How to Fund your Graduate Studies: An Overview of National Graduate Fellowships and How to Compete f

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How to Fund your Graduate Studies An Overview
of National Graduate Fellowships and How to
Compete for Them
Sept. 16, 2008
Office of Proposal Development Office of the Vice
President for Research Lucy Deckard
L-Deckard_at_tamu.edu
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For more information

• For an electronic version of this presentation
  and background materials
• Go to http//opd.tamu.edu/
• Click on Seminar Materials then Seminars by
  Date
• Click on todays date
• For examples of successful fellowship essays
• E-mail L-deckard_at_tamu.edu with your request

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How to Fund Your Graduate Studies

• Types of Fellowships
• Why bother?
• Wheres the ?
• How to apply and win
• Overview of the Process and Strategies
• Examples

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Funding for Graduate Students

• Research Assistantships
• Funded by facultys research funding
• Typically funded through proposal process
• Teaching Assistantships
• Funded by department
• Teaching-related responsibilities, separate from
  research
• Graduate Fellowships
• Dissertation Grants

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The Continuum
Graduate School
Generic Fellowships
Dissertation Grants
Fellowships for Early Grad Students
Finish classes
Senior Year Undergrad
1st Year
Post-Doc
Dissertation Work
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Two Types of Fellowships

• Awards directly to Students
• Students compete directly for award
• Award is portable with student
• Examples
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
  Fellowship
• J. Javits, Ford Foundation, Humane Studies
  Fellowships
• Many targeted fellowships (e.g., Semiconductor
  Research Graduate Fellowship, Whitaker Fellowship
  for Biomedical Engineering, ATT Fellowship,
  etc.)

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Two Types of Fellowships

• Institutional Awards
• Awarded to departments, programs, etc.
• Students selected by department, program or
  faculty
• Examples Graduate Assistantships in Areas of
  National Need (GAANN), larger programs (IGERT,
  AGEP, etc.)

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Graduate Fellowships why bother?

• Guaranteed source of funding
• Stipends generally much higher than department
  RAs (NSF stipend 30K/yr)
• Fellowships are portable more autonomy in
  selecting advisor, research project
• Fellowship can be path to a job (e.g., National
  Lab)

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Finding Potential Fellowships

• Keep an open mind
• As research becomes more multi-disciplinary, you
  may find opportunities in unexpected places
• NIH, NSF fund aspects of social and behavioral
  sciences, philosophy (ethics), communication,
  etc.
• Talk to faculty in your department
• Look at large fellowship programs and smaller
  targeted programs (by discipline, demographic
  group, etc.)
• Excellent web resources available

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Finding Potential Fellowships

• Variety of funders
• Federal agencies (NSF, DoD, NASA, NIH, EPA, NEH,
  USDA, Dept. of Ed., Dept. Homeland Security,
  etc.)
• Foundations
• Professional Organizations
• Corporations
• For various stages
• Early Graduate training
• Dissertation Grant
• Post-doctoral

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Using the Internet to Find Fellowships

• http//opd.tamu.edu/funding-opportunities/funding-
  opportunities-by-category/graduate-funding-opportu
  nities
• Two types of sites
• Compedia of Fellowships
• Cornell http//cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/li
  st.phtml?categoryGENERAL 1
• Michigan State
• http//www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3gradinf.ht
  m 2
• Specific agency and/or fellowships
• DHS Graduate Fellowship http//www.orau.gov/dhsed
  / , 4

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Using the Internet

• Humanities Social Science Fellowships and
  Grants for Graduate and Professional Students
• http//www.ors.duke.edu/find/student/grad/gradhums
  oc.html
• Cornell, Humanities
• http//cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?
  categoryHUMANITIES
• Michigan State University Hotlinks to 31 academic
  disciplines
• http//www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3gradinf.ht
  m

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Example National Fellowships

• National Science Foundation, 1000 awarded
  annually, due Nov. 1st 9th, depending on
  discipline
• https//www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/
• NASA Earth Systems Science Fellowships, 55 new
  fellowships awarded annually, due February
  http//science.hq.nasa.gov/education/catalog/progr
  ams/Programs49.html
• Department of Defense Science and Engineering
  Graduate Fellowships, 200 awarded annually, due
  January http//www.asee.org/ndseg/index.cfm
• Krell Institute/DOE Computational Science
  Graduate Fellowship, http//www2.krellinst.org/csg
  f/eligibility.shtml 18 awarded annually
• DHS, 62 awarded annually due Feb.
  http//www.orau.gov/dhsed/
• Dept. of Education, J. K. Javits Fellowships (48)
  due Oct. http//www.ed.gov/programs/jacobjavits/in
  dex.html

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Example NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

• Typically due early November
• This year, Nov. 3- Nov. 12 depending on
  discipline
• Up to 1,600 to be awarded this year
• For any research area funded by NSF
• Includes Education, Social and Behavioral
  Sciences as well as Science and Engineering
• Look through NSF web site at www.nsf.gov for
  research areas

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NSF Fellowship

• 30,000 per year plus 10,500 education allowance
  for 3 years
• Must be US Citizen or permanent resident
• May apply
• during undergrad senior year
• prior to or during 1st year of grad school,
• or at beginning of 2nd year of grad school

