SEPT. 15, 2011 1 Contact: Roxanne Malé –Brune, [email protected]@ohio.edu Mark McMills,...

SEPT. 15, 2011

1

Contact: Roxanne Malé –Brune, [email protected] McMills, [email protected]; 593-1750 Lauren McMills, [email protected]; 593-1754

mailto:[email protected]

Basic DefinitionsBasic Definitions

What is a fellowship?

How are fellowships different from grants?

What is a Sponsor?

2

Upcoming FellowshipsUpcoming Fellowships

5

Upcoming FellowshipsUpcoming Fellowships

6

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ProgramProgram

http://nsfgrfp.orgApplication due Nov. 14-18, 2011, depending on field of study Overview:Supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in the U.S. NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. Benefits:Three years of support $30,000 annual stipend$12,000 cost-of-education allowance TeraGrid Supercomputer access

7


Eligibility:

U.S. citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.Begin graduate study and research by summer of fall 2012. Individuals are typically eligible to apply:

o During the senior year of collegeo After graduating from college and prior to entering graduate schoolo During the first year of graduate schoolo Prior to completing the fall term of the second year of graduate school

No more than 12 months of full-time graduate study as of Aug. 2011, all graduate-level study is counted except:

o BS/MS programso Disruption of in graduate study of > 2 consecutive years and no

degree earnedGPA is no longer a criteria (used to be 3.6 or above)

8


Topic Areas:Interdisciplinary fields of study Mathematical Sciences Social Sciences Psychology*Geosciences Life Sciences Chemistry and Biochemistry Physics and Astronomy Engineering STEM Education and LearningComputer and Information Sciences Engineering

Ineligible programs of study: Practice-oriented professional degree programsJoint professional degree-science programs (MD/PhD and JD/PhD)Medical, dental, law, and public health programs*Clinical, counseling, business administration or management, social work, education (except STEM education), or history (except history of science).

o Clinical: patient-oriented research, epidemiological and behavioral studies, outcomes research and health services research

Research with disease-related goals, including etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction. Not including bioengineering (as per solicitation) or biochemistry (as per program officer).

9

Components of an NSF Fellowship ApplicationComponents of an NSF Fellowship Application

10

Each section must address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts

What is Intellectual Merit?What is Intellectual Merit?

How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields?

How well qualified is the proposer to conduct the project?

To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?

How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity?

Is there sufficient access to resources?11

Examples of Intellectual MeritExamples of Intellectual Merit

Panelists will consider: Strength of the academic record Proposed plan of research Description of previous research experience Publication/presentations record References Appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to

the proposed plan for graduate education and research

12

What are Broader Impacts?What are Broader Impacts? How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding

while promoting teaching, training, and learning?

How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? o Note: Appalachians and 1st-generation college students are

considered underserved groups.

To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships?

Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding?

What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

13

Examples of Broader ImpactsExamples of Broader Impacts

Panelists will consider:

Personal, professional, and educational experiences

Future plans and prior accomplishments in the integration of research and education

Potential to reach diverse audiences and benefit society

14

Personal Statement - guidelinesPersonal Statement - guidelines Describe any personal, professional, or educational experiences or situations

that have 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.

NSF Fellows are expected to become globally-engaged knowledge experts and leaders who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate your potential to satisfy this requirement. Your ideas and examples do not have to be confined necessarily to the discipline that you have chosen to pursue.

You MUST provide specific details in this essay that address BOTH the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in order for your application to be competitive.

15

Personal Statement - tipsPersonal Statement - tips

Motivation: What motivated you to pursue graduate studies/become a researcher? Demonstrate commitment.

Leadership Skills: How have you have demonstrated your potential as a leader and a team member?

Distinguishing Characteristics – e.g., your intelligence, insight, candor, creativity, and ability to communicate.

Intellectual Pursuit: What extraordinary efforts have you made to enhance your knowledge and skills?

Transferable Skills & Qualities: What have you learned that you can now apply as an exemplary professional?

Career Aspirations and/or Long-range Goals as a researcher. Diversity - How you have applied your knowledge and skills to help

others support diversity, share scientific knowledge, benefit society? 16

Personal Statement – example outlinePersonal Statement – example outline Introduction (3-5 sentences): Make an interesting point about you, your research

interests or your vision.

o Convince the reader that you are intelligent, innovative, articulate, dedicated, and uniquely qualified to receive this fellowship. Avoid clichés.

