1. AUG/SEPT. 2015 1 Contact: Roxanne Malé-Brune, male-bru@ohio.edu, 7-1227male-bru@ohio.edu Mark McMills, mcmills@ohio.edu; 593-1750mcmills@ohio.edu Lauren McMills, mcmillsl@ohio.edu; 593-1754mcmillsl@ohio.edu

2. Workshop Overview  How do I find fellowships opportunities?  Overview of the NSF GRFP program and tips for writing competitive applications  Other STEM-related fellowships 2

3. www.ohio.edu/studentresearch 3

4. www.ohio.edu/fellowships 4 List of Upcoming Fellowships Search for Fellowship Opportunities List of Summer Research Internships Fellowships for International Students

5. www.ohio.edu/research/funding.cfm 5 Undergraduate Travel Fund Provost Undergraduate Research Fund Student Enhancement Awards Graduate Student Senate Awards

6. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program http://nsfgrfp.org Applications due Oct. 26-30, 2015, 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.  Provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. Benefits:  $34,000 annual stipend for 3 years  $12,000 cost-of-education allowance 6

7. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Eligibility:  U.S. citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.  Begin graduate study and research by summer or fall 2015.  Individuals are typically eligible to apply: During the senior year of college After graduating from college and prior to entering graduate school During the first year of graduate school 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. 1, 2015, all graduate-level study is counted except: BS/MS programs Disruption of in graduate study of > 2 consecutive years  GPA is no longer a criteria but GPA >3.6 preferred (as per past experience)  GRE not Required 7

8. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Topic Areas:  Chemistry  Computer and Info Science and Engineering  Engineering  Geosciences  Life Sciences  Materials Research  Mathematical Sciences  Physics and Astronomy  Psychology (including clinical, but must be basic, not clinical research)  Social Sciences  STEM Education & Learning Research 8

9. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program *Social Sciences include: 9 Archaeology Biological Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Anthropology Communications Decision Making & Risk Analysis Economics (not Bus. Admin.) Geography History and Philosophy of Science International Relations Law and Social Science Linguistics Linguistic Anthropology Medical Anthropology Political Science Public Policy Science Policy Sociology (except Social Work) Urban & Regional Planning Social Sci

10. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Ineligible programs of study:  Practice-oriented professional degree programs  Joint professional degree-science programs (MD/PhD and JD/PhD)  Medical, dental, law, and public health programs  Clinical practice or 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 or biochemistry (see Section 3, Fields of Study, of the solicitation for details) 10

11. Components of an NSF Fellowship Application 11 Each section must address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Personal Statement, Relevant Background and Future Goals Graduate Research Statement

12. Personal Statement, Relevant Background and Future Goals - Prompt (3 pages) Outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. 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. o Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to seek a graduate degree. o Specify your role in the activity, including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team. o Describe the contributions of your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for broader societal impacts. 12

13. Personal Statement, Relevant Background and Future Goals – Prompt (3 pages) 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. NOTE: Your ideas and examples do not have to be confined necessarily to the discipline that you have chosen to pursue. 13

14. Graduate Research Statement – Prompt (2 pages) 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. The research discussed must be in a field listed in the Solicitation. 14

15. Application Review Criteria What is the potential for the proposed activity to: Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)? To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well- organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success? How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities? Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities? 15

16. Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts You must address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in both essays. 16

17. What is Intellectual Merit? The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge. Q: How the applicant has demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in STEM and STEM education?  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? 17

18. Essay 1: Essay Prompt and Intellectual Merit Outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. 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. o Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to seek a graduate degree. o Specify your role in the activity including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team. o Describe the contributions of your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for broader societal impacts (See Solicitation, Section VI, for more information about Broader Impacts). 18

19. Essay 1: Intellectual Merit Convince reviewers that you will become a globally engaged knowledge expert and leader who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. Emphasize your:  Strength of academic record, advanced-level, special classes  Science expertise –technical skills, knowledge of field  Leadership  Communication skills 19

20. What are Broader Impacts? Q: How has the applicant demonstrated his/her potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes through their:  personal experiences,  professional experiences,  educational experiences, and  future plans? 20

21. What are Broader Impacts? NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. For example:  full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM);  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 US; and  enhanced infrastructure for research and education. Note: Appalachians and 1 st -generation college students are considered underserved groups. 21

22. Essay 1: Essay Prompt and Broader Impacts Outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. 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. o Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to seek a graduate degree. o Specify your role in the activity including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team. o Describe the contributions of your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for broader societal impacts (See Solicitation, Section VI, for more information about Broader Impacts). 22

23. Examples of Broader Impacts Convince reviewers that you will become a globally engaged knowledge expert and leader who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. Emphasize your: Previous and ongoing personal experiences with broader impacts o This includes outreach and mentoring, science-related and other Previous and ongoing professional experiences with broader impacts o This includes outreach and mentoring related to your research Broader impacts of your previous and ongoing research to other fields Definitely include experiences with under-represented or underserved groups. 23

