1. Fellowship Application Universe
WPI Office of Sponsored Programs
Elena Glatman
Associate Director, Pre-award Services

2. Objectives
Provide an overview and help navigating the universe of externally funded opportunities
Demonstrate effective strategies and techniques for finding applicable funding opportunities and applying to potential sponsors
Explore some of the most popular programs
I’m not going to ask the “Why Bother Applying” question, since I know every one of you came to today’s session with your goals, motivation, different interests which may vary from just to get a general information on over all process of proposal submission, benefits of submitting a fellowship, or you might have a particular questions regarding a fellowship program which you’ve already researched and seriously considering to apply for.

3. Funding Sources for Graduate Students
Funds
Institutional
Federal
Private
Funding Sources for Graduate Students
Private: Foundations, Associations, Organizations, Corporations (Institutional Advancement Office: David Leach or Janet) will cover this topic in more details right after this presentation.
Federal: Agencies of the U.S. Government
Institutional: RA’ships, TA’ships, Fellowships, Scholarships

4. Types of Fellowships Individual Institutional
The graduate student applies to the sponsor as an individual and competes with other graduate students. The award goes to the successful applicant, however, it may be administered in collaboration with the applicant’s institution. NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
The graduate student applies with a faculty advisor or faculty sponsor and competes with other graduate students. The award is submitted by, and if awarded, coordinated by the applicant’s institution. Eg; National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein Awards.
Awarded to WPI Departments or WPI Programs that have submitted successful grant proposals to programs such as the Department of Education’s “Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need,” (GAANN) program. Students are selected by the department.
Check out WPI Department of Computer Science’s GAANN Program:
ml/service_/GAANN/

6. Eligibility Criteria Am I eligible?
Federal opportunities are generally open only to U.S. Citizens, Nationals or Permanent Residents. Generally the status should be in place at the time of proposal submission.
Non-Federal opportunities, or “Private” opportunities are more likely to be open to international students. Some are targeted specifically for international students.
Is the opportunity only open to entering, or early graduate students? Women? Specific demographic groups? Minorities?
Most importantly to note: Are your interests a good “fit” with the program’s goals, and the sponsor’s mission?

7. National Science Foundation (NSF)

8. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Full Proposal Deadline Dates: 
November 4, 2013
Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering; Materials Research
November 5, 2013
Mathematical Sciences; Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy
November 7, 2013
Social Sciences; Psychology; STEM Education and Learning
November 8, 2013
Life Sciences; Geosciences
Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of US by the application deadline.

9. Am I Eligible for GRFP?
Categories of applicants that are always ineligible:
Those who do not hold US citizenship, national, or permanent resident status by the application deadline.
Those who were previously awarded a fellowship from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and accepted it.
Those who have declined the offer of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and who did not notify NSF by the published deadline for accepting the Fellowship.
Those who have earned any graduate or professional degree, except applicants who have completed a joint BS/MS program and have not completed any further graduate study outside the joint program.
Current NSF employees.
Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1
Applicants are limited to only one application in this competition.
Applicants must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States by the application
deadline.
GRFP fellowship can’t be accepted concurrently with another Federal fellowship.
The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States, such as
American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. It does not refer to a
citizen of another country who has applied for US citizenship.

10. Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG/DDRI)
The student must be enrolled at a U.S. academic institution, but need not be a U.S. citizen. Proposals from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged
The proposal must be submitted by the dissertation advisor(s) on behalf of the graduate student who is at the point of initiating or already conducting dissertation research.

11. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

12. NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA)
Individual Fellowships Guidelines and Forms:
Standard Due Dates for Competing Applications:
Deadline for F Series in 2013 April 8, August 8 and December 8.

13. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

14. NASA
Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) is now known as Graduate Student Education (GSE)
Applicants must be U.S. citizens (permanent residents are not eligible).
Deadline was in April 2013 for continuations only, so check next year if available.

15. Department of Defense (DOD)

16. DoD http://ndseg.asee.org/
The online application usually become available in September. All materials are due by mid-December 5:00 PM EST deadline. 
There are four eligibility requirements: citizenship, discipline, academic status, and the ability to accept the full benefit. You must meet all four requirements in order to be eligible.
The NDSEG Fellowship Program is open only to applicants who are citizens or nationals of the United States. Persons who hold permanent resident status are not eligible. Proof of citizenship will be required upon formal offer.
The term "nationals" refers to native residents of a possession of the United States such as American Samoa. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship.
So keep an eye on this one.

17. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

18. DHS http://see.orau.org/default.aspx
Eligibility:  U.S. Citizens Only. Scholarships are intended for support during your junior and senior years. Fellowships are intended for support to begin during your first or second year of graduate study.
Check next year.

19. U.S. Department of State

20. US Department of State Fulbright (for study abroad)
Fulbright Program for Foreign Students
eligibility varies widely by country. For more information, visit your home country’s Fulbright website at:
Last year was October 12, 2012 – deadline for study abroad.

21. Department of Energy (DOE)

22. DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF)
The DOE CSGF is open to U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens who are planning full-time, uninterrupted study toward a Ph.D. at an accredited U.S. university.  Senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students in engineering and in the physical, computer, mathematical or life sciences are eligible to apply. Fellowship support is available for four years and must be renewed annually.
Application process begins in October with the opening of the online application system. For the academic year applications due in early January 2014.

23. OSP
Institutional
Federal
Private
Internal OSP Resources:
Private: Foundations, Associations, Organizations, Corporations (Institutional Advancement Office: David Leach or Janet) will cover this topic in more details right after this presentation.
Federal: Agencies of the U.S. Government
Institutional: RA’ships, TA’ships, Fellowships, Scholarships

24. Search Tools & Strategies
Grants.gov
Funds for Training in the Sciences
International Education Financial Aid (IFEA)
Institute of International Education
Funding Opportunities Libguide, including Pivot database
Ask around, network.
Work with librarians to create and come up with best searching strategies; using keywords, etc.
Pivot - Available free to WPI community! Rachel will share more details on this wonderful very user friendly system.

25. Tips for Successful Proposal Submission
Start Early
Do your Homework
Be Clear &
Concise
Follow
Instructions
Be Interesting
Know your Audience
Proofread, Edit, Repeat
Plan ahead of time (take into consideration the following: spend time with you advisor, peers, request recommendation letter ahead of time, allow some time to wok on the proposal, have your advisor, fields, peers read it and provide with comments, fix it, work with OSP, especially budget, allow some time for quality review).
Best of luck in your new endeavors.
Tips for Successful Proposal Submission

26. OSP
Institutional
Federal
Private
OSP Contact Information: Main office ext. 5359
Questions?