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2014 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

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The 2014 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Solicitation has been posted.  Faculty play a critical role in encouraging our most competitive students to apply for fellowship opportunities like the NSF GRFP.  Michigan Tech’s Research Development Office has for the previous three years offered a seminar for all interested applicants.  Based on an internal screening process recommended by the NSF GRFP office, this year the seminar series will only be open to students identified by faculty as competitive applicants.

As you identify students, please keep in mind that competitive applicants are often students who have or will most likely be awarded university teaching or research assistantships. Students who have internal graduate support should still be encouraged to apply.  While fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $32,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), which in turn frees up internal funding for other graduate students, the fellowship is more about prestige.  As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers.  The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.  Likewise, students who receive the GRFP call attention to the high-quality graduate education and research ongoing at Michigan Tech.

Names and emails of faculty-identified students should be emailed to Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) by Wednesday, September 11th.

Eligibility for the GRFP:

  • be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident
  • be planning to pursue a research-focused Master’s or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field
  • be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution by Fall 2014
  • have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent) as of August 1, 2013.

Moreover, competitive students should have:

  • a strong academic record of 3.5 GPA or higher
  • the ability to obtain 3 exceptional reference letters– due November 14th
  • previous professional (e.g., internship/enterprise), research (e.g., SURF),  and educational outreach (e.g., K-12, international, community) experiences
  • future research, professional and outreach goals that will potentially benefit society

Michigan Tech’s Research Development Office will formally invite faculty-identified students to participate in a NSF GRFP seminar series.  This eight-week series will help applicants develop submission material (Personal Statement, Relevant Background and Future Goals and Graduate Research Statement) and request letters of reference in a timely and helpful manner.  Speakers include experienced NSF GRFP reviewers and panel chairs, Dr. Pushpathala Murthy who is currently serving as program officer for the NSF GRFP, and previous NSF fellows.

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Student Veterans Honored at Midyear Commencement

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For the first time at Michigan Tech, graduating student veterans will be honored at commencement with red, white and blue cords in recognition of their service to the country.

Three graduates will wear the cords this fall and be recognized by President Glenn Mroz during commencement on Saturday, Dec. 10, in the SDC Wood Gym. The students are:

  • Mike Geiersbach of Wheeler (Marine Corps/Military Police), who served more than four years and is graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.
  • Sue Larson of Waupaca, Wisc. (Air Force), who served six years and is receiving an MS in Environmental Engineering Science.
  • Matt Smith of Hancock (Air Force/Security Forces), who served two years and is receiving a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology.

Larson, a graduate student, said: “I think it’s great that Michigan Tech is so supportive of the student veteran population and has chosen to distinguish us in this way. It will be an honor to be among the first veterans to wear the new red, white and blue cords.”

The presentation of the cords reflects the growing number of activities and services on campus that focus on students who are veterans or children of veterans. This initiative is being coordinated by Veterans’ Services/Registrar’s Office and the Vice President for Student Affairs Office.

Submitted by Kathy Pintar, veteran school certifying official, registrar’s office
Published in Tech Today

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Workshops on Using an Individual Development Plan (IDP)

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The Graduate School is pleased to have Dr. Joerg Schlatterer and Dr. Corrie Kuniyoski visit our campus on November 7, 2018 to conduct two workshops on using Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to assist in career development for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Please register online so that we can plan for your attendance.

Workshop for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Planning for Your Career using an IDP
10-11:30am, MUB Alumni Lounge

Join the Michigan Tech Graduate School and the American Chemical Society (ACS) for a 1.5h interactive career planning workshop geared towards graduate students and postdocs. Workshop participants will learn about the four critical components of career development and planning, how they can relate to their individual situation, and finding their career “sweet spot”. Participants will be introduced to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) concept and how IDPs can help set clear goals toward a desired career path. As an example for online IDPs, the ACS tool ChemIDPTM(ChemIDP.org) will be introduced.

Workshop for Advisors

Individual Development Plan Assisted Mentoring
3-4pm, MUB Alumni Lounge

Adequate preparation of the future workforce is essential for the survival of the U.S. as an economic and innovative powerhouse in the world. Numerous reports from organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) have highlighted the importance of mentoring for the successful navigation through college, graduate school, or postdoctoral training and towards securing satisfying jobs. Federal funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation strongly recommend the use of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and postdoctoral mentoring plans for trainees, respectively.

