ASLO-SFS NEON Early Career Scholars (NECS) Program

The ASLO-SFS Joint Meeting is cancelled, and consequently this program and all in-person NEON-related activities associated with ASLO-SFS are cancelled. However, NEON is teaching two workshops through the SFS Summer of Science and all NEON Early Career Scholars participants received an email inviting them to register for these workshops. 

Explore and work with NEON biodiversity data from aquatic ecosystems workshop.
Tuesday, June 23^rd 2–5pm EDT

This workshop provides an overview of the breadth of NEON biodiversity data before providing code-along instruction on how to retrieve and convert NEON biodiversity data to standardized formats (long and wide species tables with relevant metadata to make cross data product comparisons possible) for taxonomic groups such as fishes, benthic macro-invertebrates, and algae. Workshop Details. 
 

Access and explore open, continental-scale aquatic instrument data from NEON workshop.
Tuesday, June 30^th 2–5pm EDT

Instruction will include an overview of the breadth of available NEON AIS data and data product naming conventions, before jumping into using the neonUtilities R package to access NEON AIS data. Workshop Details.

Presenting research findings and participating in the scientific dialogue are important experiences in the career development of researchers. To support their growth as effective scientists and communicators, the NEON Early Career Scholars program supports early career scientists attending select conferences each year. 

2020 NECS ASLO-SFS Opportunities

In 2020, NEON will support a cohort of early career scientists to attend the 2020 ASLO/SFS conference in Madison, WI, 7-12 June 2020. While at the conference, Scholars will attend a variety of NEON-related workshops and/or sessions led by NEON project staff (specific workshops/sessions to be announced once ALSO and SFS select from proposed events).

The Scholars will also participate in an evening event at the ASLO/SFS 2020 meeting, where Scholars will network with each other, NEON program science staff, and other researchers.  This venue provides an opportunity to discuss using NEON data and talk about their own research ideas and projects.

NEON-ESA Early Career Scholars Stipend: $1500/participant to offset registration and travel expenses associated with attending the 2020 ASLO/SFS meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, to be provided following participation in the conference and NEON activities. The funds will be reimbursed following the event.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

1. At the time of the annual meeting/conference, applicants must be within 5 years of receiving their terminal degree or be enrolled full-time in a graduate program.

2. All applicants must agree to attend the NEON-related activities, mentioned above, held in conjunction with the ALSO-SFS conference.

3. Applicant must currently use or demonstrate an interest in using NEON data in their research or education program. (Be sure to describe this in your application essay). 

4. Applicant must agree to submit a short science communication reflection piece(<500 words) about their NEON Early Career Scholars experience for use by NEON.   

5. Recipients of a NEON Early Career Scholar award in past years are not eligible.

Selection is competitive and based on:

1. The attendance and participation at ASLO/SFS being a unique opportunity for the Awardee.

2. Alignment of educational and career goals with the NEON program.

3. Contribution to NSF’s commitment to broadening participation in STEM fields.

Required Documents for your Application

Please submit two documents clearly labeled with the following naming convention: "LastName_FirstName_DocumentDescription".

1. Document that includes your budget and two personal statements (each not to exceed 300 words) detailing:

   1. Educational and career goals (including use of NEON data, resources, or infrastructure) and how this award will help meet these goals.

   2. How the applicant will contribute to NSF’s commitment to broadening participation in STEM fields (learn more about NSF’s 2019 report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering).

2. Your CV.

Important Deadlines

• Application deadline: 11:59 PM local time on Feb 17th, 2020

• Selection notifications:  1 March 2020 (9 days before abstracts close)

​We encourage diverse candidates to apply, including people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

The application is now closed.