The Kuo-Nan Liou Endowed Graduate Fellowship, established through the generosity of the Liou Family and the Dean’s Matching Gift Program, provides financial support to graduate students in the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences (AOS) who are conducting research at the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE). The fellowship seeks to empower the next generation of atmospheric and oceanic scientists by fostering a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative research community and particularly encourages applications from female, historically underrepresented, and/or international students.

1. Eligibility

• Be a continuing graduate student who has completed three quarters and eligible for 2025 fall quarter registration at AOS, UCLA.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 with demonstrated academic excellence and engagement in interdisciplinary and collaborative research, ideally with connections between UCLA and JPL.
• Applications/nominations from/for female, historically underrepresented, and/or international students are especially encouraged.
• Each recipient may receive this award only once.

2. Application/Nomination Procedure

Eligible students may apply directly or be nominated for this fellowship. Required application/nomination materials include:

• Curriculum Vitae: Including a bibliography, honors and awards, and evidence of community service and leadership, particularly activities that support UCLA-JPL collaborations.
• Statement of Research: Outlining the scientific and technical merits of the applicant's work, as well as the interdisciplinary and collaborative aspects of their research.
• Publications: Up to three of the applicant’s most significant publications.
• Unofficial Transcript.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters, or in the case of a nomination, one nomination letter and one support letter, are required. One letter should be from the main thesis advisor, and the other from a faculty member or researcher familiar with the applicant’s work.

3. Award Amount

Two awards of $6,000 each will be granted annually.

4. Submission and Selection

• Submission: Applications and nominations should be submitted to the JIFRESSE Award Committee, attention: Thanh Le,  tle@jifresse.ucla.edu  by January 10, 2025.
• Review Process: The JIFRESSE Award Committee will review all applications/nominations.
• Selection: The results will be announced by the end of February 2025.