SCHLANGER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Support and training for the next generation of ocean scientists are critical elements of U.S. Scientific Ocean Drilling (US SciOD). The Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for graduate students enrolled in M.S. or Ph.D. programs to conduct research using existing samples and data from scientific ocean drilling programs.

A Fellowship year may begin in either June or August (summer or fall semester) and will extend for 12 months. Following the conclusion of the fellowship year, Schlanger Fellows will be invited to attend a meeting of the SODCO Advisory Board (SAB) to present the initial results of their research, interact with community leaders, and see how US SciOD priorities and policies are shaped.

Fellowship awards are $42,000 for a 12-month period, issued to the fellow’s home institution. The entire amount is intended to be applied to the research project, student stipend, tuition, benefits, and, if necessary, related travel. No part of the award is to be used to cover institutional overhead, administrative costs, or permanent equipment. Award start dates can be negotiated on an individual basis, but in general are based on the academic year and following summer.

Research projects should rely on data and samples from past expeditions of any scientific ocean drilling program (i.e., DSDP, ODP, IODP, or IODP³). Applicants are discouraged from proposing projects reliant on data from expeditions that are scheduled but have not yet taken place. SODCO cannot fund projects based on prospective datasets.

The fellowship is open to all graduate students currently enrolled at U.S. institutions in full-time M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Approval of the research project by the student’s faculty advisor is required to begin the application process. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, sex, age, or national origin.

Calls for fellowship applications are annual, with the submission deadline falling in December.

The following materials are required for a Schlanger Fellowship application.

• Application Form: This form includes contact information for the applicant, plus the proposed project title, relevant DSDP, ODP, IODP, and IODP³ expedition(s), geographic region, and scientific problem(s) of interest.

• Recommendation Letters: Two letters of recommendation are required, one from the applicant’s faculty advisor and one from a second reference.

• Research Proposal: Each research proposal must include a short title, an abstract (about 100 words), and a description of the proposed research. Research proposals must not exceed four (4) pages of text, not including references or figures. Figures should be included separately at the end of the proposal and should be limited to two (2) pages. Research descriptions should include:

  • a statement of the problem and hypothesis;

  • background and relevance to previous work;

  • a discussion of methodology and procedure to be followed;

  • an explanation of any new or unusual techniques; and

  • a discussion of expected results, significance and application.

• Proposal Implementation Form: Applicants are asked to respond to specific questions about other funding sources, their research facilities, and the timeline of their proposed research.

• Curriculum Vitae: CV should include relevant educational history (degrees and dates awarded); fellowships, scholarships, and awards received; academic honors received; society membership(s); employment experience (including any internships); and any authored or co-authored journal articles, abstracts, or other publications related to their proposed research.

• Demographic Information Form: This information may be shared with reviewers. If you do not wish to disclose any of the information (excluding your name), please check the appropriate box.

Submit a Schlanger Fellowship Application.

SODCO convenes a multi-disciplinary panel of scientists to evaluate research proposals and fellowship applications. However, keep in mind that the panel may not consist of researchers with specific expertise in your field, so proposals should be written for non-specialists. The selection process is based on an evaluation of research potential and proposal quality. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative and imaginative research that can be accomplished in one year.

The number of fellowships awarded depends upon the availability of funds, but four to six awards will typically be made each academic year. Applicants are permitted to resubmit a rejected proposal in a subsequent year. Financial need is not considered during the evaluation process.

Fellows must implement their research plans over the one-year period of the award and abide by the conditions of the award; major program changes must be approved by both SODCO and the fellow’s faculty advisor. During the award period, fellows are considered guest investigators and not employees of SODCO or associated organizations.

The deadline for Schlanger Fellowship applications is Friday, December 11, 2026.

All fellowship applications should be submitted by the student applicant via the SODCO Application Portal. Visit the SODCO Application Portal to preview application materials and instructions.

Reference letters and forms should be submitted by the student’s faculty advisor and second referee, via the SODCO Application Portal. The applicant will provide referees’ names and contact information in the online Schlanger Fellowship Application Form. This will trigger automated emails from the Application Portal to the referees, requesting that they submit reference letters and providing specific instructions for doing so through the Application Portal.

If you are a new SODCO Application Portal user (whether an applicant or a reference provider), you can create an applicant account in the Portal. You will need to verify your email address by responding to a Portal email. If you already have an account, log on to the Portal and create a new application submission.

For a list of previous Schlanger Fellowship winners, please visit the U.S. Science Support Program website.