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National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
Fellowshiphttp//www.asee.org/ndseg/

• Eligibility
• US citizen or national
• Pursuing doctoral degree in, or closely related
  to, one of the following disciplines having the
  greatest benefit to national security

GeosciencesMaterials Science and
EngineeringMathematicsMechanical
EngineeringNaval Architecture and Ocean
EngineeringOceanography                
Aeronautical and Astronautical Eng
BiosciencesChemical EngineeringChemistryCivil
EngineeringCognitive, Neural, and Behavioral
Sci. Computer and Computational
ScienceElectrical EngineeringPhysics            
        
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NDSEG Fellowship

• 3 year 30.5K - 31.5K stipend/year
• Application
• Essays
• GRE
• Transcripts
• 3 Letters of Reference
• Need 4.0 GPA or very near to be competitive
• Typically due early January

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Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Selected Fields of
Study

• ARTS creative writing, music performance,
  theory, composition literature, studio arts,
  television, film, cinematography, theater,
  playwriting, screenwriting, acting, dance
• HUMANITIES art history, archaeology, area
  studies, classics, comparative literature,
  folklore, foreign languages/literature, history,
  linguistics, philosophy, religion, speech,
  rhetoric, debate
• SOCIAL SCIENCES anthropology, communications and
  media, economics, ethnic cultural studies,
  geography, political science, psychology, public
  policy, sociology

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Jacob K. Javits FellowshipsEligibility

• Must be pursuing highest degree available in
  their field at an accredited US institution of
  higher learning
• Apply during or before your first full year of
  study
• Must be a citizen or national of the US, a
  permanent resident or intend to become a
  permanent resident

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US Department of EducationJacob K. Javits
Fellowships

• http//www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsjavits/index.html
• Deadline Oct 3, 2008
• About 64 awards anticipated this year
• Average size of awards 42,891 (depends on need)
• Funding for up to 48 months
• Includes a stipend for personal expenses and an
  institutional payment for tuition and fees
• No cost sharing or matching requirements

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Fellowships to Promote Diversity

• See OPD List http//opd.tamu.edu/funding-opportuni
  ties/funding-opportunities-by-category/programs-to
  -enhance-diversity
• American Sociological Association - Minority
  Fellowship Program. An annual stipend of 14,688
  for up to three years for minority graduate
  students in the early stages of sociology
  graduate programs with emphasis on mental health
  issues and research. January deadline.
  http//asanet.org/page.ww?sectionFundingnameMin
  orityFellowshipProgram

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Fellowships for Diversity Ford Foundation

• http//www7.nationalacademies.org/fordfellowships
  
• Goal increase the diversity of the nations
  college and university faculties by increasing
  their ethnic and racial diversity
• Predoctoral Diversity Fellowships.
• 60 awarded at 20K per year for up to 3 years
• Dissertation Fellowship
• 35 awarded for 21K for 1 year
• Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 20 awarded at 40K for 1 year

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Fellowships for Minorities

• United Negro College Fund Merck Foundation
  Science Initiative - Graduate Science Research
  Dissertation Fellowships. 30,000 to assist
  African-American graduate students in completing
  coursework, conducting research, and preparing
  dissertation in the biomedical sciences. December
  deadline. http//www.uncf.org/merck/programs/grad.
  htm
• NIH Ruth Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowships
  to promote Diversity in Health-Related Research.
  Seeks to improve the diversity of the
  health-related research workforce by supporting
  the training of predoctoral students from groups
  that have been shown to be underrepresented
  (includes low family income). Must be citizen or
  permanent resident. Deadline April13, Aug. 13,
  Dec. 13 annually. http//grants.nih.gov/grants/gui
  de/pa-files/PA-07-106.html

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Fellowships for Women

• American Association of University Women -
  International Fellowships. 18,000 awards to
  women graduate students studying in the United
  States who are not U.S. citizens. December
  deadline. http//www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_gran
  ts/international.cfm
• American Association of University Women -
  Selected Professions Fellowships. Approximately
  5,000-12,000 awards for women in the final year
  of graduate study in historically
  under-represented professions, including Business
  Administration, Law, Medicine, Architecture,
  Computer Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering.
  January deadline. http//www.aauw.org/fga/fellowsh
  ips_grants/selected.cfm

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Fellowships for International Students

• Look for industry, professional organization
  sponsors (not US govt)
• Look to your home country or companies that do
  business in your home country
• Look for departmental fellowships
• Examples
• American Association of University Women
  International Fellowships
• AACC (American Assoc of Cereal Chemists)
  International Graduate Fellowship Program

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Fellowship Application is Mini-Research
Proposal

• You are selling yourself and your ideas
• Identify fellowship opportunities for which you
  are eligible
• Analyze what they are looking for (review
  criteria)
• Write best possible application
• Gather and submit other required material
  (references, GRE scores, etc.)

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What are They Looking For?

