Program Update

For more than 30 years, EPA’s STAR and GRO Undergraduate Fellowship Programs supported the nation’s next generations of scientists and engineers in their pursuit of environmentally-related academic degrees. These programs provided diverse, interdisciplinary environmental research experiences for more than 2,000 students across the nation. Many alumni have gone on to pursue advanced degrees and successful careers in the research, academia, non-profit organizations, and government fields.

In a 2014 effort to realign ongoing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs for greater coherence, efficiency, ease of evaluation, and focus on highest priorities, the number of programs spread across the federal government were reduced and some were consolidated into flagship programs. EPA’s STAR Graduate Fellowship and GRO programs were among the programs whose funds were consolidated into the National Science Foundation (NSF) flagship undergraduate education and graduate fellowship programs.

EPA awarded its final group of STAR Graduate and GRO Undergraduate Fellowships in 2015. The Agency remains committed to supporting STEM efforts through other training and research programs and opportunities. In 2015, EPA partnered with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide hands-on internship experiences for graduate students. Learn more about these opportunities at the EPA Graduate Research Internship Program (GRIP) and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) websites. Interested students are also encouraged to research through the Federal Opportunities for Graduate and Undergraduate Students web portal for STEM research training programs. 

Historical Information

Historical information about the STAR Graduate and GRO Undergraduate Fellowship Programs and the recipients may be accessed through the following links:

• Past Research Fellowship Funding Opportunities
• GRO 30th Anniversary Handbook (PDF)(86 pp, 27 MB, 02/10/2017)
• GRO Forum Archive