Category: Funding Opportunities

Opportunities for funding graduate education.

Students Have Opportunity for Summer Internships

Alert your students about the Michigan Initiative on Student NASA Exploration Research (MISNER), a program of paid internships offered by the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC).

MISNER will give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work over the summer of 2010 in Michigan industries connected with the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.

Encourage students interested in NASA exploration and research to apply.

For more information, contact Jim Turnquist, director of Career Services, at 487-2313 or at jaturnqu@mtu.edu .

For instructions and application, visit MISNER .

Published in Tech Today.

BOC Commits to Financial Aid and Approves Online MBA

The Board of Control has announced a significant increase in financial aid for students struggling to afford a college education.

In special remarks delivered at the Board’s regular meeting today, Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Steve Hicks said that Michigan Tech will increase financial aid by approximately 10 percent for next school year. Financial aid totals $38 million, 20 percent of the University’s budget. The board has asked President Glenn Mroz and his administrative team to include this increase in the fiscal year 2010–11 budget.

“The board members recognize the dramatic impact of the recent economic downturn on the ability of students and their families to pay for higher education,” Hicks said. “We empathize with them and decided to make an early commitment for next school year to ensure that students who seek a truly exceptional educational experience at Michigan Tech have that opportunity.”

Nationally, rising tuition costs and the economic recession have combined to force students to lower their educational sights and seek out lower-priced options. This is especially true in Michigan, where this year the state’s retraction of the Michigan Promise Grant left many students lacking sufficient support. Michigan Tech’s response was to pick up that commitment from the state and fund the Promise grants from its own coffers for the first semester.

Hicks emphasized the University’s resolve to help students. “We are making our own promise to prospective and current students who face rising financial pressure. Providing access to a Michigan Tech education at an affordable price is a top priority, and we are putting our dollars behind the promise. The State of Michigan needs our kind of graduates, proficient in science, engineering, and technology, to propel it to a stronger economic future.”

President Mroz affirmed that message. “People are our priority. We want every student who values what Michigan Tech offers to come here. Today the Board has sent a message that we will go out of our way to make it financially possible.”

The Board of also approved a program price of $38,000 for a new, two-year online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. It will make Michigan Tech’s MBA curriculum and faculty available to distance learners worldwide, starting with the fall 2010 semester.

Like the campus MBA program, the new online program will focus on innovation and technology management.

“Faculty, in our MBA programs on campus and online, understand scientists, engineers and others who work in similar areas,” said Ruth Archer, director of graduate business programs at the School of Business and Economics (SBE). “We want to help them gain a competitive edge and advance their careers.”

MBA online students will attend two extended weekends on campus and one weeklong international residency where they will learn about the development of technology-related businesses in another culture. The international residency will give students a global perspective on innovation and technology management.

“During the on-campus residencies,” said SBE Dean Darrell Radson, “students will develop a strategic perspective and reinforce collaboration and communication skills while interacting with their cohort and faculty members.” In a cohort program, students move through all classes and phases of the program together as a group, from beginning to graduation.

In other business, the Board

  • Voted to award the Melvin Calvin Medal of Distinction to Raymond L. Smith, sixth president of Michigan Tech. Smith, for whom the ME-EM building is named, is recognized as one of the most authoritative authors and lecturers on minerals and metals. The Melvin Calvin Medal is the highest honor that the University bestows on individuals who have exhibited truly distinguished professional and personal accomplishment and have been associated with Michigan Tech.
  • Approved residence hall and apartment room-and-board rates for the 2010-11 academic year, including increases ranging from 4.10 to 4.33 percent for the residence halls and 4.62 to 7.95 percent for Daniell Heights apartments. A single room in the new residential apartment building will cost $8,400 for the year, with a 50-meal per semester food plan.
  • Learned that the Graduate School is piloting a National Service Graduate Fellowship Program to better meet the needs of students who have provided significant service to the US. Active military personnel, honorably discharged veterans, military retirees, and Peace Corps and Americorps volunteers who have successfully completed their service are eligible for the fellowship.

Published in Tech Today

Argonne National Laboratory Thesis-Parts Appointments

Argonne National Laboratory, one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s major research centers, offers opportunities for qualified graduate students to carry on their master’s or doctoral thesis research at the laboratory. Thesis Parts Appointments are for students who wish to perform only a portion of their dissertation research or to satisfy practicum requirements at Argonne. The work a student proposes must be related to work in progress at the laboratory and must require resources not available on campus.

For more information visit: http://www.dep.anl.gov/p_graduate/thesispa.htm

Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)

The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is designed by the NIST Boulder Laboratories to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students. Fellowships are awarded to assure continued growth and progress of science and engineering in the United States.

