effective communication for graduate funding richelle thomas, ph.d. jennifer patterson, ph.d. we14,...
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Effective Communication for Graduate Funding
Richelle Thomas, Ph.D.
Jennifer Patterson, Ph.D.WE14, October 25, 2014
Richelle Thomas, PhD• Advanced Engineer at
Owens Corning Science & Technology
• PhD Chemical Engineering• Awards
US Student FulbrightGEM FellowshipErnest & Virginia Cockrell
Fellowship in Engineering AIChE, BMES Student Travel
FellowshipsSWE Student ScholarshipACS Award
Jennifer Patterson, PhD• Assistant Professor at KU
Leuven
• PhD Boengineering,
• Awards Whitaker International Scholarship
(post-doctoral fellowship)
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid-of-Research
BMES Student Travel Award
What skills do you need/learn along your chosen career pathway?
The Academic Pathway
Industry• Completing assigned tasks, writing reports • Managing a team
• Making decisions (based on economics)
Bachelor student Master student PhD student Postdoc Professor
• Information• Hands-on
experimental skills
Plus•Writing•Planning•Presenting
Plus•Generating ideas•Mentoring others
Plus•Asking for funding
Plus•Teaching evaluating
Why apply for fellowships?In many cases, you may be able to be paid as a research assistant, a teaching assistant, etc.
An Honor and a Skill• Useful for building your C.V. or résumé • Helps get additional fellowships for funding • Demonstrates ability to write a proposal
Flexibility• May allow you to work for a professor who otherwise couldn’t fund you • Generally have more independence in your research project
• May allow you to have other unique experiences, like study abroad
Better Pay• Fellowship stipends can often be higher than RA or TA salary • Departments may supplement fellowship awards
When to apply for fellowships?Think about it all throughout your education
Before starting a graduate program/post-doc• Can help you get a position (particularly for post-doctoral positions) • Gives you flexibility from the beginning • Many fellowships are targeted to “early” studies
During a graduate program/post-doc• A fellowship is almost always a good thing to have • If you are further along in your research, you should be able to write a stronger proposal
Smaller grants along the way• Often have less involved applications • Can allow you to pursue a side project, get extra research supplies, travel to a conference, etc.
How to choose what programs to apply toBe realistic
Larger Fellowship Programs• More prestigious • More competitive
Smaller Fellowship Programs• May have more defined application criteria• In many cases, may have a better percentage of acceptance
Talk to your advisor or academic counselor• How competitive you are as a candidate
If you don’t get a fellowship on your first try, keep applying!
Setting a timeline to apply for fellowships
Find application deadlines• Can be 6 months to a year before fellowship starts• NSF Graduate Fellowship deadline at the beginning of November• NDSEG Fellowship deadline in January
Choose what fellowships to apply to• Again, be realistic! • Choose the fellowships that are the best match
Start work early• Proposals take time • Ask for letters of recommendation well in advance• Many are now submitted online and can be saved and revised until submitted
Key components of a fellowship proposal
Curriculum vitae (C.V.) or résumé
Statement of previous research/relevant experiences
Proposal of research plan/project
Non-technical aspects
Reference letters
Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) or Résumé
A C.V. is like an extended résumé• More detail • Not necessarily limited in length
Important sections• Education
• Thesis titles, advisor names, relevant courses • Awards and Honors (like fellowships!) • Research/Work Experience
• Include short description of research findings or skills learned • Teaching/Mentoring Experience (for academic post-doc positions) • Memberships in Professional Organizations (outreach, community involvement) • Publications (name in bold)• Patents • Conference Presentations (note oral presentations)
Statement of Previous Research/Relevant ExperienceDemonstrate you are qualified to conduct the research you propose
If you have previous research (lab) experience• During graduate studies or research experience as an undergraduate • Two basic approaches
• Abstract for each project• Single statement linking different projects
• Organization: focus on most relevant experiences (demonstrate expertise)
If you do not have lab experience• Do you have internship or other work experience? • Did you take advanced electives or design courses that provided you with relevant skills?
