One long-term and four short-term fellowships are available for the University of the Virgin Islands (STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Securing STEM Island Pathways (SSIP) Program, which offers new job opportunities and graduate study options for qualified graduates from UVI. SSIP, specifically designed to address the uncertain employment prospects faced by Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degree recipients in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is made possible thanks to a $1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded in 2022 and implemented by UVI in 2023.
With a population predominantly from underrepresented groups in STEM, the loss of these graduates from STEM pathways has a significant impact on both the territory’s and the nation’s STEM workforce. However, the SSIP Program aims to bridge this gap by matching UVI post-degree recipients with short- and long-term job opportunities, as well as providing funding for qualified undergraduate students to pursue UVI’s Master of Marine and Environmental Science (MMES) program.
The goals of the SSIP Program are multi-fold. Firstly, it aims to stabilize career pathways by thoughtfully pairing UVI post-degree recipients with territorial partners in their field of interest. Additionally, the program provides support for qualified students to attend UVI’s MMES program, further enhancing their career prospects.
Moreover, the Securing STEM Island Pathways (SSIP) Program seeks to increase STEM career interest, readiness, and a sense of community among participants. By creating new professional networks, and connecting participants to additional resources, expertise, and mentors, the program aims to foster a supportive environment for STEM graduates.
The program also aims to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones between UVI and STEM workforce partners operating in the territory and beyond. By doing so, the SSIP Program not only enhances local STEM workforce capacity but also contributes to the national STEM workforce.
“I love the experience of working at The Nature Conservancy through UVI, and I am very grateful for the ability to build my career alongside members of my graduating class. It means a lot to me to pass knowledge on to younger students, and be an advocate for women in STEM,” said Amanda Bossier, a long-term Workforce Fellow on St. Croix, who hopes to study genes and microbial diversity in heat-resistant coral in the future.
“My ultimate goal is to contribute my share in aiding and maintaining the natural environment of my home in the Virgin Islands,” said Miranda Goad, an SSIP Graduate Fellow in St. Thomas.
The SSIP Program leverages partnerships, programs and resources developed by VI-EPSCoR and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance and Navigating Home projects. Building on the early successes and infrastructure of these projects, the SSIP Program is poised to make a significant impact on the STEM landscape in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To learn more about the Securing STEM Island Pathways Program and its initiatives, please visit www.securingstemislandpathways.com.