• Will you further the goals of the funder?
• Will you be a successful graduate student and
  researcher?
• Do you understand the research process?
• Do you do your homework?
• i.e., read the literature in your area,
  understand previous work, etc.
• Can you express your ideas well?
• Is your selected area of research something they
  want to support?
• Varies in importance depending on mission of
  funder
• Are you one of the best candidates in the
  applicant pool?

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Analysis of Applicant Instructions/RFP

• What are eligibility requirements?
• When is the application due?
• How many are awarded each year?
• Apply through university or as individual?
• What criteria are used to evaluate applications?
• Check with faculty in your department (may have
  been on review panel)
• Look at goals of funding organization
• What are the required components of the
  application and what is application process?
• Contact awarding organization if you have
  questions

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Putting together your application

• Find faculty mentor(s)
• Faculty with whom you plan to do your graduate
  research
• Faculty in your undergraduate department
• Graduate coordinator in your department
• They will provide advice on research plan,
  critique your writing
• Ask for references early and check
• Make sure GRE scores, transcripts, etc. will be
  available on time

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Typical Application Components

• Biographical information
• GRE scores
• Transcript
• Letters of Reference
• Essays/Proposal
• Discussion of proposed research
• Often, discussion of one or more research
  experiences
• Sometimes, other questions

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Evaluation Review Criteria

• Read application, related information carefully
• find out what they are looking for
• Investigate goals and culture of funder
• Reflect vision of the funding agency

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References

• Select faculty who know you well and who can give
  you a positive reference (provide them with info)
• Select faculty who will give you a positive
  reference!
• Undergraduate research experience great
  opportunity to develop references
• Follow up and make sure they sent in your
  reference letter
• For helpful info, see http//opd.tamu.edu/funding-
  opportunities/funding-opportunities-by-category/re
  sources-for-faculty-on-writing-letters-of-referenc
  e.html

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Writing Strategies

• Start early and get others to edit your work!
• Write in a scholarly style
• Make it clear you understand your subject
• Cite references if allowed
• Make it clear that you understand the research
  process
• Clear hypothesis, goals, objectives
• Discussion of your planned approach with
  sufficient detail to show your understanding of
  the topic

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Hotlinks to Writing Strategies

• Many resources available on how to write good
  proposals
• See hotlink table e-mailed to you
• Grant Doctor in Science Magazine
• Agency-specific guides
• Google
• Excellent books on writing
• Schrunk and White (http//www.bartleby.com/141/)
• The Art of Writing Proposals, by the Social
  Science Research Council, available online at
  http//www.ssrc.org/publications/

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Example The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Program
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How to Apply for NSF Fellowship

• See https//www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/ and
  https//www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/html/GRFP_Applic
  ant_User_Guide.pdf for application instructions,
  FAQ, etc.
• Apply on-line using NSFs Fastlane system at
  www.fastlane.nsf.gov

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Parts of the NSF Application

• Personal Profile
• GRE test Scores
• Education and Work Experience
• Proposed Graduate Program
• References (3 letters)
• Personal Statement (2 page essay)
• Previous Research Experience (2 page essay)
• Proposed Plan of Research (2 page essay)

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Strategies to Win

• Good grades and GRE scores help
• GPAs typically 3.7 or higher but not always
• Undergraduate research experience
• Good essay answers
• Great research proposal
• Excellent references

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Personal Statement

• Describe personal, professional or education
  experiences or situations that prepared you or
  contributed to your desire to pursue advanced
  study in science, technology, engineering or
  mathematics.
• Describe your competencies and evidence of
  leadership potential
• Discuss your career aspirations and how the NSF
  fellowship will enable you to achieve your goals.

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Previous Research Essay

• Describe any scientific research activities in
  which you participated
• Explain the purpose of the research and your
  specific role in the research and the extent to
  which you worked independently and/or as part of
  a team and what you learned
• Distinguish between undergraduate and graduate
  research experience

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Proposed Plan of Research

• Present a complete plan for a research project
  that you may pursue while on fellowship
• Discuss how you became interested in the topic
• Demonstrate your understanding of research design
  and methodology and explain the relationship to
  your previous research, if any.

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Proposed Plan of Research

• Format
• Title
• Key words
• Hypothesis
• Research Plan (strategy, methodology, and
  controls)
• Anticipated finding or results
• Literature citations
• Statement attesting to the originality of the
  proposal

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Research Proposals

• Be original.
• A less polished essay that shows evidence of the
  students own creativity is usually more
  impressive than a sophisticated plan that is not
  original.
• Be rigorous.
• The best research proposalsdemonstrate that the
  applicant understands how to conduct research in
  his/her discipline using the scientific method
• Be clear and well-organized.
• The best proposals demonstrate creativity in
  thinking about research questions as well as
  communication and organizational skills.

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Required for Each Essay

• Intellectual Merit
• Demonstrate ability to plan and conduct research
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as
  independently
• Ability to interpret and communicat findings
• Broader Impact
• Contributions that integrate research and
  education at all levels and communicate finding
  to a broad audience
• Encourage diversity and enable particiatpion of
  all citizens in science and research
• Enhance scientific and technical understanding
• Benefit society

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Contact us for Assistance

• Texas AM University
• Office of Proposal Development (OPD)
• L-deckard_at_tamu.edu
• 458-4290
• 845-1811