Describe any personal, professional, or educational experiences or situations that have prepared you and contributed to your desire to pursue advanced study in your field.

Describe your competencies, team/interdisciplinary skills, and evidence of leadership potential.

o Use tangible examples of your work in research settings, if possible.

Discuss your career aspirations and how the NSF fellowship will enable you to achieve your goals.

Conclusion: 3-5 sentences, draw an interesting conclusion. Reflect on what you have learned, what your research means, or where you are headed. Bring closure to your essay.

Make sure you address Intellectual Merit (e.g., quality of applicant) and Broader Impacts criteria (e.g., activities benefiting society, mentoring, working with diverse populations) .

Source: http://gradschool.missouri.edu/financial/assistantships-fellowships/fellowships/external/nsf-research-fellowship/

17

Previous Research- guidelinesPrevious Research- guidelines Describe any scientific research activities in which you have participated, such as

experience in undergraduate research programs, or research experience gained through summer or part-time employment or in work-study programs, or other research activities, either academic or job-related.

Explain the purpose of the research and your specific role in the research, including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team, and what you learned from your research experience. In your statement, distinguish between undergraduate and graduate research experience.

At the end of your statement, list any publications and/or presentations made at national and/or regional professional meetings.

If you have no direct research experience, describe any activities that you believe have prepared you to undertake research.


18

Previous Research - tipsPrevious Research - tips

For each research project consider the following:

Objectives of the project

Your Role: leader, team member, UG or G

Methods

Findings/Outcomes (Intellectual Merit)o How did research further the knowledge in your field?o Impact on other fields?

Skills Gained/Lessons/Learned

How fit with future goals?

19

Previous Research – tips, continuedPrevious Research – tips, continued

For each research project consider the following:Implications (Broader Impacts)

o Benefits of research to greater scientific community/society*?o Your participation in educational outreach?

Translation of your research to education* e.g., Tours of lab for public e.g., Outreach to K-12 through lab demos e.g., Talks at library

Research training/Mentoring of young scientists* General science outreach: K-12; community; university?

o Inclusion of diverse populations? e.g., K-12 outreach in Appalachia e.g., Participation of under-represented minorities (race*

gender*, religion, sexual orientation, interest)

20

Proposed Research Essay- guidelinesProposed Research Essay- guidelines In a clear, concise, and original statement, present a complete plan for a research

project that you plan to pursue while on fellowship tenure and how you became interested in the topic.

Your statement should demonstrate your understanding of research design and methodology and explain the relationship to your previous research, if any.


Format: Title (not part of page limit)Keywords (not part of page limit)Hypothesis (or research questions for qualitative social sciences)Research plan (strategy, methodology, and controls)Anticipated results or findingsLiterature citations (included in the 2-page limit)

If you have not formulated a research plan, your statement should include a description of a topic that interests you and how you propose to conduct research on that topic.

21

Proposed Research Essay- tipsProposed Research Essay- tips

Address the following:

How does the research question or hypothesis address a significant problem or need? o Explicitly state question/hypothesiso Explain how will test hypothesis/address question

Have previous studies pointed to unsolved problems, contradictions, trends and emerging issues in this field or interdisciplinary area? Is there adequate background/justification/need for this study?

How committed are you to this research? Does you have the knowledge and abilities to lead the research and monitor progress? Is the writing definitive or tentative?

Are the proposed methods rigorous and appropriate to the research problem? The process/steps clear?

22

Proposed Research Essay- tips, Proposed Research Essay- tips, continuedcontinued

Have you identified a potential graduate school/faculty mentor lab?o State why school, faculty mentor, and laboratory area good fit with your

proposed research.

Is this plan feasible for the time allotted? Adequate equipment, computers and other resources?

What are potential pitfalls or limitations of this study? Has a contingency plan been outlined?

What are the implications and broader impacts of the research?

What is the “value” of this fellowship to the student? o What new knowledge and skills will this student acquire? o Will this experience support the student’s long range career goals?

Societal benefit o Benefit of research?o Continued educational outreach?

23

Proposed Research Essay- tips, continuedProposed Research Essay- tips, continued

Is the research potentially transformative research?

Transformative Research: “Transformative Research involves ideas, discoveries, or tools that radically change our understanding of an important existing scientific or engineering concept or educational practice or leads to the creation of a new paradigm or field of science, engineering, or education. Such research challenges current understanding or provides pathways to new frontiers. Characteristics of transformative research are that it: a) challenges conventional wisdom, b) leads to unexpected insights that enable new techniques or methodologies, or c) redefines the boundaries of science, engineering, or education. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications that embody potentially transformative research .

