RaMP-UP FAQ

Eligibility and Requirements

Who can apply to be a RaMP-UP Fellow?

Applicants must be U.S. citizens that have graduated with a Bachelor's degree in the past four years (Graduated in or after May 2021). If you are graduating in May 2025, you are eligible. Applicants must have the proper documentation (passports) to travel and live in Panamá.

As stated in our mission, we are interested in training a new generation of diverse and inclusive Bioscientists. To that end, we strongly encourage applicants who are historically underrepresented in STEM fields, including but not limited to students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, female, and first-generation college students.

GSS also welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students; students who have experienced, and worked to overcome, educational or economic disadvantaged and/or have personal or family circumstances that may complicate their continued progress in research careers.

No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment based on any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

What type of qualities make a strong candidate for this program?

This program is geared toward young professional bioscientists, who are deeply interested in biodiversity issues and who have completed their bachelor’s degree in related fields in the past four years. Applicants must demonstrate through professional or academic experience that they are self-directed, mature, collaborative, and solutions-oriented and that they have a deep commitment to working in the field of sustainability science. In addition, applicants should be able to articulate their understanding of how equity and inclusion interests intersect with the advancement of scientific discovery across the globe.

**A note on using ChatGPT for your application: While we know it’s tempting to use AI for your essays, we highly encourage you not to! When our team reviews your application, we’re looking for your individual voice and true self. We’ve been around the block a few times and can tell when someone has put genuine effort into their essays. Applications that have soul stand out, we’re interested in the honest version of you!

Strong candidates must also be able to travel and live abroad, be open to learning in culturally different environments, improve their leadership and professional development skills, and be committed to knowledge generation and rigorous scientific discovery. Please send an email to gsscholarinfo@gmail.com for questions.

Can graduate students apply?

No. This opportunity is specifically to uplift recent post-baccalaureates (graduated in the past 4 years) whose bioscience training was affected by the lack of research opportunities offered in the Biosciences. If you are a graduate student, unfortunately, you are not eligible.

Will Dreamers or DACA recipients be considered as a RaMP-UP Fellow?

Because this program travels abroad and will require visas to live in Panamá, all applicants must have legal documentation such as a U.S. passport to be eligible. You must have a valid US passport two months prior to travel, and it cannot expire within 6 months of the program end date (July 26, 2026).

What does a strong GSS RaMP-UP Fellow application look like?

Applicants should demonstrate their interest, expertise, and experience in Biosciences/ biodiversity research as well as articulate their career goals and how this fellowship will advance them toward these goals. Showing by example is always the strongest way to show your capabilities. When appropriate, we encourage you to give examples of your resiliency, how you face adversity, your collaboration skills, and your commitment to bioscience that will better inform our responses to global change. In addition, competitive applicants should be able to articulate the role of inclusivity in bioscience research.

As stated in our mission, our program is aimed at training a new generation of diverse and inclusive sustainability scientists. To that end, we encourage scholars who are historically underrepresented in STEM fields, including but not limited to students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latinx, female, first-generation college students, and who face socioeconomic barriers.

Do RaMP-UP Fellow applicants need to be in the STEM sciences?

No, however, they must have graduated with a BS or BA in biosciences or related fields like Environmental Studies.

What type of work will I be doing as a RaMP-UP Fellow?

The Fellowship will be a full-time job experience with professional meetings, communications, and tasks. Each project will be a little different in the type of tasks that they require. Many of these projects have field components that will involve working amidst the elements. Applicants should be able to travel and work in different field conditions and in the office. In the application form, you will have a chance to select the themes that most interest you. If you are selected, we will match your interests and skills with one of our partner organizations & themes.

Is this a paid fellowship? Do I have to pay for airfare, housing, and food?

Yes. Fellows are paid USD $32,000 for the 12 months of full participation. This stipend will be paid by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). STRI will also provide housing on-site and one round-trip ticket from your home to Panamá. Sleeping arrangements at some sites may require multiple occupancies in a room. At each site, the housing will be different and require flexibility.

What costs should I plan for?

GSS participants are responsible for their own healthcare costs, insurance, meals, commuting, and extracurricular activities. If participants want to travel back to the US during holidays, the participants will be responsible for this ticket. Participants cannot be reimbursed for passport expenses, visas, required vaccines, and extra luggage fees. The RaMP-UP program is not responsible for costs associated with missed flights and rescheduled flights due to participants’ changes in plans.

Will I have a mentor as a RaMP-UP Fellow?

Yes! This is an important and key piece of the program. You will have a program mentor and an STRI research mentor. Most likely, you will develop several informal mentors, too.

What are the dates of participation?

The program will begin July 27, 2025, and the last day will be July 26, 2026 - this includes travel. There will be holidays during this time, where students can travel if they desire. During the winter holidays, many students organize travel around the country to get a better sense of the place.

What if I’m accepted to a graduate school and need to leave the program early?

You stipend is based on your full participation in the program. If you need to leavae the program because of a conflict with the start of graduate school, we will prorate the stipend to compensate you for the time that you are onsite working on your project.