Student Fellowships

Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Fellowship 2024–25

Overview

The Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Student Fellowship program engages and energizes students in support of UC’s climate action and sustainable food goals. The fellowship program is funded by the UC President’s Global Climate Leadership Council (GCLC) in support of the President’s Leading on Climate priority.

• Shaping the university’s climate action programs and supporting the university’s aggressive goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating a more equitable, sustainable, resilient and healthy world
• Conducting projects that support sustainable agricultural practices and helping campuses and health systems work toward President Drake’s goal of “defining the actions and resources needed to procure at least 25 percent of our own food supplies from sustainable sources by 2025, five years ahead of the university’s existing goal.”

Fellowship Responsibilities

All student fellows are expected to attend certain systemwide events. Systemwide activities for the coming program year include:

• 8 hours per week (September 2024 – June 2025)
• A virtual orientation session in the fall
• A leadership training in the fall
• Fellows’ meetings and topical trainings for fellows working on similar projects throughout the year
• A closing symposium and poster presentation in late spring
• Periodic conference calls to discuss individual projects and share best practices with peers

Award Amount

$5,000 for the academic year

Financial Aid/Scholarships Notice

Funding for this position comes as a scholarship, spread out as regular disbursements, and therefore go directly to the Financial Aid office for processing. Before taking the position, we highly recommend that you meet with your financial aid advisor to ensure your eligibility to receive this scholarship and that it will not adversely affect your financial aid package currently or in the future.

Fellowship Positions

Climate Action Fellows

Application deadline: July 26, 2024

Open to: All undergraduate and graduate students

The Climate Action Fellows will work under the guidance of UC San Diego Utilities & Sustainability. There are three Climate Action Fellow positions for the 2024–25 academic year. Applicants will have the opportunity to choose their fellowship preference:

• Climate Action Fellow – Decarbonization (1 fellow) The Climate Action Decarbonization Fellow will support climate action planning efforts to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 90% no later than 2045. Projects will focus on decarbonization. This may include researching emerging technologies, analyzing campus data, conducting outreach to the campus community and serving as a student representative.
• Climate Action Fellow – Resilience (1 fellow) The Climate Action Resilience Fellow will support ongoing efforts to advance campus climate resilience planning. Projects will focus on climate resilience and adaptation efforts. This may include evaluation of potential adaptation strategies, implementation of low-cost solutions, conducting outreach to the campus community and serving as a student representative.
• Climate Action Fellow – Student Engagement (1 fellow) The Climate Action Student Engagement Fellow will focus on outreach and engagement with the campus community around climate and sustainability initiatives. Projects will focus on student engagement. This may include the coordination of recurring events, representing and presenting to organizations and collaborating with other student groups and entities.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellows

Application deadline: July 26, 2024

Open to: All undergraduate students

The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellows will work under the guidance of Dr. Amy Lerner, faculty member in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and a site supervisor. There are four Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow positions for the 2024–25 academic year. Applicants will have the opportunity to express their fellowship preference:

• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow – Food Sustainability and Health Equity Engagement Fellow (1 fellow) The Engagement Fellow will help coordinate efforts across main and health campus and different campus entities, including HDH, Real Estate, student groups, to develop and support a network. See details
• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow – Projects in sustainable and equitable food systems at UC San Diego and across San Diego (1 fellow) This position will have the opportunity to connect with ongoing projects in sustainable and equitable food systems. Such projects could include:
  • The Center for Community Health at UC San Diego and its on-going efforts to promote and support urban food equity in San Diego; specifically, this internship would build capacity for urban agriculture in San Diego County.
  • UC San Diego Food resources: Campus Gardens, Food Recovery Network, Triton Food Pantry and others listed on the Food and Dining webpage.
• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Fellow - Sustainable Procurement at UC San Diego (1 main campus, 1 health campus; 2 fellows total) This position will have the opportunity to work with Dining at UC San Diego on main campus or health campus to propose ways to meet sustainable procurement goals for UC San Diego, according to UCOP Sustainable Practices. Examples of areas that could be explored in sustainable procurement include, price differentials for sustainable products, diverse sources of sustainable products, comparing and contrasting the labels for sustainable products, marketing and communication of sustainable products in dining.