For additional information about research areas at NIST go to www.boulder.nist.gov.
All PREP applicants must be full-time students, who are U.S. citizens (or hold permanent residence visas) and have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

Deadline: May 28, 2010

Contact Information:

For questions, please contact
Rosemary O’Connor
Office of the Director
NIST
325 Broadway, MC 104.01
Boulder, CO 80305-3328
(303) 497-5238
roconnor@boulder.nist.gov

Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid Research Program

The Sigma Xi Grants-in Aid of research (GIAR) program has been providing undergraduate and graduate students with valuable educational experiences for more than 80 years. By encouraging close working relationships between students and faculty, the program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning.

The program awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. Designated funds from the National Academy of Sciences allow for grants of up to $5,000 for astronomy research and $2,500 for vision related research.

Students use the funding to pay for travel expenses to and from a research site, or for purchase of non-standard laboratory equipment necessary to complete a specific research project.

While membership in Sigma Xi is not a requirement for applying for funding from the Grants-in-Aid of Research program, approximately 75% of funds are restricted for use by dues paying student members of Sigma Xi or students whose project advisor is a dues paying member of Sigma Xi. Students from any country are eligible to receive funding.

For more information visit:  http://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/giar/index.shtml

Hydro Fellowship Program

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a 3-year, $3 million grant to the Hydro Research Foundation.  Approximately 25 fellowships will be awarded  as early as June 2010 and will continue for two academic years.

Fellowship includes: Up to $26,000 living stipend, $2,000 annual honorarium for professor supervising fellow’s work, up to $16,900 allowance for tuition & university-sponsored health insurance, and attendance at 3 Hydro Fellows Roundtables.

Eligibility: Students who are American citizens and who will complete their Master’s by June 2012 or their Doctorate degree by June 2013 are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted from students who will be conducting research directly related to hydropower in the fields of engineering, environmental and biologic science, or regulatory/economics.

Details available at www.hydrofoundation.org

If interested in applying please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu).

Rail Transportation Program Announces Cross-Disciplinary Scholarship Opportunities

Over $10,000 in designated railroad scholarships are available for graduate or undergraduate students in any discipline with an interest in railroad transportation. Interested students are encourage to apply for AREMA, CSX Transportation and UP Railroad scholarships.

CSX Transportation offers two $1,000 Diversity Scholarships open to all undergraduate students in any discipline with an interest in railroad transportation. Preference will be given to females and minorities involved in rail activities.

UP Railroad has three scholarships available to students (graduate or undergraduate) in any discipline with an interest in rail transportation. Each scholarship is worth $2,000.

American Railway and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) has two $1,000 scholarships available for Rail Engineering and Activities Club (REAC) members. One scholarship will be available to an officer of REAC and another awarded to a student involved with the club. All applications to AREMA are eligible for over $37,000 of other AREMA scholarships. In the past, Michigan Tech students have received numerous AREMA scholarships.

CSX and UP applications must be received by Bill Sproule by Friday, March 5. AREMA scholarships must be received by AREMA by Friday, March 12. Only one AREMA application is necessary for all available AREMA scholarships.

Guidelines and applications
can be downloaded online.

Published in Tech Today

Dow Chemical Hong Kong – Michigan Scholarship Program 2010-2011

U.S. doctoral students or recent Ph.Ds from a Michigan university who are studying in the
following areas Environment, Energy, Sustainability, Education,
Transnational Relations, Science and Technology and policy issues
related to these topics.  are eligible for the Dow Chemical Hong Kong- Michigan Scholarship Program.

The award is for the 2010-2011 academic year
to engage in dissertation research while affiliated with Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology.

Only U.S. citizens and permanentresidents (Green Card holders) are eligible.

The scholarship is modeled along the lines of a Fulbright Grant in Hong
Kong as it provides approximately $17K stipend, $5K travel, and $13K
living allowance, plus health insurance.  The total value is over
US$35,000.

For more information about the scholarship opportunity please visit:  Dow Chemical Hong Kong Program Information

If you are interested in applying, please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu)

Hearst Foundations Funding Priorities

The Hearst Foundations

Education: The Hearst Foundations fund exemplary institutions of higher education dedicated to preparing students to succeed in a global society. Preference is given to undergraduate education at medium size private, liberal arts colleges and universities. In addition, a limited number of grants may also be awarded to support K-12 programs and graduate level study. Our funding interests are focused on endowed scholarships, as well as compelling programmatic and capital initiatives that advance an institution’s ability to provide quality education.

Culture: The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer innovative programs in the arts and sciences, the majority of which enable access for young people, thereby enriching their lives. Our focus includes education initiatives for students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. In addition, the Foundations support programs that nurture artistic development.

If interested, please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) for more information.