NASA Earth and Space Science
Fellowship (NESSF)
Christine Hartzell
Ph.D. Candidate
4th Year
NESSF
• Eligibility:
– M.S. or Ph.D.
– Can apply any time in grad school
– No citizenship requirements, but
US preferred
– Must be used at US school
• Research Focus:
–
–
–
–
Earth Science: 50 awards
Planetary Science: 10 awards
Heliophysics: 3-5 awards
Astrophysics: 3-10 awards
• Benefits:
– $30,000 per year
– 1 year, renewable for 3 years
• “The SMD research program
includes:
– the development of major space
flight missions;
– analysis of data from prior
missions;
– conduct of major field campaigns;
– development of instruments for
suborbital flights and potential
missions,
– detector development,
– complementary laboratory
research,
– data assimilation,
– computational modeling,
– theoretical studies.”
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NESSF
• Application Information
– Application is not out yet
(check at beginning of Nov)
– Typically due beginning of
Feb
– Notified of selection in
May or later
• Get RFP and Apply HERE:
• Application Requirements
–
–
–
–
–
6 page research proposal
Research schedule
Your CV – 1pg
Your advisor’s CV – 1pg
Recommendation from
your advisor
– Undergrad, grad transcripts
http://nspires.nasaprs.com
– click “Solicitations”
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NESSF Tips
• Make pretty figures: this is a proposal, not a report – sell
them on how awesome and useful your research is.
• CLEARLY show how your research relates to overall NASA
science objectives (hint: flow chart)
• Carefully read the science interests/objectives described in
the solicitation
• Carefully read the description of the research proposal and
make sure you have all the elements
• It helps if you can show that you’ve started the work and
can show some initial results or equations
• Application requires lots of advisor involvement – they
need to create the account and submit the application for
you!
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Matt Cannella
M.S./Ph.D. Student
2nd year
GSRP Overview
• Research focus of
fellowship
– Project based
– NASA Center/branch
dependent
• Eligibility
– M.S. and Ph.D. students
– Can apply any time in grad
program (even 3rd+ year)
– Must be a U.S. citizen
– Must have University
Faculty Research Advisor
(who will be PI of project)
• Benefits
– $30,000/yr award
• Does not include separate
tuition/healthcare
reimbursement
– Renewable up to 3 years
• 2 year limit for M.S.
students
• Restrictions
– Required 10 week research
experience at NASA Center
– Can not concurrently
receive any other federal
fellowships
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GSRP Application
• Application Information
– Application on NASA SOLAR
http://intern.nasa.gov/
• Search under “Fellowships” and
“Full-Year opportunities”
– Due date: March 1, 2011
• Extended to March 31st last year
– Notification date: May 2nd*
– 1 letter of recommendation
required (3 suggested)
– Academic transcripts
– Biographical sketch of student and
University advisor
– 5 Page research proposal & abstract
• On specific NASA project
– Proposed utilization of NASA
facilities
– Preliminary budget
*Depending on NASA center.
Can be as late as July
• Tips for landing the fellowship
– Contact NASA Technical Advisor listed
on project of interest before applying
• New projects can be created from
former NASA contacts
• Ask for their input on your ideas for
methods to complete the project
– 5 page research proposal topics
•
•
•
•
•
Hypothesis
Approach
Predicted Outcome
Proposed Timeline
References
– Each center has a different review
process. Know yours.
– Can be “center-funded” too!
• Important contact information
– Old website has useful info:
https://fellowships.nasaprs.com/gsrp
/nav/
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AIAA Graduate Awards
Matt Cannella
M.S./Ph.D. Student
2nd year
Topics to Cover
• Overview
– 14 scholarships yearly
(4x $10k, 10x $5k)
– Several “named” awards,
others listed as “open topic”
• Eligibility?
– M.S. or Ph.D., any year
• Benefits
– Purely scholarship. Money in
your pocket!
– Can apply and win multiple
times!
– Severely under-applied
– Get to accept award at AIAA
conference
• Application Information
– Due date: January 31st
– Criteria (in order of importance):
1. Graduate GPA
2. Research plan paper
3. Career goals
4. 3x LOR
5. Extracurricular activities
• Tips for landing the fellowship
– Get application done!
– Diversity in LORs
• Important contact information
– Fellowship website:
https://info.aiaa.org/Scholarship/
default.aspx
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Science, Mathematics, and Research
for Transformation (SMART)
Scholarship for Service
Juliana Feldhacker
MS/PhD Student
1st Year
SMART Scholarship
• Background Info
– Sponsored by Department of
Defense
– Includes Army, Navy, Air
Force, and DoD-wide
positions
– Final selections made by the
sponsoring facilities (SFs)
• Eligibility
– Available to students in all
STEM fields
– Awards for masters and
doctoral programs
– Must be a U.S. citizen at the
time of application
– Must be able to obtain and
maintain a security clearance
• Research
– Focus areas depend on your
sponsoring facility
– May or may not impose
requirements on research at
school
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SMART Scholarship
• Benefits
– Full tuition and educationrelated fees
– Cash award of $33,000$41,800
– Health insurance
reimbursement up to $1200
per calendar year
– Book allowance of $1000 per
academic year
– Summer internship support
payment of $1200 per week
– Post-graduate civilian
employment
– Award length determined by
application
• Application
–
–
–
–
–
Due Dec. 1, 2011
Research interests
GRE scores
3 references
SF preferences
• Tips
– Focus on the mission
– Tailor your explanation of
research interests to match
work done at the SF
smart.asee.org
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National Defense Science and
Engineering Graduate Fellowship
NDSEG
Ben K. Bradley
Ph.D. Student
3rd Year Grad Student
NDSEG
• “As a means of increasing the number of U.S. citizens
and nationals trained in science and engineering
disciplines of military importance”
• “NDSEG Fellowships are awarded to applicants who
will pursue a doctoral degree in, or closely related to,
an area of DoD interest”
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NDSEG
• Award:
– 3 years of full tuition, mandatory fees, and up to $1,000 a year in medical
insurance
– Living Stipend: $30K/year, $30.5K/year, $31.5K/year
• Usually give out 200 awards per year (~10% aerospace)
• No service required
• Application: research proposal, study goals, research experience, GRE, 3 ref.
