Funding - The University of Texas at San Antonio

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Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D.
Asst. PD, MBRS-RISE &
MARC U*STAR
Univ. Texas at San Antonio
02/18/2011
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UTSA – M.S. Program
World
 Academic programs after Bachelor’s work
 Often default for Ph.D.
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Today: Ph.D. Funding
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Latin: Philosophiae Doctor
A doctorate or doctoral degree is
 An academic degree of the highest level.
 Recognition of the candidate as an equal by the university or
Graduate School faculty under which he or she studied.
 Usually research doctorates are awarded in recognition of
academic research
 Is of a publishable standard (even if not actually published)
 Represents at least a modest contribution to human knowledge
 Is usually assessed by submission and defense of a doctoral thesis or
dissertation, though in some cases a coherent body of published
literature can be accepted instead.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_school
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All of the careers requiring a Doctorate come out
of basic training in an academic institution
 University
 “Graduate Schools” at Medical, Dental, Vet Schools
1-2 Yrs
Post Bacc
Research
3 - 6 Yrs
4 - 7 Yrs
“Hard” Sciences
Academic Postdoc
Academics
Government
Postdoc
Bachelor’s
Degree.
Grad.
path
Depends
on Field
Doctoral
Studies
Industry Postdoc
Government
Continue
Education
Industry
M.S. Degree
Work
Engineering
/Humanities
etc
Other
What does it Cost
&
Who is Going to Pay for it?
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Generally Full Time Student
 Usually no outside job
 Sometimes Company will PAY for Ph.D.
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Tuition/Fees
Living Expenses – Food, housing, etc.
Books, Thesis and Degree Costs, etc
Health Insurance
Travel to Conferences
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Already have HUGE Undergraduate Loans
Medical/Professional School Costs High….
For Ph.D.?
 Usually someone else pays or keeps you “employed”
 Money comes from all over!
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Cost of classes and university amenities
Someone always has to pay the tuition
 Does not merely “disappear” if funded by Univ.
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Usually Dept. will keep paying
Must consider tuition/fees, Health Ins, Travel if
you obtain alternative funding
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May learn technique elsewhere
Presenting at conferences very important to
development
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Submit abstracts (small publication)
Make Oral/Poster Presentations
Network with others in field
Find jobs
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Amount you are given to live upon
20K – 30K level
Amount depends on…
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School
Cost of Living/Location
Degree
Competitive recruitment
High Stipend may mean you pay Tuition….
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Don’t believe that you will always be healthy…
 HBC grad student
 Cervical pre-cancerous lesions
 Appendicitis
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Grad students seldom are without funding if..
 Are progressing (< 7th year)
 Doing “solid” work
 Have a good reputation
 Generally, if you’re in and prior to your 7th year, you
will be funded.
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Accept position by “Financial Aid deadline”
University matches you with $$
Money available for URM/Disadvantaged
students
Go about your business
(for as long as $$ is promised)
Then, get new source…
Some Fields/Univs…you seek $$
University
This will most
likely be your
graduate
experience…
Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.
Stipend
Scholarships
Fellowships
TAship
You
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You?
Your Mentor (when mentors have grants…)
The Program?
The University?
The State?
The U.S. Government?
Private Organizations?
Outside Jobs?
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Stipend (usually for first few years)
Fellowships/Scholarships
 Money awarded to student
 Reward grades (entice top tier students)
 Support someone with certain background
 Usually no service reqd.
Research assistantships/associate-ships
 Must perform research
Teaching assistantships
 Must teach (~1 class/sem or yr)
Special programs/funds
 MBRS-RISE or training grant
 MCNAIR – Graduate Scholars
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Fellowship may refer to:
 A merit-based scholarship, or form of academic
financial aid
 An academic position: see fellow
 Fellowship (medicine), a period of medical training
after a residency
Philanthropy
/ Private
Alumni
University
College/Grad School
Endowments/
Interest
Research
Grants
Services
Students’
Tuition/Fees
Department/
Program
State
Govt
Programs
Investments
Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.
Stipend
Scholarships
Fellowships
TAship
You
Yale University Income…
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http://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W098_
Fin_Inc_bySrce.pdf
Research Assistantships
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 Work on own research (Same as mentor’s)
 Work on Mentor’s research (In addition to own)
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May come from Grant
May come from Univ
Philanthropy
/Private
Alumni
Endowments/
Interest
University
College/Grad School
Research
Grants
Services
Students’
Tuition/Fees
Department/
Program
State
Govt
Programs
Investments
Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.
Stipend
Scholarships
Fellowships
TAship
You
Mentor
Research
Grants
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Private programs/funds
State
Federal
Jobs
 Complementary to degree
 Get Ph.D. WHILE on the job
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Loans
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Types of Funding
 Pre-doctoral Fellowships, Scholarships
 First 3-4 years
 Dissertation Scholarships/fellowships
 Last 1-2 years
Philanthropy
/Private
Alumni
Endowments/
Interest
University
College/Grad School
Research
Grants
Services
Students’
Tuition/Fees
Department/
Program
State
Govt
Programs
Investments
Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.
