Headwaters Leadership Academy Application The Headwaters Leadership Academy, administered by the Society for Freshwater Science, seeks early-career freshwater scientists for a new cohort each year in the late spring. Applications are due on June 30 of each year.The mission of the Headwaters Leadership Academy is to build a pipeline for emerging leaders by forming a network of early career freshwater scientists and providing mentorship, service, and professional development opportunities beyond the typical training offered in traditional academic settings.The Headwaters Leadership Academy is a two-year commitment from September to May of each year that requires mandatory participation in three components: Professional Development – attendance at 8 interactive presentations (4/year); 1.5 hr each Mentoring Program – participation in monthly discussions; 1 hr each; groups of 2 mentors and 2-3 mentees Society Service – participation in an SFS committee or other society service All applicants must be either in the last year of their intended terminal degree or less than five years since their terminal degree was awarded, and must be (or become) members of the Society for Freshwater Science. The selection criteria prioritize creating a cohort with diverse perspectives and experiences by representing varying career stages, career types, and demographics. A personal statement from each applicant describing their expectations and goals for this program is required as part of this application and will be also considered during the selection process. The personal statement should NOT include a description of your research. You can view the assessment rubric for the personal statement here.To apply to this program, please fill out the form below. First (given) Name: * Last (family) Name: * Email Address: * Location: City, State/Province and Country of Residence * (e.g., ‘Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA’, or ‘Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa) Institution: * Demographic Information: Racial/Ethnic Identification OPTIONAL: List the racial and ethnic group(s) with which you identify Gender Identification OPTIONAL: Self-describe your gender identity Career Stage * What is your current position / career stage? Last year of MS degree (Note: you're only eligible for HLA at this stage if a MS is your intended terminal degree and you do not intend to pursue a PhD) Last year of PhD degree Completed terminal degree 1-2 years ago Completed terminal degree 3-5 years ago Other Future Goal * What is your future goal in terms of employment/affiliation? (may select multiple) Academic Consulting Government (National/Federal, State/Provincial/Regional, Tribal, or otherwise) Non-Profit Organization Private Industry Previous Application * Have you previously applied to the Headwaters Leadership Academy? Yes No Participation Agreement * If accepted to the program, do you agree to participate in all monthly mentorship group meetings and attend all webinar sessions? Yes No Society Membership * Are you a current member of SFS? Yes No, but I will join SFS if accepted into the HLA No, and I will not join SFS Personal Statement Please provide a personal statement (maximum 300 words) highlighting your career path (including nature of your current position and future goals), and clearly identifying how participation in the HLA will help you achieve those goals. In this statement, you should identify non-academic goals and/or needs that you have in the context of each of the three components of the HLA (professional development, mentorship, and society service). However, you should not focus on academic goals such as establishing scientific collaborations, or writing papers or grants, as the HLA aims to be inclusive of freshwater scientists with diverse career goals both within and outside of academia. Emphasize how the HLA will benefit you in terms of professional development, mentorship, and service opportunities. HLA application reviews are blind. Thus, you must not include any personal identifying information in the personal statement, including, but not limited to, your name and the names of any institutions of employment or colleagues/advisors (past or present). You may discuss your region or nation of residence/origin, or the types of institutions where you have studied or been employed, if they are relevant to your goals. The personal statement should NOT include a description of your research. Personal Statement * Please copy and paste your personal statement directly into the form. **Note that your personal statement is limited to 300 words. Please compose your statement in a word-processing application to ensure you do not exceed 300 words.** Contact Information If you experience any technical difficulties in submitting your application or uploading files, please send an email to communications@freshwater-science.org.