Proposal of Research Plan/Project
Grant proposal style• Introduction or problem statement • Hypothesis• Specific aims, objectives, or goals • Description how you would approach those aims or goals (methodology)
Essay or statement style• Interest in a specific field but not necessarily a defined problem • Discuss the types of questions that interest you
Tips• If you know who you want to work with, get their comments, suggestions, advice • Reference your previous experience but don’t restate it in detail• Include references to the literature if appropriate• Make sure it is well organized and clearly written
Tips for Writing Objectives
Answer the following questions• What is the problem you are addressing (broadly, specifically)? • How are you addressing that problem? What is the concept/main idea of your project?• What do you consider to be a successful outcome of your project (scientifically, technically)? • What are the main steps you will take in your project?
Some words to use• Socio-economical problem • Limitations in the state of the art • Goal • Hypothesis• Objectives
Non-Technical Aspects
What are “non-technical” aspects of a fellowship application• Personal statements • Long-term goals• Benefits to society • Questions that relate to the goals of the fellowship program
Approach• Don’t neglect these aspects • Spend the time to write an appropriate response • Be reflective • Be honest!
General Writing Tips
Start from an outline• Organization!• Ensures all information is there
Writing style• A paragraph should contain a main idea and its supporting information • Usually the first sentence of a paragraph contains the main idea
• Consider transitions from one paragraph to the next • Paragraphs should be several sentences long
Know Your Subject
Define Your Message• Answer the question asked
• Organize your material to be clear
Organize Your Knowledge• You are telling a story – think about the timing and order of your information
• Include a background statement to orient the reader
• Clearly state the hypothesis or purpose statement you are discussing
• Make a compelling argument• Gather necessary information to support argument
Know Your Subject
Make your claim!• Find evidence/examples for each
• Think about the sequence – refer to your outline
• Structure argument from known to new
• Use your proven track record of success to substantiate your proposal
• Evaluate the skills and qualities you already have
Know Your Purpose
Subject v Purpose• Subject: concise statement of content
• Purpose: what is gained or accomplished
• Define the purpose of your proposal
Define success• Clearly state the desired outcome of the work
• Outline how this project/proposal leads to the desired outcome
Know Your Audience
Who is the funding agency• What is the organization’s mission?
• What target population do they serve?
• What are their funding goals? (Why are they giving money?)
Reviewers• What is their background?
• What questions would they ask – answer them!
• Get ALL the reviewers on your side
• Write for the generalist and the specialist
Know Your Relevance
Make the connection - topic• Don’t make the reviewer have to think
• Articulate the relevance of the work to the agency’s mission
• Highlight the novelty of the project/proposal
• Give the significance of your work
Make the connection - self• Make yourself the clear choice
• Clearly outline why you are the best candidate
Know Your Relevance
Why should YOU be selected?• What makes you special
• Why are you the best fit for this award
• Why should they want to fund you
• What skills and traits do you have that stand out
• Show commitment to the organization’s goals
• Show confidence
• Present yourself as a sound investment
• BE AUTHENTIC
Know Your Limits
Be clear & concise• Be specific and clear
• Avoid being vague
• Avoid using jargon, use clear language
• If it does not fit, cut it out
Get to the point• Avoid being overly verbose
• Don’t bore reviewers with mundane details
Structure
Outline• Keep a single theme throughout your documents
• Check outline for chronological order
• Insert transitions where appropriate
• Use visual or sensory words to captivate the reader
• Show commitment to the organization’s goals
Reference Letters
Don’t wait until the last minute• Ask for reference letters well in advance
Who to ask• Professors or supervisors (their title counts!) • People who know you well• People who can comment on your work
What to give someone you ask to write a reference letter• The appropriate forms or online instructions and the DEADLINE • At minimum, a copy of your C.V. or résumé • A copy of your proposal or application • Specific items to write about or comment on (remind them of details) • Send a reminder a week or two before the deadline
Some Final Tips for Preparing Your Application
Don’t wait until the last minute• Can’t say this enough times!
Make sure to include everything that was asked for• If sending in a paper application, leave a day or two to print and assemble everything• Tailor statements, essays, proposals to specific application instructions
Check spelling and grammar• Have someone proofread your application• Do not exceed page or word limits
Richelle Thomas•we15 Graduate Programming Coordinator •[email protected]
Jennifer Patterson• SWE WIA Committee Chair