FUNDING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Katie Wilkes
Research Funding and Development Services
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRAD STUDENTS
Fellowships to apply for now
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National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Department of Defense Science and Engineering Program
Today we’ll be focusing on these because of upcoming deadlines.
Fellowships to apply for later
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National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowships
Other fellowships from professional societies or associations
OHSU training grants or other internal awards that are open to grad
students (e.g. Tartar Trust, Friends of Doernbecher research grant)
Vice President for Research Office
NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
About the NSF Fellowship
Supports the development of a diverse, globally engaged U.S. science and
engineering workforce. Funds students pursuing research-based MS or PhD
in NSF-supported disciplines:
Chemistry
Computer and Information
Science and Engineering
Engineering
Geosciences
Life Sciences
Materials Research
Mathematical Science
Physics and Astronomy
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Psychology
Social Sciences
STEM Education (research-focused)
Note: Research with a diseaserelated or clinical focus is not
accepted. But that doesn’t
mean you can’t apply…
NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Why apply for an NSF fellowship?
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$32,000 stipend per year for three years (can be spread out over five); $12,000
tuition to institution
Provides access to international research opportunities and XSEDE cyber
infrastructure resources
Prestigious award – looks good on your CV!
Writing grants is great practice. As a scientist, you’ll be doing it for your whole
life.
What are my chances of getting an award?
2010-2013:
• 2,000 awards annually
• 12,000 applications annually
~ 17% success rate
2015:
• 2,700 awards anticipated
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Eligibility
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents.
• Must be enrolled in a research-based MS or PhD program.
• Applicants may apply: during their senior year of college, after
graduating from college (prior to starting grad school), or during the
early portion of grad school.
• Applicants must not have completed more than 12 months of
full-time graduate study or its equivalent as of August 1, 2013.
• Applicants graduate program must be a field supported by NSF (no
MD/PhDs, public health, dentistry, etc.)
It is crucial to read the entire program announcement for this and any
other funding opportunities. Make sure you are eligible before you apply!
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Timeline
• NSF Fellowships due late October/early November (varies by discipline)
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October 29 for engineering
November 4 for life sciences
• Notified of decision in April.
• Start working on your application now!
Application Components
• Two short essays
• Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement
• Graduate Research Statement
• Transcripts
• Three letters of reference required
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
How are applications evaluated?
Reviewers are asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want
to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if the project is successful,
and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. To the end, reviewers
are asked to evaluate all proposals against these two criteria:
Intellectual Merit
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The potential of the applicant to advance knowledge based on the totality of
the content in the application, including the strength of the academic
record, proposed plan of research, description of previous research
experience or publication/presentations, and references
Broader Impacts
• The potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of
specific, desired societal outcomes as indicated by personal, professional,
and educational experiences
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
What are Broader Impacts?
“Broader impacts may be accomplished through research itself,
through the activities that are directly related to specific research
projects, or through activities that are supported by, by are
complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of
scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of
socially relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include but are not
limited to, full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and
underrepresented minorities in STEM fields; improved STEM
education and educator development at any level; increased public
scientific literacy and public engagement with science and
technology; improved well-being of individuals in society;
development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce;
increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others;
improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of
the U.S.; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.”
More examples.
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
How are applications evaluated? (cont.)
The following elements should be considered for both review criteria:
1. What is the potential of the proposed activity to:
a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across
different fields (Intellectual Merit)
b. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)
2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative,
original, or potentially transformative concepts?
3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, wellorganized, and based on a sound rational? Does the plan incorporate a
mechanism to assess success?
4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the
proposed activities?
5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI to carry out the
proposed activities?
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Essay #1: Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals
Statement (3 pages)
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How do you envision graduate school preparing you for a career that allows you to
contribute to expanding scientific understanding as well as broadly benefit society?
• Describe your personal, educational and/or professional experiences that motivate
your decision to pursue advanced study in science, technology, engineering or
mathematics (STEM). Include specific examples of any research and/or professional
activities in which you have participated. Present a concise description of the
activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to
seek a graduate degree. Specify your role in the activity including the extent to which
you worked independently and/or as part of a team. Describe the contributions of
your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for
broader societal impacts.
