Overview
The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) is a leading translator of world-class water science research to operations. CIROH’s transdisciplinary research integrates hydrologic science, computer science, and decision science and aims to advance NOAA’s ability to put actionable water intelligence in the hands of those managing floods, droughts, and water quality and building community resilience.
CIROH sponsors an annual Visiting Scholars Program that brings the world’s top hydrologists and water forecasting researchers to The University of Alabama to interact with scientists and practitioners at the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa. The goals of CIROH’s Visiting Scholars Program are to address a short-term research or education objective of interest to CIROH and the scholar, increase collaboration across the CIROH consortium, build relationships between the world’s leading water researchers and scientists and practitioners at the National Water Center, and enhance research to operations and operations to research translation.
CIROH Visiting Scholars are in residence at The University of Alabama during their program. Scholars are awarded an honorarium and a stipend to offset costs of transportation to The University of Alabama and living expenses while in residence at The University of Alabama. The remainder of the Scholar’s support for the duration of the program must come from either their home institution, home government, external grant, or personal funds. While at UA, Visiting Scholars will be provided, subject to review procedures and approval, desk space, access to computational resources, and access to other campus resources and facilities necessary to carry out their research objectives.
Eligibility
CIROH welcomes any researcher actively working in an area within CIROH’s research themes to apply. Full-time faculty and researchers serving as principal investigators on CIROH-funded projects and currently employed at a CIROH member or partner institution will be given the highest priority.
Program Types
Type 1: One Month
The One Month program type is designed to be a hybrid program a Visiting Scholar in residence at the UA for up to one month in one semester or summer. For the remainder of the semester or summer the Scholar is in residence at the Scholar’s home institution or other location. A Scholar may divide the one month of time in residence at UA into more than one visit. The One Month fellowship includes:
- A stipend of $5,000
- Accommodation, while at The University of Alabama, in a local hotel, rental property, or on the University campus
- Travel to/from the scholar’s home base for one or more trips
Type 2: One Semester
The One Semester program type is designed to be in-residence at the UA an entire semester or summer. The Semester fellowship includes:
- A stipend of $15,000
- Accommodation, while at The University of Alabama, in a local rental property or on the University campus
- Travel to/from the scholar’s home base
- A monthly living expense stipend (meals, laundry, etc.) of up to $550 in the form of BamaCash
Deadlines and Decision Schedule
Application Window: August 1 to October 15
Notification Date: October 31
Semester Options: Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Application Requirements
- Complete the online application form
- Resume (2-page maximum))
- Cover Letter (1-page maximum)
- Provide a brief summary of interest and qualifications
- Summarize briefly the rationale supporting your application. In the rationale briefly include responses to four questions:
- What short-term research or education objective of interest to CIROH will be addressed during the program?
- What will the tangible product produced during the program?
- How will the visit increase collaboration across the consortium?
- How will the visit enhance the effectiveness of research to operations?
- Proposal (2 pages maximum). Identify the water prediction problem or challenge and CIROH research theme the work will address. Provide the project’s goal and objectives, specific to the period of the program duration. Explain the plan to accomplish the objectives. Define the anticipated outcomes and how they contribute to CIROH’s research themes and educational activities. For the One Month program, describe the work that will be completed at the UA and the work that will be completed at the home institution and the rationale for the proposed visit schedule.
Application Review: CIROH’s Executive Board will review all applications received. Evaluation will consider three criteria weighted equally:
- Scholarly Record. The Board will evaluate the applicant’s scholarly productivity (e.g., publications, presentations, external funding, impact).
- Objectives and Impact. The Board will consider the merit and potential benefit of the stated objectives, proposed outcomes, and anticipated broader impacts.
- CIROH Engagement. The Board will evaluate the engagement of the applicant in CIROH activities and community collaborations to date and the proposed engagement during and after the visit program.
Awarding of Visiting Scholar Fellowships is dependent on availability of funds. CIROH also hosts other types of visitors, such as yearlong sabbaticals and short-term visits. For more information about the CIROH Visiting Scholars Program and other visit opportunities please contact Lanna Nations at lnations@ua.edu.