He was one of 51 students in a range of scientific disciplines ― chemistry, biology, environmental engineering ― to receive a highly competitive, three-year grant in 2015 that provides both a research and living stipend. He was also one of the many people who became very worried when the EPA, under the new Trump administration, froze its grant program on Monday. The whole family relies on his living stipend. The grant provides research money as well, which he uses to attend scientific conferences, travel for fieldwork, send in samples for analysis, and buy materials and supplies. And having a three-year grant provides some stability while also keeping him from spending a significant portion of his time applying for new grants.

Source: Huffington Post January 26, 2017 19:35 UTC