• Eligibility: U.S. citizen, academic status, ability to accept
– Must be enrolled in final year of undergraduate studies, or
– Have completed less than 2 full-time years of graduate study in discipline of application
– You must intend to pursue a doctoral degree and if awarded, you must start your tenure in
the fall of that year.
• Application Deadline: December 16, 2011 by 5 p.m. EST
• http://ndseg.asee.org/
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National Science Foundation (NSF)
Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Laura Stiles
4th Year Ph. D.
NSF GRFP
Info:
www.nsfgrfp.org/
Apply: www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/
Benefits
Eligibility
• 3 yr annual stipend of $30,000
• $10,500 cost of education
allowance for tuition/fees
• International travel allowance
( new )
• TeraGrid access
• Research-focused Master's or Ph.D.
program in an NSF-supported field
• “Applicants for the 2012 GRFP are
generally allowed to have completed
no more than 12 months of full-time
graduate study or its equivalent by
August 1, 2011.”
• US citizens, US nationals or
permanent residents
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NSF GRFP: Applying
Early Deadline: November 14-18, 2011, depending on field of study
Notification: April 2012
Application Materials
• Personal Statement Essay
• Previous Research Experience Essay
• Proposed Plan of Research Essay
• 3 Reference Letters
• Academic Transcripts
• GRE scores - recommended, but not required
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NSF GRFP: Tips
Highlight ‘Intellectual Merit’ and ‘Broader Impacts’ in all essays
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
(individual or team) to conduct the
project?
• To what extent does the proposed
activity suggest and explore creative,
original, or transformative concepts?
• How well conceived and organized is
the proposed activity?
Broader Impacts
•
•
•
•
How well does the activity advance
discovery and understanding while
promoting teaching, and learning?
How well does the proposed activity
broaden the participation of
underrepresented groups (e.g., gender,
ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?
Will the results be disseminated
broadly to enhance scientific and
technological understanding?
What may be the benefits of the
proposed activity to society?
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Zonta International
Amelia Earhart Fellowship for Women
Laura Stiles
4th Year Ph. D.
Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Info: http://www.zonta.org/WhatWeDo/InternationalPrograms/AmeliaEarhartFellowship.aspx
Benefits
• $10,000 to 35 innovative women around the globe each year
(can be used for tuition, books, fees, living…)
• One-time award; can reapply for second award
Eligibility
• Women of any nationality registered in an accredited Ph.D./doctoral
program in a qualifying area of aerospace-related science
engineering
• Demonstrate a superior academic record at a recognized university
or college with accredited courses in aerospace-related studies
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Amelia Earhart: Applying
Early Deadline: November 15, 2011
Application Materials
• Official application from website (biographical info,
academic background, publications, employment, etc)
• Essay on academic and professional goals, including a
well-defined research plan for Ph.D.
• Academic transcripts
• Three recommendations
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NASA Space Technology
Research Fellowship (NSTRF)
Dan Guerrant
Ph.D.
2nd Year
NSTRF Overview
• Goals
– Develop game-change
technologies for space
exploration
– Promote cooperation
among centers and
universities
– Mentor new engineers
• Eligibility
– M.S. or Ph.D.
– ≤12 months in current
degree
– US Citizen/permanent
resident
• Research focus of
fellowship:
– NASA’s Space Technology
Roadmap
– NASA’s Grand Challenges
• Websites
– NSTRF home:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/
oct/early_stage_innovation
/grants/index.html
– Application is on NSPIRES:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/e
xternal/index.do
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NSTRF Benefits
• Award is through HQ
– NASA Mentor can be from any
center
– Annual internship can be at any
NASA Center or non-profit
government lab
– They encourage the use of
multiple centers for internships
• Advisor allowance is for
conferences, lab supplies,
licenses, journal fees, etc.
– Expected to present at ≥ 1
conference per year
Component
PhD (MS)
Stipend
$36k ($30k)
Tuition & Insurance
$11k
Annual Internship
$10k
Advisor Allowance
$9k
Total
$66k ($60k)
Renewable up to
4 (2) years
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NSTRF Application
• Due: Late February
• Notified: Mid May
• Components:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
5-pg research proposal
4 Letters of Reference
2 CV’s (you and advisor)
Degree completion schedule
Budget
Transcripts
GRE scores
• There is NO personal
statement
• Review based on:
– Candidate's potential in terms
of scientific curiosity,
creativity, acumen, and
success in research, as
indicated in their planned
course of study
– Research area description,
knowledge of relevant
research literature and
relevance to NASA’s strategic
goals
– Technical merit
– Organizational, analytical, and
written skills
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Additional Info
I will email these slides to all graduate students
as well as to Claire Yang (for undergraduates).
• Workshop on applying for a Graduate Research
Fellowship from the National Science Foundation
(NSF GRF)
– Tuesday, October 4th from 2-3pm
– Duane 1B30
– Professors, proposal reviewers, and GRF winners will be there to
help
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