Graduate Funding 101

1. Graduate Funding 101 Linda Vong Office of Graduate Studies September 16, 2009

2. Outline for today • Who I am and what I do • Types of funding • Where to look for funding • A few of the major players • Where to go from here

3. Who I am and what I do • Financial Support Unit • Help navigate application procedures • Act as a liaison between agency and student • Act as a second (or third, or fourth…or seventh) pair of eyes for proposals -basic editing, grammatical errors, etc.

4. Sources of graduate funding Departmental funding Some programs are able to fund their students Outside sources In the form of fellowships and grants from outside agencies Can include tuition, fees, stipend

5. What are fellowships? Opportunities to allow graduate students to pursue their research interests with funding unencumbered by institutional obligation (such as TAships, RAships) Competitive awards given based on the merit of a research proposal, as well as other relevant academic criteria (such as letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.)

6. Fellowship timeline Most fellowships have lead time of 12-18 months from application to award Current funding (09-10 academic year) was first advertised in spring 2008 For academic year 09-10, most deadlines have passed…start applying now for 10-11

7. Types of fellowships • Training • Research • Travel • General Scholarship

8. Fellowships type: Training Opportunities for first and second year graduate students to work with a faculty mentor, usually in a laboratory, to develop skills for future research. Can contain a travel element Example:National Institutes of Health training grants (F31, F32: Ruth Kirchstein)

9. Fellowships type: Research The most common type of fellowship; usually intended for Ph.D. or other terminal degree candidates Support original research which may lead to a dissertation or other long-range project May include small stipends for travel, books, and supplies Examples: -Pacific Rim Research Grants and NSF GRFP

10. Fellowships type: Travel Specialized awards which allow graduate students to pursue a semester or more abroad Often combined with another type of grant (i.e. research, training, or dissertation fellowships) Extremely competitive, with deadlines well in advance of actual awarding of grant Examples: -All Fulbright grants (full grant, Fulbright-Hays dissertation research) and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

11. Fellowships type: General Scholarship Typically awarded on the basis of past accomplishments and academic record General purpose: open to almost all subjects Highly selective, nationwide competitions Examples: -Dolores Zohrab Liebmann -Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships

12. Where to look for funding

13. UCSD’s SURF database (http://research.ucsd.edu/surf/)Contains information sent to the university by organizations that sponsor fellowships. Community of Science (http://www.cos.com)The most comprehensive web database to locate fellowships and other research opportunities. UCSD is a member institution; you do not need to be registered to utilize the funding opportunities database, but you do need to access it from an on-campus computer. Other UC funding databases, such as UCLA’s GRAPES (Grad and Postdoc Extramural Support) (http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/grpinst.htm) Where to start

14. Where to start (cont’d) • Grants.gov (http://grants.gov/)Grants.gov is the federal government’s central database for all grant-making agencies. Contains valuable resources about how to apply to specific agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. • Social Sciences Research Council (http://www.ssrc.org) • Favorite professors and department advisors • Blog: http://ucsdgraduatefunding.wordpress.com

15. A few of the major players

16. Fulbright U.S. Student Program The IIE Fulbright U.S. Student Program equips American leaders with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly global environment by providing funding for open academic year of study or research abroad. Grantees undertake self-designed programs in disciplines ranging from social sciences, business, communications and performing arts to physical sciences, engineering and education. Basic Eligibility RequirementBe a U.S. citizen & have a Bachelor’s Degree *Please note that OGS administers this award for UC San Diego* [Institute of International Education (IIE)]

17. Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research The ED Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program provides opportunities for graduate students to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad for 6 to 12 months in modern foreign languages and area studies. Basic Eligibility RequirementsBe a graduate student and be a U.S. citizen or national or a permanent resident of the U.S. Abroad Fellowship Program [U.S. Department of Education]

18. Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program The Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program is designed to support graduate students of superior ability and financial need in doctoral or (terminal) MFA programs, as demonstrated by their achievements and promise. Awards are given in selected fields in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Basic Eligibility RequirementsIndividuals who are currently in their first year of graduate study or who will be entering a graduate program in 2006-2007. Eligibility is further limited to U.S. citizens or nationals, and permanent residents of the U.S., who demonstrate financial need. [U.S. Department of Education]

19. Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships Awarded in a national competition administered by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The awards will be made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Basic Eligibility Requirements U.S. citizens who are enrolled or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based program leading to a Ph.D. at a U.S. educational institution.

