Dr. Foster was a marine biologist whose science-based efforts to save aquatic life along the coast were well-known. In 1997, Dr. Foster was requested to take over as the new director of the National Ocean Service (NOS) by Dr. D. James Baker, the previous administrator of NOAA. She strengthened and elevated the National Ocean Service during her brief tenure there, putting it in a position to lead the country in coastal management. She oversaw the conceptualization and development of NOS’s 1999 relaunch and revitalization.
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR
DR. NANCY FOSTER
Dr. Nancy Foster was a Texas Woman’s College alumna who was born in Electra. Her Ph.D. study at George Washington University, where she also earned her M.S. in Marine Biology, was focused on the ecological and systematic of polychaetes annelids. She also holds an M.S. in Marine Biology from Texas Christian University.
Dr. Foster worked as a researcher for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was a biology department chair and assistant professor at Dumbarton College for Women in Washington, D.C., in the 1970s. She worked at the Smithsonian Institution while pursuing her doctorate, where she researched marine invertebrates.
In 1977, Dr. Foster started her NOAA career in the Office of Research and Development. She then spent nine years as the Deputy Director before becoming the Director General Marine Sanctuary Program and the Federal Estuarine Research Reserve Program. She served in the program’s formative years and has continued to support and advocate for it ever since, which has greatly contributed to its success and made it a national treasure for the American people.
Dr. Nancy Foster, the former Director of the National Ocean Service (NOS) and Assistant Administrator for Oceanic Offerings and Coastal Zone Management at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), passed away on June 27, 2000, at her home in Baltimore, Maryland, following a year-long battle with cancer. She distinguished herself as a visionary due to her early grasp of marine ecosystems, their preservation, and the necessity of taking into account the interconnected roles of creatures in marine ecosystems. This viewpoint served as the cornerstone of her 23-year employment with NOAA and gave the organization strength and quality unmatched in its past.
Dr. Foster earned a great deal of respect during her career as a mentor, an advocate for diversity, and a proponent of treating everyone fairly and equally in the workplace. Because she was aware of the power of believing in and valuing others’ special abilities and contributions, she had a direct effect on the lives of hundreds of workers. She frequently made contact with organizations that had previously assisted minority students, giving it a personal mission to widen doors and forge connections. Vice President Al Gore wrote to Dr. Foster in April 2000 and thanked her for “pioneering an exceptional national strategy for environmental protection and serving as an exemplary role model for women scientists around the United States.”
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
Each year, the federal funding opportunity for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is announced in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that is published in the Federal Register. Please be aware that the NOFO is the official publication for the scholarship opportunity, and that downloading it will serve as your application’s manual.
ELIGIBILITY
It is advised that you read the following points to decide if you should apply for this scholarship in order to have a strong candidacy for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program.
1. Your research plan closely reflects the goals of NOAA, with a focus on addressing the scientific priorities of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This accounts for 30% of your overall application score.
2. Using an engaging personal narrative, your monetary need statement demonstrates a significant financial need as a result of difficulties, hardships, or other factors. This accounts for 25% of your overall application score.
3. Your research plan closely reflects the goals of NOAA, with a focus on addressing the scientific priorities of the NOAA Office of National Maritime Sanctuaries. This accounts for 30% of your overall application score.
4. Traditionally, proposals that do not further the National Marine Sanctuary System’s scientific or educational aims do not receive high marks.
5. It is not advisable to submit an application for this scholarship if you are in your last year of a master’s or doctoral program.
PROCESS FOR APPLICATIONS
All Grants.gov applicants are urged to start the entry process at least a few days before the deadline. Every applicant should be aware that scheduling must allow enough time for the completion of the application. Grants.gov could take up to two (2) working days to approve or deny the application. When creating your submission timetable, kindly bear this in mind. Electronic applicants are cautioned that unusually high volume on Grants.gov may cause further delays.
If your application was properly uploaded, Grants.gov will send you a formal notification. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is not obligated to confirm the receipt of any application.
Only the following situations allow for paper applications:
1) The applicant lacks an internet connection
2) Grants.gov is not able to accept electronic submissions in a timely manner
3) The individual writing the letter of endorsement does not want the applicant to view the letter’s contents. Otherwise, Grants.gov must receive all applications. You can request application forms and other tangible copies of material from
National Marine Sanctuaries Office of NOAA
Seaberry Nachbar
Pacific Street, 99
Cali., Monterey, 93940
APPLICATION LINK
Interested persons can now apply here https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/
