UL Lafayette biologist among 2019 class of early-career research fellows

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A 小蝌蚪APP biologist has received an Early-Career Research Fellowship from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Dr. James Nelson, an assistant professor of biology, is among 20 recipients of the fellowship awarded by the academies小蝌蚪APP Gulf Research Program. 小蝌蚪APP淚t is an incredible honor,小蝌蚪APP he said.

Nelson said the fellowship will enable him to continue examining how human-made changes, such as river diversions, will affect animals that live along Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 Gulf Coast.

He completed a Ph.D. in chemical oceanography at Florida State 小蝌蚪APP in 2011, and joined the faculty in 2015.

To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must have earned doctoral degrees within the past decade and be on track to earn tenure at their respective institutions. Fellows receive $76,000 and opportunities for mentorship from senior faculty, according to a Sept. 3 press release that announced recipients.

The release continued: 小蝌蚪APP淭he support allows (fellows) to take risks on research ideas, pursue unique collaborations, and build a network of colleagues who share their interest in improving offshore energy system safety and the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems.小蝌蚪APP

Nearly 70 fellowships have been awarded since the program小蝌蚪APP檚 founding in 2015. In addition to UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Nelson, 2019 fellows include faculty at the universities of Florida, Maryland and Kansas, and Texas A&M, Louisiana State, Ohio State, Rice and Stanford universities.

The Gulf Research Program was founded as part of legal settlements following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The program seeks to improve offshore safety, protect human health and safeguard the environment.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides independent analysis that informs public policy decisions in the disciplines of science, technology and medicine. It was established in 1863.
 

Photo credit: Dr. James Nelson is an assistant professor of biology. He小蝌蚪APP檚 seen here exploring a wetland near Broussard, La., in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Dr. James Nelson)