable researchers to submit highly competitive applications for federal funding, including large center and related programs, early career awards, and individual research projects. Learn more and apply by January 16, 2023.

How to Find Sustainability Funding

Dr. Jill Sohm explains how to identify and apply for sustainability funding at USC.

Scholarships

  • The Berggruen Fellowship Program hosts 10-12 fellows working on major shifts in the world’s fundamental systems. Sponsored by Dornsife Center on Science, Technology and Public Life and the Berggruen Institute.
  • Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program aims to increase the number of students of color that choose to pursue careers in conservation. Co-sponsored by the University of Washington.
  • Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship provides academic grants for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer.

More scholarships >

Fellowships

  • AAAS Environmental Fellowship provides opportunities for post-doctoral students to spend one year at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. to work on projects relating to science, policy, and the environment.
  • Civic Spark Fellowship places students in state, local and community-based organizations to work on social and environmental equity issues.
  • NOAA Knauss Fellowship matches qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branch of government located in Washington, D.C. for a one-year paid fellowship.
  • Switzer Fellowship is a one-year program awarded to talented graduate students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds in New England and California who are dedicated to environmental improvement.
  • 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 the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions.
  • University of New Hampshire Sustainability Fellowship supports students involved in sustainability initiatives in New England. The Fellowship is open to undergraduate seniors, recent grads, and graduate students from any college or university.
  • USC Postdoctoral Fellowships for Sustainability Solutions aims to accelerate sustainability research and train future leaders in academia, government and non-governmental organizations, and industry. The Fellowships support discovery, evaluation, and implementation of innovative solutions to sustainability problems.  

Internships

  • Environmental Communications Internship pairs students with scientists to help communicate lab research clearly and effectively. Students assist faculty with producing videos, writing articles and website content, and taking pictures to prepare the next generation of scientific storytellers who can inspire the public’s interest in science.
  • EH Matters offers USC undergraduate students from under-represented groups a paid, two-year, three-semester per year internship (Summer/Fall/Spring) to build capacity of diverse students to engage in environmental health sciences and community health disparities research. Rising sophomore and juniors are encouraged to apply.
  • President’s Sustainability Internship Program (PSIP) is a paid internship that connects USC students with co-curricular learning opportunities and equips them to become advocates for sustainability on campus and beyond.

Extension

Project Funding

  • The Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education is an annual conference sponsored by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). USC Office of Sustainability provides funding for students to attend.
  • Min Family Social Entrepreneurship Challenge gathers teams of students to collaborate with local organizations in developing solutions for vulnerable populations. Teams compete for a $50,000 grand prize. Co-sponsored by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
  • Community Accessibility Restoration & Ecology (CARE) Challenge: USC’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity welcomes the opportunity to co-sponsor events and programming focused on the intersection between Diversity and Inclusion and Sustainability where USC faculty, staff, and students play a prominent role either in the planning or in the event itself.