Purpose: In recognition of the growing interest in environmental issues and careers, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS) Fellowship Program in 1986 to encourage students to pursue environmental careers. The purpose of the NNEMS program is to:

• Provide students with practical research opportunities and experiences in EPA’s program and regional offices and in its laboratories
• Increase public awareness of and involvement in environmental issues
• Encourage qualified individuals to pursue environmental careers
• Help defray the costs associated with the pursuit of academic programs related to the field of environmental protection, such as pollution control, science, engineering, technology, social science, and specialty areas

Eligibility: A NNEMS fellowship is available to any associate, undergraduate, or advanced student who is:

• A citizen of the United States, its territories or possessions, or lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residency
• Enrolled for academic credit at an accredited educational institution
• Pursuing an educational program directly related to pollution control or environmental protection for the duration of the fellowship
• 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) based on a scale of 4.0 at the time the application is due
• Completion of at least four courses related to the field of environmental studies

Note: Undergraduate who will graduate before the NNEMS fellowship is completed are NOT eligible. (Students who complete their undergraduate studies before the end of a fellowship may apply if they are admitted and enrolled in a graduate program.)

About the Fellowships: The fellowships are organized into four categories:

• Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law
  Fellowships offered in this category provide students an opportunity to review and evaluate existing policies and regulations, as well as conduct research related to the development of new policies. The projects may include a component that focuses on environmental compliance. 
• Environmental Management and Administration
  The topics of fellowships in this category focus on environmental management goals.
• Environmental Science
  Fellowships in this category typically include direct participation in field studies and laboratory research. Environmental policy and regulation review requiring technical expertise is included in the Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law category described above.
• Public Relations and Communications
  These types of fellowships include the review and analysis of public response to EPA policies and regulations, as well as general public opinion of environmental issues. The projects may include the development of communication tools; for example, pamphlets and informational materials.

Funding: Students selected for a fellowship receive a grant award in the form of a stipend. The grant is paid in monthly installments based on the duration of the project. Grant awards reflect an individual student’s level of education, as well as the location and duration of the fellowship. For example, grants awarded for a 3-month full-time period would range from approximately $6,000 to $10,500 per award. The stipend will be increased to compensate for costs associated with travel or training for fellowships that require these activities.

Application Process: Review the project descriptions and complete and submit a separate NNEMS application for each project.