Grants/Fellowships
Scholarships
Stipend
Scholarships
Fellowships
TAship
Jobs
Loans
You
Mentor
Research
Grants
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
State Fellowship through School – 15K
State Fellowship through School – 15K
State Fellowship through School – 15K
State Fellowship through School – 15K
Teaching Assistantship – 13.5K
 Had to TA
 Department Funded
6) Research Assistantship – 20K (1/2 year)
 My Own Research
 Department “deal” with Mentor
The Whole Time the Department was paying $13,500 Tuition
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Doctoral trainees produces original research
 University gets $$ or reputation
 Mentor may get publications
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Trainees carry University’s reputation
PhDs produce for economy/education
Alumni donate to help future
Philanthropists donate for education
PhD income not traditionally high enough to
recoup costs of education (particularly when you
count in LOSS of income for 5 years..)
BE CAREFUL!
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Sometimes HUGE stipend means you pay tuition
Not all programs include health insurance
If you change stipend sources, could influence
tuition, travel, etc
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Commitment
Creativity
Thoroughness
Patience and emotional strength
Long Term Planning
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“Guarantees” a funding source
Demonstrates initiative, discipline, and ambition
Demonstrates marketability of ideas
Experience integral to your professional career
Makes you more competitive in future
 Success is self-perpetuating
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Gets you thinking about statements, etc.
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Before or During studies
 Held to different criteria
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NSF – can write your way into any grad school…
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Develop correct credentials!
Identify Source
Get Organized/Follow Rules!
Solicit Recommenders
Idea
 May be yours or mentors
Creating a Proposal
 Following directions!!!
Submitting proposal
Receiving grant or feedback
Revising if necessary
Resubmission if necessary
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Grades, courses taken, GPA
 GPA improvement is considered
GRE Scores (study, retake if needed)
Networking/ Letters of recommendation
Participate in Co-ops/Programs/Internships
 McNair, MARC U*STAR, MBRS-RISE
Attend Conferences
Get Publications
 Thesis, scientific papers, abstracts
 Have a copy of these – you will submit!
Personal/Volunteer experiences
 Teaching/mentoring others
 Health Related?
Leadership/Organizing
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Private Funding (Paul and Daisy Soros, GEM,
etc.)
Government Funding (NIH, NSF, US Homeland
Security, etc.)
Various Scholarships (HACU, university-based,
etc.)
Seeking Funding Sources
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Internet (Google, msn)
 UTSA: http://www.utsa.edu/graduate/FutureStudentsAcademicPrograms/
scholarshipupdated.html
 UNT: http://www.opgf.unt.edu/
 Cornell: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/?p=132
 UCLA: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/grapes/search.asp
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University Libraries offer books on grants
University databases
Conferences
Mentors
Fellowship program officers
University Recruitment Programs
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Rhodes Scholars
 http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
Marshall
 http://www.marshallscholarship.org/
Fulbright
 http://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm
James Madison
 http://www.jamesmadison.com/
Harry S. Truman
 http://www.truman.gov/about/about.htm
Andrew W. Mellon
 http://www.mellon.org/grant_programs/programs
National Science Foundation
 http://www.nsf.gov/
National Institutes of Health
 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-002.html
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Pertinent Fields of study
Foundation’s purposes and activities
Eligibility requirements
Number and types of awards awarded per year
Rules (deadlines, summer work, etc.)
Contact info
TALK TO PROGRAM OFFICERS!
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Know dates and deadlines
 Application
 Recommendations
 Pre-Applications?
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Know page limitations and rules
 How long can it be?
 Margins, font, font size
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Know materials requested (i.e. transcripts, C.V.,
etc.) and date requested or submitted
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Usually consist of Letter as well as ratings form
Choose people who have credentials
 PH.D. better than Teaching Assistant
 Program Directors (Long term relationship)
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Choose people who know you!
Ask Early
Provide recommenders with a narrative of the
fellowship, CV/Resume, personal statements
“Remind” recommenders when near dates
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Abstract (summary of research)
Research Plan (remember page limits)
 Specific Aims/Goals,
Introduction/Significance/Background,
Methods/Research Design, (Prelim data?), Research
Plan, Timeline, Expected outcomes
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Budget
Sometimes:
 Cover page
 Abstract for Laymen
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Your Own Ideas:
 Research Experience
 Record down Ideas that you have!
 Coursework
 Readings
 Lectures/Seminars
 Discussion Groups
 Important national problems
Extension of Research Mentor’s work
 If you know where you are going to go…
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State a clear, focused, and attainable research
question or hypothesis
Research question can be original, a
reassessment of a prior study, or both
contain good ideas that embrace problems at the
forefront of a field
be enthusiastic
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Starts with literature supporting the Big Picture
Hones down to the rationale of your project
 Study detailed reviews of scientific literature, books,
etc).
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Statements about the importance of the work
proposed
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Very important section of proposal (after the
abstract)
Describe previous research that led to your
proposal
Should demonstrate your ability to analyze and
interpret data
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Description of procedures and tests that will be
used in the proposed work
Special handling procedures
Kinds of data expected
How the data will be analyzed
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Write about what you hypothesize/expect to see
Write up what alternative results you might get
Write about what you’d do if you GOT alternative
results
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To use “active” voice instead of “passive”
Avoid jargon
Write in regard to appearance
Keep aware of the font
Seek constructive criticism
Read aloud to yourself
Proofread and edit
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Reports
Publications
CV
Resumes
“Additional comments” sheet
Degree plan of study
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thank your recommenders
thank their secretaries
be polite to project officers
give yourself credit!
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