How does your proposal align with NSF’s mission and investment priorities?o http://www.nsf.gov/about/ o http://www.nsf.gov/news/priority_areas/

24

Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters Indicate his or her department and institution, and how long they have known

you, and in what capacity. On the basis of knowledge of your past and current research experience and

activities, comment on your potential to do the following:o Succeed in graduate school Conduct original research o Communicate effectively Work cooperativelyo Make unique contributions to your chosen discipline and to society in

general. If he or she has known or supervised other NSF Graduate Research Fellows,

compare you with them. Otherwise, compare you to other successful graduate students or senior undergraduates that he or she has known in their institution or through interactions with other institutions.

Comment on the broader impacts of supporting you, including your leadership potential in the chosen field of graduate work and in general, as a member of the scientific and technical community.

Note that the more specific (as opposed to generic) a letter the referee can provide, the better.

If the referee is your research supervisor, the referee should comment on the originality of your proposal, and communicate what role he or she played in assisting you with the proposal.

25

Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters

Intellectual Merit, includes demonstrated intellectual ability and other accepted requisites for scholarly scientific study, such as the ability to: plan and conduct research; work as a member of a team as well as independently; interpret and communicate research findings.

Panelists are instructed to consider: the strength of the academic record the proposed plan of research the description of previous research experience the appropriateness of the choice of references and the extent to which they indicate merit the appropriateness of the choice of institution for fellowship tenure relative to the proposed plan of research

26

Recommendation LettersRecommendation Letters

Broader Impacts, includes contributions that:

(1)effectively integrate research and education at all levels, infuse learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large audience;

(2)encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizens-women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and research;

(3)enhance scientific and technical understanding; and

(4)benefit society. Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including personal, professional, and educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.

27

Other STEM Fellowship OpportunitiesOther STEM Fellowship Opportunities

28

Are you a woman?-committed to helping girls/women AAUW-1st yr G in computer science, EE or math Microsoft Research Grad. Women’s

Interested in Department of Defense-related areas?-US citizen NDSEG-willing to do DoD internship SMART

Working with a National Lab (Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, NSA, Sandia?-willing to do internship Natl Phys. Science Consort.

Interested in DOE-related area? DOE Graduate Fellowship DOE Computer Graduate

Interested in National Security?-willing to do internship Dept. Homeland Security-want to travel & brush up on language Boren (NSEP)

Interested in EPA fields? EPA STAR, Ohio EPA

Other STEM Fellowship OpportunitiesOther STEM Fellowship Opportunities

29

Interested in studying abroad?- Bioengineering major Whitaker International Award- want to study in Germany? DAAD

Interested in teaching at a University?- committed to promoting diversity Ford

Exceptionally intelligent/creative?- US citizen Hertz

2nd year G in Computer Science, EE or math? Microsoft Research PhD

Interested in space?- Master’s or PhD NASA Grad Research program- Attending university in Ohio? Ohio Space Consortium

Internal Award OpportunitiesInternal Award Opportunities

Provost Undergraduate Research Fund ($1,500)Applications due at 5:00pm Sept. 30, 2011http://www.honors.ohio.edu/documents/PURF%20APPLICATION%20FORM%202011-12.pdf

Student Enhancement Award ($6,000)Applications due mid Februaryhttp://www.ohio.edu/research/sea.cfm

Graduate Student Senate Awardshttp://www.ohio.edu/gss/grants/index.cfmOriginal Work Grants ($750), applications due: Fall Quarter 5:00 pm, Monday, September 19, 2011Winter Quarter 5:00 pm, Tuesday, January 17, 2012Spring Quarter 5:00 pm, Monday, April 09, 2012

Travel Grants ($500, selected by lottery), applications due: Fall Quarter 5:00 pm, Friday, September 16, 2010Winter Quarter 5:00 pm, Friday, January 13, 2012Spring Quarter 5:00 pm, Friday, April 6, 2012 30

SEPT. 15, 2011 1 Contact: Roxanne Malé –Brune, [email protected]@ohio.edu Mark McMills,...

Documents

Transcript of SEPT. 15, 2011 1 Contact: Roxanne Malé –Brune, [email protected]@ohio.edu Mark McMills,...