C. Todd Rhodes, a graduate student in the School of the Coastal Environment at Coastal Carolina University, has been awarded a National Research Council (NRC) Research Associateship. A native of Florence, S.C., he becomes the first CCU student to earn this prestigious award. During the University’s commencement ceremony on May 8, Rhodes will graduate with a Ph.D. in marine science: coastal marine systems science (CMSS).

“The NRC award is a golden opportunity to launch my career,” Rhodes said. “It feels validating that NRC is willing to give me the tools to pursue my scientific ideas. I look forward to carrying these ideas to fruition and showing the scientific community the value of my research.”

Advised by CMSS professor Var Limpasuvan, Rhodes’ thesis focuses on the fundamental roles of global scale atmospheric wave disturbances during the sudden demise of the winter polar vortex, which has been attributed to unusual recent wintery conditions. This research work is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Following his graduation from CCU in May, Rhodes will relocate to the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., where he will expand his thesis work as a post-doctoral fellow. He will receive an $86,000 annual stipend and be provided various resources to support his research.

“This award reflects the hard work of our students and faculty and represents a significant accomplishment of our relatively new CMSS graduate program,” said William Ambrose Jr., vice dean of CCU’s Gupta College of Science. “In addition to Todd, our graduates have found opportunities at well-recognized places such as the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.”

The NRC Research Associateships, offered by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, provide graduate, postdoctoral, and senior-level researchers resources to continue research excellence in scientific and technological fields. Awardees conduct full-time independent research and work with scientists and engineers from their sponsoring laboratories.