20. National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirchstein Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F31s and F32s) support training opportunities within one of several institutes within NIH. Applicants must have a sponsor, a sponsoring institution, and the time to pursue the research 40 hours each week. Graduate students apply individually and are awarded individually. Additional grants available to support minority candidates and/or candidates pursuing a dual Ph.D./MD (F30).

21. Social Science Research Council The SSRC sponsors fellowship and grant programs on a wide range of topics, and across many different career stages. Most support goes to pre-dissertation, dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowships, offered through annual competitions. Some programs support summer institutes and advanced research grants. Although most programs target the social sciences, many are also open to applicants from the humanities, the natural sciences, and relevant professional and practitioner communities.

22. Some UC Opportunities

23. UC Research Institutes Pacific Rim Research Program UC Institute for Research in the Arts UCIRA: http://www.ucira.ucsb.edu/ UC-MEXUS: http://ucmexus.ucr.edu/ UC Humanities Research Institute: http://www.uchri.org/ http://ucop.edu/research/

24. Pacific Rim Research Program Funding for research on all areas and nations that border the Pacific Ocean, including Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, and Pacific Latin America. priority on research that is new, specific to the region, and collaborative -- reaching across national boundaries and bridging academic disciplines. Proposals may come from any discipline and should address questions that contribute to an understanding of the Pacific Rim region as a whole.

25. UCIRA UC Institute for Research in the Arts (UCIRA) supports UC artists dedicated to innovative approaches to form and content in the performing, media, and visual arts The UCIRA provides grants to arts faculty and students for projects with the potential for significant artistic and cultural impact. We support projects that are innovative, experimental, and risk-taking in their approach to form and/or content.

26. UC-MEXUS UC-MEXUS is an academic research institute dedicated to encouraging, securing, and contributing to binational and Latino research and collaborative academic programs and exchanges. Dissertation grants and small grants available

27. UCHRI UC Humanities Research Institute addresses topics traditional to the humanities in disciplines such as literature, philosophy, classics, languages, and history, as well as the pressing human dimensions that arise in the social and natural sciences, technology, art, medicine, and the professions. Stresses interdisciplinary research.

28. Thinking ahead

29. DissertationWriting UCSD: Fletcher Jones and President’s Dissertation Year Fellowships Harry Frank Guggenheim Fellowships Woodrow Wilson and Charlotte Newcombe Fellowships Wenner-Gren Foundation Spencer Dissertation Fellowships CILAS Grants

30. Deadlines snapshot Agencies: Fulbright IIE DoE DDRA Ford DAAD Pacific Rim NIH Deadlines: September 11 & October 21 Late Oct. or early Nov. November 14 Early - mid November Early January April, August, December

31. Okay…now what?? • Do the research • Devise a plan of attack • Rally the troops • Submit your applications • Keep track of progress • Lather, rinse, repeat

32. Get those applications ready!

33. Basic application components Statement of purpose/proposal Two or three recommendation letters Resume or curriculum vitae Official transcripts (both grad and undergrad) Budget (After you’ve received the fellowship) Update on progress/interim report

34. Tips for success • Be concise and be clear. Don’t make the reviewer search for the “who, what, when, where, how and why.” • Know your limitations/pitfalls and be ready to address them. If you are the slightest bit unclear about an aspect of your research, be ready to address that. • Formatting may seem like something you can get around – it’s not.

35. Tips for success • Avoid jargon-heavy wording. Can someone outside of your field of expertise understand what you’re trying to do? • For travel grants: demonstrate evidence as to why your project needs to be carried out in the country you are proposing. There is a definite difference between NEED and WANT. The use of vague, general or broad terms in the proposal should be avoided. • Keep in mind that you’re writing a persuasive piece, you have to make the reader feel like they NEED to fund you.

36. Tools for success Dissertation writing: http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/DissPropWorkshop/ Grant writing tips: • HHMI"Making the Right Moves" Chapter 9: Getting Funded • ScienceCareers.org Grant Doctor articles • NIH Grant Writing Tip Sheets • Proposal Writing Websites collected by University of Wisconsin-Madison

37. Thank you!Best of luck on your search for funding! Linda Vong Graduate Fellowship Advisor 4th Floor, Student Services Center lkvong@ucsd.edu