Application process

Participating Graduate Programs

RECHARGE NRT has widened the application in 2026 to accept students from any research-focused graduate program at Portland State University to complement the NRT training for those who are pursuing a STEM career. Examples include the following schools and programs.

• School of Earth, Environment, and Society 

  1. Geology

  2. Geography

  3. Anthropology

  4. Environmental Science Management

  5. Earth, Environment and Society PhD

• Civil and Environmental Engineering 

• Computer Science

• Communication

• Mathematical Sciences

• Master of Urban and Regional Planning (part-time program has best fit)

The NRT program lasts two years and uses a cohort model. Applicants must be either a doctoral student enrolled in the participating graduate program (no more than 2 years of completion of their doctoral study) or apply to the participating department or program for admission (students who have already completed one year of their master's degree by the time they apply to NRT are not eligible). Students in the NRT program will engage in transdisciplinary research that connects to multiple NRT faculty and community partners, which may result in co-authored publications and implementable solutions. 

Prospective students are strongly advised to contact potential NRT faculty advisor in one of the above graduate programs prior to application submission. NSF-NRT funding is restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been admitted into a research-based graduate program at Portland State University.

Students should apply to PSU for graduate admission here 

and

submit an application to the NRT Program here by January 15, 2027 for the Fall 2027 cohort. 

Students must be admitted to their graduate program before they can be admitted to the NRT program. Note that NSF funding is only available to permanent residents and U.S. citizens who have been admitted into a research-based graduate program at PSU.

The NRT program, in collaboration with Heritage University, seeks to recruit applicants from Native American and Tribal communities.

You can book an appointment with the NRT Coordinator to ask questions here, or email recharge@pdx.edu to inquire.