Departments of Earth System Science and Physics & Astronomy receive Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need awards 

UC Irvine Professors Claudia Czimczik of the Department of Earth System Science and Asantha Cooray of the Department of Physics & Astronomy recently received Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) awards from the U.S. Department of Education. The awards support graduate students in their departments with outstanding academic records and financial need and whose research support fields in the physical sciences. 

“We’re thrilled for the department to receive our first GAANN grant, a pivotal step in expanding our Ph.D. program,” said Czimczik, who received $840,000 in federal funds and who’s the chair of Earth System Science. “This funding will allow us to support at least six talented students each year who are dedicated to understanding, forecasting and mitigating the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and people. We’re excited about the opportunities this grant provides to foster the next generation of U.S. leaders in Earth System Science research and education.”

Meanwhile, Cooray received a $1.3 million GAANN award. “The funding will support graduate students in our department – especially students from under-represented backgrounds pursuing doctoral degrees in physics and astronomy,” said Cooray. “We expect we’ll be able to support ten additional students per year over the next three years, spread in all research areas, and the selected GAANN fellows will be free to conduct research in any chosen area and will receive additional training on instructional methods so they’re better prepared for future careers both as researchers and academics.”