24. Examples of Broader Impacts Benefits of research to greater scientific community/society? Your participation in educational outreach? o 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 o Research training/Mentoring of young scientists o General science outreach: K-12; community; university? Inclusion of diverse populations? o e.g., K-12 outreach in Appalachia o e.g., Participation of under-represented minorities (race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, interest) 24

25. Essay 1: Essay Prompt Outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. 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. o Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to seek a graduate degree. o Specify your role in the activity including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team. o Describe the contributions of your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for broader societal impacts (See Solicitation, Section VI, for more information about Broader Impacts). 25

26. Essay 1 – Essay Prompt and Tips THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO WRITE THIS ESSAY. State your educational and professional development plans and career goals.  e.g., plan to pursue a PhD in XXX with emphasis on YYY and a career in ZZZ with a focus on AAA. What motivated you to choose this path? 26

27. Essay 1: Essay Prompt Outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. 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. o Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to seek a graduate degree. o Specify your role in the activity including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team. o Describe the contributions of your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for broader societal impacts (See Solicitation, Section VI, for more information about Broader Impacts). 27

28. Essay 1 – Essay Prompt and Tips Consider grouping experiences, e.g., education, outreach, previous research When describing research experience, consider the following format:  Objectives of the project (e.g., for research: hypothesis if quantitative or research questions if qualitative; for other experiences: mission/goal)  Timeline (e.g., duration and chronology during UG or G career)  Your Role: (leader, team member)  Methodology (scientific language but no jargon!)  Intellectual Merit: (1) How did research further the knowledge in your field? (2) Skills Gained/Lessons/Learned? (3) Reference your publications/presentations/ significant fellowships/grants.  Broader Impacts: How did research or other experience benefit society? 28

29. Essay 1 - Tips Finish with a strong statement about how your experiences as a whole allow you to become a globally engaged knowledge expert and leader who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. 29

30. Essay 2: Essay Prompt and Intellectual Merit 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. The research discussed must be in a field listed in the Solicitation (Section X, Fields of Study). 30

31. Essay 2: Intellectual Merit Emphasize:  Skills you will learn.  How will the proposed research contribute to/further the field? 31

32. Essay 2: Essay Prompt and Broader Impacts 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. The research discussed must be in a field listed in the Solicitation (Section X, Fields of Study). 32

33. Essay 2: Broader Impacts Emphasize:  How will the proposed research contribute to society?  How will you contribute to society? (e.g., outreach, with your research)? 33

34. Essay 2 – Essay Prompt and Tips Describe the research idea, including:  your general approach, include details as known but no discipline-specific jargon  unique resources that may be needed for accomplishing the research goal (i.e., access to national facilities or collections, collaborations, overseas work, etc.) Limit citations to no more than 5; otherwise takes too much space. Make sure to state:  Objectives of the project (e.g., for research: hypothesis if quantitative or research questions if qualitative; for activity: mission)  Methodology  Intellectual Merit: How will research further the knowledge in your field? Skills to be gained/lessons learned?  Broader Impacts: How will research or activity benefit society? How do you plan to engage society (K-12, UG, public) in your research? 34

35. Essay 2 – Essay Prompt and Tips Convince reviewers that you will become a globally engaged knowledge expert and leader who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. 35

36. Reference Letters  Three reference letters must be submitted electronically by the reference writers by the reference letter deadline, November 05, 8 p.m. EST  If three reference letters are not received by the reference letter deadline and time, the application will be returned without review.  Applicants can list up to 5 potential references, but then must select the final three. Reference Letters:  Submitted through the FastLane GRFP Application Module  Limited to 2 pages; 12-point font Times New Roman 36

37. Reference Letters  Limited to 2 pages; 12-point font Times New Roman  Use letterhead and include the following information: Name and title of reference writer Department Institution or organization. 37

38. Reference Letters - Tips Include details explaining:  the nature of the relationship to the applicant;  the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally- engaged United States science and engineering workforce;  statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences;  statements about the applicant's proposed research; and  how the applicant meets the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts 38

39. Reference Letters - Tips  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: Succeed in graduate school Conduct original research Communicate effectively Work cooperatively 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. 39

40. Reference Letters NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit Intellectual Merit: encompasses the potential to advance knowledge  What is the potential for the proposed activity to: Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and  To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?  Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?  How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?  Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities? 40

41. Reference Letters NSF Merit Review Criteria of Broader Impacts Broader Impacts: encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.  Broader impacts may be accomplished through (1) the research itself, (2) activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or (3) activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project.  NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes, including, but not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); 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 US; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education. 41

42. Other Science-Related Fellowship Opportunities 42 Are you a woman? -committed to helping girls/women  AAUW -1 st 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

43. Other STEM Fellowship Opportunities 43 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 2 nd or 3 rd 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