Tips
• In each essay, applicants must include separate statements on Intellectual Merit and
Broader Impacts.
• Emphasize any educational or community service activities of which you have or will
take part – how does the larger community benefit if you receive the award?
• Mention all publications, posters, presentations, awards, recognitions.
• Emphasize what work you did independently.
• View sample outline.
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Essay #2: Graduate Research Plan (2 pages)
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Present an original research topic that you would like to pursue in graduate
school. Describe the research idea, your general approach, as well as any
unique resources that may be needed for accomplishing the research goal
(i.e., access to national facilities or collections, collaborations, overseas
work, etc.) You may choose to include important literature citations.
• Address the potential of the research to advance knowledge and
understanding within science as well as the potential for broader impacts on
society.
Tips
• You don’t have to actually do this research exactly, they just want to see
how you think and how you write.
• Get the idea from previous work, current rotation or thesis lab, or a question
that interests you.
• Be specific but not too jargon-y.
• Why is this work important to the field? Anticipated results? How will you
know if you are successful?
• View sample worksheet.
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NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Reference letters
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3 reference letters must be received by November 6, 2014
When choosing references, someone who knows you well is more
important than getting a “big name.”
• At least 2 of them should be familiar with your current work.
Share application materials and review criteria with references
Good letters should address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts
• Letters should include details explaining the nature of the
relationship to the applicant, comments on the applicant’s
potential for contributing to a globally-engaged U.S. STEM
workforce, statements about the applicant’s academic potential
and prior research experiences, statements about the
applicant’s proposed research, and any other info relevant to
NSF review criteria.
Ask them NOW
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DOD NATIONAL DEFENSE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
About the DoD Fellowship
Fellowships are awarded to applicants who will pursue a doctoral degree in,
or closely related to, an area of DoD interest within one of the following
disciplines:
Biosciences
Chemical engineering
Chemistry
Cognitive, neural, and
behavioral sciences;
Computer and computational
sciences;
Geosciences;
Materials science and engineering
Mathematics
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Naval architecture and ocean
engineering
Oceanography
Physics
Every agency has its own
specific priorities. Make sure
you do some research on what
these agencies are funding, so
that you know where your
research fits (or doesn’t).
DOD NATIONAL DEFENSE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
More about the DoD fellowship
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$31,000 annual stipend for three years, pays for tuition and fees, and up to
$1,000 per year in medical insurance.
DoD fellowships are more competitive than those from NSF (10% vs. 17%
success rate).
DoD application a shorter essay, and NSF essays can be rewritten for the
DoD fellowship application.
Eligibility
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals.
• Applicants have completed less than two full-time years of graduate study in
the discipline in which they are applying.
Deadline: December 2014 (applications available in September)
View DoD fellowship application materials.
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APPLYING FOR A GRANT OR FELLOWSHIP AT OHSU
OHSU Process
If you already have a department assigned: Applicants that already have a
department assigned should contact their Grants & Contracts Coordinator (GCC)
within your department, 30 days prior to the GRFP deadline. The department
contact will prepare and route the internal paperwork before the deadline.
Applicants that are not assigned to a department yet: Applicants not assigned
to a department should contact the Deans Office, 30 days prior to the GRFP
deadline. The Deans Office will prepare and route all of the internal paperwork
before the deadline. Please contact Dee Miller (millerd@ohsu.edu) to start this
process.
Please note that it is still the responsibility of the fellow to submit
their application through the Graduate Research Fellowship Program in
Fastlane.
Email funding@ohsu.edu with questions about your fellowship application.
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PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AT OHSU
Free workshops on grantsmanship!
View upcoming workshops here
Vollum Writing Program
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Learn the basic elements of good science writing
Receive peer feedback on current writing projects
Take advantage of 1:1 coaching sessions with instructor
Recommended for 2nd year grad students working on qualifying exams
$500 fee, covered by many grad programs
Great step-by-step resource for NSF Fellowship applications:
http://grfpessayinsights.missouri.edu/
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WHERE TO GET HELP?
Research Funding & Development Services
http://www.ohsu.edu/funding
Research News
http://www.ohsu.edu/researchnews
Contact us: funding@ohsu.edu
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