Group photo of the 2022 and 2023 NRT trainees at the NRT annual retreat in Big Sky Montana.

Overview

Extreme Biofilms is an NSF-funded science education program that trains diverse students to effectively engage and understand critical properties of extreme biofilm systems across multiple disciplines, generating new insights that can be used to control biofilms in engineered and natural systems. 

Eligibility 

While all graduate students with appropriate interests and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the Extreme Biofilms NRT program, there are restrictions on eligibility for receiving a graduate stipend through a Fellowship. Funded recipients must be American citizens or legal permanent residents. Please note that those with an F-1 visa status are not eligible for fellowship funding in this program. 

Image of a student working in Yellowstone National Park. Image of faculty and student on a mountainside with a glacier in the distance.

 

Before Applying

Applicants should have sufficient background and interest in microbiology, biochemistry, environmental sciences, or engineering related to biological systems to successfully participate in the program requirements. 

Applicants should discuss current research obligations and home department requirements with their faculty mentor to gauge the impact of the Extreme Biofilms program requirements on time and resources.  Students accepted as Fellows must identify and secure the agreement of a faculty mentor to act as their primary advisor. Please note that the primary advisor does not need to be a member of the NRT core faculty team. The responsibilities for students receiving fellowship support are as follows: 

  •  Take one required core course (Foundations in Extreme Biofilms (3 credits in Spring 2027) 
  •  Participate in professional development workshops
  •  Participate in student cohort meetings 
  •  Attend the NRT annual retreat August 24-26, 2026
  •  Participate in K-12 outreach activities
  •  Participate in program evaluations

Each Extreme Biofilms Fellow will receive a $34,000 fellowship stipend for one year of support in a master’s or PhD program. Funding for additional years of the student’s graduate program is dependent on the availability of support from their primary faculty advisor or departmental resources outside the Extreme Biofilms NRT program. Participants should discuss long‑term funding plans with their faculty mentor and ensure there is a clear plan for support throughout their graduate training.

The program also provides tuition and fees (up to nine credits), $1,000 toward health insurance, and $4,000 in travel funds. Travel funds are intended to support activities such as attending academic conferences, participating in technical workshops or summer internships, or pursuing emerging research opportunities.

 

Application Requirements 

Statement of Purpose:

The 1-page statement of purpose should detail your educational and career goals and how the Extreme Biofilms NRT program (and in particular the required NRT core course) will fit into your education/career objectives. 

Research Interests and Relevant Experience:

Provide a 1-2 page statement of your research interests describing your academic and research background, including your STEM experience, especially your approach to working in teams. As well, our lives have all been enhanced by exposure to diverse people, places, and experiences. Please describe your communication and collaboration style with people who are different from you.  

CV or Resume:

Please upload a CV detailing your academic, professional, leadership and volunteer endeavors.

Unofficial Transcripts:

Please upload your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. 

Letters of Recommendation:

One letter of recommendation specific to the Extreme Biofilms NRT program is required.

Instructions to Apply

Our application deadline is June 12th, 2026.

Applications must be submitted through https://www.etap.nsf.gov/. You will need to create an account and then log in to the site. There will be a series of questions that are required for all NSF-NRT applications. We do not have any control over their content. Please note that ETAP may require you to submit a general personal statement as part of your ETAP user profile. While this statement may be used for some NRT programs, the Extreme Biofilms NRT requires responses to specific question prompts (see the Application Requirements section above) within the personal statement and research interest documents. As a result, you will need to tailor your application materials specifically for submission to the Extreme Biofilms NRT program.

To apply to our program, you will want to select the "Extreme Biofilms National Research Traineeship (NRT) Program at Montana State University." The screenshot below is from the ETAP website. You can also use this program link to find our opportuinity: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/8504/opportunity/11960

Screenshot of the Extreme Biofilms NRT Opportuinity on the NSF ETAP website

If you have any questions at all about our application process, please email the NRT Program Coordinator, Dana Skorupa, at dana.skorupa@montana.edu. I am here to help and am happy to answer any questions that may come up!