This 1 hour interactive workshop will introduce the IDP process as a mentoring tool and share related resources available to advisors. The IDP process consists of four components: 1) self-assessment, 2) career exploration, 3) skill strengthening, and 4) goal setting. ChemIDPTM, the IDP tool and workshop developed by the ACS for trainees in the chemical sciences, will serve as an example of how use of IDPs has the potential to prepare faculty and trainees for efficient mentor-mentee discussions.

Speaker Biographies

Joerg Schlatterer, PhD

Joerg Schlatterer leads the ACS Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars Office. Dr. Schlatterer studied chemistry in Berlin and received his PhD in Heidelberg (Germany) in 2004. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida before moving on to become a research associate and subsequently a faculty member in biochemistry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Schlatterer published more than 16 peer-reviewed articles and filed 4 patents and patent applications. At Einstein Dr. Schlatterer also co-created and directed the Career & Professional Development Program for Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Researchers. Dr. Schlatterer worked as Assistant Dean of Faculty Professional Development at Columbia University Medical Center before joining the National Science Foundation in summer 2014 as a National Science Foundation Program Director for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Joerg joined the American Chemical Society to lead the Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars Office in March 2017.

Corrie Kuniyoshi, PhD

Corrie Kuniyoshi is a Senior Program Manager in the ACS Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholars Office in the Learning and Career Development Department of the ACS. She received her Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, examining oxidation pathways of guanine and cycloaddition reactions of fullerenes. Dr. Kuniyoshi’s work and interests focus on the intersection of STEM graduate career development with innovative technology. Dr. Kuniyoshi has gained over 10 years of work experience, organizing career workshops, symposia, and events for graduates and postdocs searching for academic jobs and acting as managing editor for a newsletter and executive editor of a magazine focused on graduate education. For the last 4 years her work has focused exclusively on strategic development and delivery of career planning resources in the creation of technology tools, programs, and articles focused on the myriad career options available to scientists with M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Two of the projects she is most proud of include co-leading the development and implementation of ACS’s ChemIDPTM (ChemIDP.org), a comprehensive interactive individual development plan platform available (free) online, and developing the Graduate Postdoctoral Chemist Magazine (www.acs.org/gradchemist). As a Myers-Briggs certified facilitator (and INTJ) she greatly enjoys facilitating personality assessment workshops and discovering more about how personality plays a role in career choices and the workplace environment.

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AAUW 2011-2012 American Fellowship and Grant Applications

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2011-2012 Academic Year
Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship: $30,000
Dissertation Fellowship: $20,000
Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grant: $6,000
Applications available: Aug. 1–Nov. 15, 2010
Application deadline*: Nov. 15, 2010
Fellowship year: July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012

* All supporting documents must also be received by this date. If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, supporting documents must be received the next business day.

American Fellowships support women doctoral candidates completing dissertations or scholars seeking funds for postdoctoral research leave from accredited institutions. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence, the quality and originality of project design, and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.

Candidates may apply for only one of the awards described below. Former recipients of these awards are not eligible to apply for additional American Fellowships or publication grants.

Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowships offer one-year of support for women in tenure-track faculty positions in support of their earning tenure and further promotions. Candidates must have earned a doctoral degree by Nov. 15, 2010. Postdoctoral fellowships are available in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Limited additional funds may be available when matched by the fellow’s institution.
Apply now for a Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship »

Dissertation Fellowships are available to women who will complete their dissertation writing between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Degree conferral must be between April 1 and September 15, 2012. To qualify, applicants must have completed all course work, passed all required preliminary examinations, and received approval for their research proposal or plan by Nov. 15,2010. Students holding any fellowship for writing a dissertation in the year prior to the AAUW fellowship year are not eligible. Open to applicants in all fields of study. Scholars engaged in science, technology, engineering and math and also researching gender issues are especially encouraged to apply.
Apply now for a Dissertation Fellowship »

Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grants fund women college and university faculty and independent researchers to prepare research for publication. The grants are intended for tenure-track, part-time, or temporary faculty or new or established scholars and researchers at universities. Time must be available for eight consecutive weeks of final writing, editing, and responding to issues raised in critical reviews. Funds cannot be used for undertaking research. Applicants must have received their doctorates by the application deadline. Scholars with strong publishing records should seek other funding.
Apply now for a Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grant »

Questions about applications must be directed to the Iowa City office. Please do not contact the AAUW office in Washington, D.C., or local branches for application information. Please call 319/337-1716 ext. 60, e-mail aauw@act.org, or write to the customer service center at

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DOE’s Science Graduate Student Research Program Accepting Applicants

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The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is currently accepting applications for its 2014 solicitation. The SCGSR program provides the opportunity for U.S. graduate students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE national laboratory in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist for a period of three to twelve consecutive months with the goal of preparing graduate students for scientific and technical careers.

