Grad School Funding 101: Where to Look, What to Do, Who Can Help Originally developed by Gretchen Busl Revised and Presented by Mike Westrate Associate Program Director, Office of Grants & Fellowships The Graduate School

Research Associate Program Director, Office of Grants and Fellowships – 1-on-1 consultations are always welcome— me! (Google Calendar) – Building a team of readers—does anyone have interest or recommendations? Ongoing Programming – How to Give Your Research Spiel – NSF Application Workshop Series – Fulbright Information Week – Writing “Boot Camps” (next week)

Why should I apply? Financial Benefit Recognition & Validation Experience & Feedback Networking Refine Your Work Branding (for life)

Where should I look? The Graduate School Website (Research) LINKLINKPIVOT LINKLINKAmerican Sociological Association LINKLINKSocial Science Research Council LINKLINKGoogleResearch Consultation (Me)

Creating a Research Action Plan Student: Program: SOC Research area: Developmental (Childhood Aggression) Career goal: Sociology Professor ResearchFellowship/ Grant Applications Year 1Coursework, First-year project FallNSF GRFP SpringFirst-year project presentationASA Student Travel Award Summer Year 2Coursework FallNSF GRFP, Javits Fellowship, ASA Minority Fellowship SpringMaster's thesis proposalSSRC Mellon Mays Grant (I), internal ND grants Summer Year 3Coursework, Master's research Fall Association for Women in Science Predoctoral Award SpringMaster's thesis defenseSSRC Mellon Mays Grant (II), internal ND grants Summer Year 4Prelim exam, Dissertation Research FallPrelimary examSSRC Mellon Mays Grant (III) Spring AAUW Dissertation Completion Fellowship, internal ND grants Summer Year 5Dissertation CompletionAll Dissertation Fellowships (internal and external) Fall SpringDisseration Defense Summer

Major Opportunities I 2 years of support for New Americans Soros Fellowship 3 years of support, focus on diversity Ford Predoctoral Fellowship 3 years of support for committed Christians Harvey Fellowship 2 years of support for non-US women AAUW International Fellowship 3 years of support for women from developing countries Faculty for the Future Fellowship 1 year of support for dissertation completion Josephine de Karman Fellowship

Major Opportunities II NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 3 yrs, $32K/yr! Must have < 12 Mos. of Graduate Study Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program 4 yr, $30K/yr! Must have < 12 Mos. of Graduate Study NSF Digging into Data (DID) Challenge $25K-$125K, research into managing and assessing “Big Data” ASA Minority Fellowship Program (1 yr, $18K)American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowships (1 yr, $20K) SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) For dissertation research stage. International students welcome to apply!

Other Opportunities Association for Women in Science Predoctoral Awards ($1K) Clara Mayo Grants ($1K) SSRC Mellon Mays Predoctoral Research Grants (several, up to $5K—must have been an undergrad fellow) ASA Student Forum Travel Awards ($225)

What are the typical components of an application (I)? Recommendation letters CV Transcripts GRE/TOEFL scores

Project Proposal Personal Statement What are the typical components of an application (II)?

What do I write about? What now? Why now? Why there?

The Argument: ClaimsProofs Audience!!

Adapting Your Proposal Consider your audience Interdisciplinary panel Discipline specific but not specialized to your topic Field experts Provide sufficient background so that non-specialist and specialist alike will consider it integral to your argument Speak to the institution’s funding aims as well as its overall mission and goals Create a general proposal argument Modify according to each announcement, incorporating language from the agencies themselves

Why You? Why Now? My project is worthwhile.I am uniquely prepared to undertake it.I can complete it within the fellowship terms.This fellowship is crucial to my professional success.

Writing a Proposed Research Project Statement Demonstrate your potential to plan and conduct research Draw on your past experience Exhibit your ability to interpret and communicate research Exhibit understanding of where your research fits Into your own career aims Into the scholarly field Into a broader public context

You, in the Proposal Presenting past experience in terms of their impact on your future trajectory: What did you learn that has influenced your goals for graduate study? What methods or issues would you like to continue exploring, what new directions would you like to move into? What specific experiences (seminar papers, laboratory work, research project, etc.) can you describe that have helped you formulate what areas of interest you’d like to pursue in your graduate work?

Writing a Personal Statement Demonstrate desirable qualities Enthusiasm, dedication, initiative, adaptability, leadership Traits valued by granting institution Explain preparatory experience and special skills Courses, exams, projects, certifications, etc. Explain your trajectory from student to career

Getting Good References Ask well in advance of the application deadline, and provide all of the necessary information in good time. Provide your referees with a copy of your materials and the agency guidelines. The best letters will discuss: The student’s academic and professional merits The significance of the project within the student’s field and beyond The student’s preparedness to undertake the project The feasibility of the project

What should I remember? Read and follow all instructions.Don’t be afraid to contact institutions.Revise, rinse, repeat (and again).You are not alone.

Resources: Mike Westrate Office of Grants and Fellowships writingcenter.nd.edu University Writing Program cslc.nd.edu/eap English for Academic Purposes Program

What is the Ultimate Goal? A JOB! Mike Westrate Graduate School Website/Research