Luminant Environmental Research Program
Luminant's Environmental Research Program provides research grants to students working on master or doctoral degrees from Texas institutions. Funding is provided by the company, if the student and proposed research meets requirements. The program is directed by an independent steering committee.
History of Research Program
Luminant's Environmental Research Program began in 1971, directed by an independent steering committee with the research conducted by the most qualified graduate students. Luminant has no review, editing or publishing rights to the program's findings and all of the work is published by the research fellows in open literature. To date, over 110 students have entered the program, studying various potential effects of surface lignite mining, electric power generation and electric power delivery (i.e., transmission and distribution lines) on the environment.
Research Steering Comittee
The research steering committee selects the research proposals to be funded, and acts in an advisory role during performance of the research. The committee is comprised of the following members:
Dr. David Allen - Univ. of Texas at Austin
Dr. Moses Attrep (Retired) - Los Alamos Lab
Dr. Scott Beasley - Stephen F. Austin State University
Dr. Charles Groat - U. S. Geological Survey
Dr. Tom Hellier (Retired) - Univ. of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Robert McMahon - Univ. of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Melanie Sattler - Univ. of Texas at Arlington
Dr. John "Jack" Sharp - Univ. of Texas at Austin
Dr. Nova Silvy - Texas A&M University
Dr. Fred Smeins - Texas A&M University
Dr. Dave Zuberer - Texas A&M University
Dr. Paul Zweiacker (Retired TXU)
Schedule
Proposals are accepted throughout the year. However, they must be received no later than April 1, July 1 and November 1 to be considered by the Research Steering Committee at it’s spring, summer and winter meetings, respectively.
Proposal Package must contain:
(1) GRE score (must be 1100 or higher)
(2) Official Transcript
(3) At least 2 letters of recommendation
(4) Curriculum Vital
(5) Proposed Budget
(6) Time Schedule for Proposed Study
(7) References
(8) Proposal must meet the following requirements:
a. be prepared by the student
b. evaluate Luminant’s potential effect on the environment
c. can only be done at Luminant's facilities
d. contains: abstract, introduction, objectives, data analysis, and literature cited sections
Budget
Budget must be based on calendar year and include all cost items. For example:
Fellowship ($1,100/month Bachelor's) or ($1,200/month Master's or Doctorate's plus 30 hours)
Insurance Supplement ($250.00/month)
Tuition and Fees ($6,000 maximum/year)
Travel – field work
Travel – (Required to present program status once/year to Research Steering Committee in Dallas)
Travel – Scientific meetings ($800.00/year)
Travel – Major Professor ($800.00/year)
Equipment and Supplies
Research Publications
Thesis/Dissertation copies (hard, soft)
Total Direct Costs
Indirect Costs
Total Project Cost
Student Qualifications
Student must:
(a) be attending a Texas institution
(b) have a GRE score of 1100 or higher
(c) prepare their own research proposal
Submittal
Proposal packages are to be submitted to:
Sid Stroud, Environmental Mining Manager
Environmental Services
Luminant
1601 Bryan Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 812-5603
Sid.Stroud@Luminant.com