The program is now open to current Ph.D. students in qualified graduate programs at accredited U.S. academic institutions. The supplemental award provides for additional costs of living and travel expenses directly associated with the SCGSR research project during the award period. Applications are due 5:00pm EDT on Wednesday, September 24 and the Office of Science expects to issue approximately 100 awards for project periods anytime between January and September 2015.  ​
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Embedding fonts in Microsoft Word

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Embedding fonts in a dissertation or thesis is a requirement for ProQuest and the Graduate School.  We recommend using Adobe Acrobat to embed fonts for files created in Microsoft Word.  If you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat, this alternative method will allow you to embed fonts directly from Microsoft Word.

Step 1. Click the file tab at the top of the page and select the “Options” menu from the bottom left.

Screen shot showing how to navigate to Word Options.
Screen shot showing how to navigate to Word Options.
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Microsoft Research: Limited Submission

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Microsoft Research offers two-year fellowships to outstanding graduate students from Latin American universities who are studying computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering.

  • The fellowship recipient award will cover 100 percent of the tuition and fees.
  • A stipend is provided to cover living expenses while in school (US$15,000 per year).
  • A conference and travel allowance is provided for recipients to attend professional conferences or seminars (US$5,000 per year).
  • All recipients will be offered the opportunity to complete one salaried internship over the duration of the year following the award.
  • Fellowships are awarded to recipients for two academic years only and not available for extension.


Internship Details

For complete internship details, please see Redmond Lab Internship Program.

Note: All Latin America Internship candidates should apply by using our online application tool.


Required Application Information

  • The deadline for applications for the current year is 12 October 2010.
    • Applications must include: Applicant’s curriculum vitae, and three (3) letters of reference from established researchers familiar with the applicant’s research. Of these letters, one (1) letter of recommendation should come from the student’s advisor and the other two (2) letters should come from within the nominating institution. In the case where the student is applying for a Fellowship, it is additionally required the applicant’s thesis proposal be confirmed and approved by the Ph.D. program authorities.
    • Applications must be submitted in English only.
    • Applications must be submitted online in any of the following formats: Microsoft Office Word document, text-only file, PDF. All application materials must be submitted by the student, but we will give preference to students who are nominated by their universities.
    • Applications will be accepted only when submitted via the application tool. Applications submitted via email will not be considered.
    • Applications submitted to Microsoft will not be returned. Microsoft cannot assume responsibility for the confidentiality of information in submitted applications. Therefore, applications should not contain information that is confidential, restricted, or sensitive. Microsoft reserves the right to make public information from applications that receive awards, except those portions containing budgetary or personally identifiable information.
    • Incomplete applications cannot be considered, and notification of incompleteness will not be made. Late applications will not be accepted.
    • Due to the volume of submissions, Microsoft Research cannot provide individual feedback on applications that do not receive fellowship awards.


Application Process

  • Any student who is enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program at a credentialed university in the Latin American region may apply via the application tool.
  • Preference will be given to students who are nominated by their universities and completing their second or third year in a Ph.D. program.
  • An approved thesis proposal is required to qualify for application for the Fellowship Program.
  • A maximum of three (3) applicants per department for a total of nine (9) applicants per university will be tracked.

For more information please visit: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/collaboration/global/latam/latam-awards.aspx

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Fall Professional Development Series

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Poster for fall seminar series.
The Graduate School is pleased to announce its fall professional development series.  For our PhD students considering a career in academia, we are offering two seminars that will help them prepare to be competitive applicants for faculty positions:

  • November 7 | Introduction to Sponsored Programs
    • Learn how a university’s sponsored programs office can help you conduct sponsored research.
  • December 10 | Teaching Portfolios: Building Today for Your Career Tomorrow
    • Learn what needs to be in your portfolio, which technologies work best, and how to start building
      this important asset now.

Students who are looking for ways to balance their work with healthy activities for them and their families, or for guidance on the thesis and dissertation submission process will find the other seminars in our series helpful:

  • October 3 | Submitting your Thesis or Dissertation
    • Learn current procedures for formatting and submission.
  • October 24 | CANCELLED | Michigan Tech Community Programs
    • Discover new low-impact activities or high-impact recreational opportunities for you or your family.
    • Take advantage of great facilities—pool, fitness center, ice arena, and dance room.

Seating is limited.  Register online to reserve your seat and receive an e-mail confirmation of the location.

Please contact Dr. Debra Charlesworth with any questions about the seminar series.

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