CPRA: Investing in Louisiana Future

Faculty members at universities in Louisiana have until December 15, 2017, to apply for one of four $25,000 stipends for eligible students pursuing a Master of Science degree at that university, Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) said in its latest release. 

“The assistantships available to faculty at Louisiana colleges and universities, will fund new, outstanding Master of Science students, who wish to pursue appropriate coastal protection and restoration-related research,” said CPRA.

Since 2008, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has annually provided $100,000 awarded to four MS students as $25,000 stipends, through its Coastal Science Assistantship Program (CSAP).

The stipends are renewed for up to three years (a maximum of $75,000 per student) for graduate students who are enrolled full-time at Louisiana colleges and universities and involved in research relevant to Louisiana coastal protection and restoration efforts. Additionally, selected students are required to complete 240 internship hours working with CPRA, an effort to encourage students to explore careers in coastal science.

Over the past 10 years CPRA has invested $1 million in this coastal science student training program.

“CPRA is very proud of the program’s success, evidenced by the accomplishments of student participants, both while in the program and after they’ve graduated,” said Michael Ellis, Executive Director. 

Fifty Master of Science students across eight Louisiana universities have participated, including LSU, ULL, SLU, UNO, Tulane, Nicholls State, Louisiana Tech and, the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.

To date, the program has generated more than 7,000 internship hours with CPRA, thirty-five theses, and more than 30 student-authored journal publications.