The Tom Gilbert Graduate Award
This award was established through the generosity of UT alumnus Vernon (Tom) Gilbert, a lifelong champion of conservation and education programs for natural resources across the world. His legacy includes biosphere reserves to preserve diverse and unique ecosystems, including planning the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB) Cooperative, which supports integrated environmental research, education, and training to foster ecological and community resilience across the Southern Appalachians.
Eligibility Criteria
The Tom Gilbert Award is given to a talented, full-time graduate student who is conducting cutting-edge research on environmental policy, natural resource management, or the intersection between economic development and the environment. The Award, administered by the Baker School’s Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy (CETEP), is open to applicants from all colleges and programs. During the 12-month period of the appointment, the Tom Gilbert Awardee is expected to work with faculty or experts affiliated with CETEP. The recipient is required to write at least one publishable paper in the area of environmental or natural resource policy by the end of the 12-month award period, which CETEP will produce as a policy brief or discussion paper. The award recipient for each upcoming year is announced in January. A letter from the overseeing faculty member certifying the recipient’s progress on his or her research will be due the following August.
Selection Process
A committee of CETEP faculty and experts will select the Tom Gilbert Awardee. The faculty will assess the quality of the proposed research activities and the intellectual rigor and policy relevance of the student’s previous work.
Application Details
Applications are due by December 18, 2024 at 5 p.m. EST and should be submitted via e-mail to cetep@utk.edu. The award winner will be notified via e-mail and then announced in early January 2025.
The application for this award should include:
- CV
- Letter of recommendation from a faculty member
- A letter outlining the proposed research agenda for the upcoming 12 months. The letter should include:
- What is the purpose of the research? What is its importance for environmental or natural resource policy?
- How is the research different from previous research on the subject?
- How does it advance our knowledge?
- What is the methodology to be employed?
- Which CETEP-affiliated faculty will you work with?