This graduate student fellowship was established with matching funds provided by the Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of South Florida.

Purpose
The Mote Marine Laboratory and University of South Florida Graduate Fellowship in Elasmobranch Biology was created to form a collaborative initiative between Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of South Florida, Tampa. The goal of this fellowship is to promote graduate research on the biology of elasmobranch fishes. Elasmobranch fishes, including sharks, skates and rays, are recognized as a global resource undergoing decline and perhaps facing fisheries collapse in many parts of the world. Elasmobranchs are an important component of the marine environment, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and to the state of Florida. Elasmobranch fishes have provided model systems for anatomical, physiological, ecological, and behavioral studies. Whereas Mote Marine Laboratory is recognized as a center of elasmobranch research for over 40 years and now houses the Center for Shark Research (CSR) under the direction of Dr. Robert Hueter, Senior Scientist, and furthermore as Dr. Philip Motta, Associate Professor of Biology of USF maintains an active research program on elasmobranch biology and supervises graduate students in elasmobranch biology, this fellowship provides the opportunity to draw on expertise and facilities of both institutions to enhance elasmobranch research opportunities for graduate students.

Components
This fellowship provides support for one graduate student annually in elasmobranch biology. The student must be a full-time graduate student in the Biology Department, University of South Florida, Tampa, under the direction of Dr. Philip Motta. Dr. Robert Hueter will serve as a member of the student’s graduate committee. The student will conduct research at both the University of South Florida and Mote Marine Laboratory. It is expected that the student will conduct research at MML primarily during the summer months when the student is usually available outside of regular class instruction. The choice of research project will be determined by mutual agreement of Dr. Philip Motta, Dr. Robert Hueter and the graduate student, and consent of the student's thesis or dissertation committee as specified by the rules of the Graduate School, University of South Florida.

Selection of Recipients
The fellowship is awarded on an annual basis based upon the recommendations of Dr. Robert Hueter and Dr. Philip Motta and in conjunction with the approval of the Executive Director of Mote Marine Laboratory and the Chairman of the Department of Biology, University of South Florida. Selection is based on the following criteria:

*Selection of elasmobranchs as a study organism(s)
*Merit of the research
*Qualifications of the candidate
*Anticipated potential of the candidate
*Feasibility of the proposed research

One student per year is normally selected to receive the fellowship. The student may use the fellowship to support travel and living expenses, books, research supplies, or any other cost related to the graduate research in elasmobranch biology. Although it is the intent of the fellowship program to support as many individuals as possible, this does not preclude the awarding of the fellowship to an individual more than once during his/her graduate training.

Allowance and Distribution
The Mote Marine Laboratory and University of South Florida Graduate Fellowship in Elasmobranch Biology consists of a summer award of $4,000 disbursed in two lump sum payments of $2,000 to the selected graduate student. The University of South Florida Graduate School also commits a partial tuition waiver for a maximum of 9 hours to accompany the fellowship in the summer session(s) as long as the student is registered as a full-time, degree-seeking graduate student. It is expected that the selected student will support himself or herself and his/her research throughout the remainder of the year by other means, such as a graduate teaching assistantship at the University of South Florida.

Facilities Use
Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of South Florida provide facilities support for the student's research project. Provision of research animals is contingent upon availability and their use and care as specified by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines of the University of South Florida and Mote Marine Laboratory, where applicable. No additional support is provided to the student for travel to and from Mote Marine Laboratory or housing costs in Sarasota, Florida. This does not preclude use of the fellowship for such purposes, however.

Previous Recipients
Dr. Cheryl Wilga
Dr. Michael Robinson
Desiree Sasko
Michael Matott
Margaret Pretlow
Daniel Huber