Graduate School Newsblog

Tag: Fellowship

Two Michigan Tech Students Receive DOE Graduate Fellowships

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The US Department of Energy Office of Science has awarded graduate fellowships to two University students.

Colin Gurganus, a PhD student in atmospheric science, and Carley Kratz, who is earning her doctorate in forest science, are among the 150 fellows nationwide selected by the DOE from among 3,300 applicants. They will each receive $50,500 per year for up to three years to support tuition, living expenses, research materials and travel to conferences or to DOE scientific facilities.

“Competition for the DOE fellowships is intense; applicants are drawn from the nation’s finest universities,” said David Reed, vice president for research.  “The fact that two of our students were selected speaks both to the excellence of Michigan Tech’s research program and to the students’ outstanding qualifications, as well as their dedication and enthusiasm. I congratulate them both.”

The new DOE fellowship program is designed to strengthen the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting young students during the formative years of their research.

Visit the Michigan Tech News for the complete story.

Published in Tech Today.

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Fulbright English Teaching Assistanships – Special Opportunity

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The Fulbright Program for US students has recently announced that the current competition for the Fulbright US Student ETA Program to Brazil has a SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY for an additional 20 ETA Awards for grants beginning in March 2011. In addition, the number of ETA grants for Brazil for March 2012 has increased to 30.

Applicants who are available to begin a grant in March 2011 (e.g., spring 2011 graduating seniors will not be eligible) and wish to be considered for the Brazil ETA March 2011 awards must select this option from the dropdown menu in Question 3, Special Opportunity, in the Online Application.  Candidates recommended for the Brazil ETA March 2011 Award will be notified by mid-December 2010, with final grant offers made in January 2011.

Applicants who do not wish to be considered and those not recommended for the March 2011 Award will be considered in the current competition for the 30 Fulbright ETA Awards for grants beginning in March 2012.  Click here for more information on the Brazil ETA Program.

Click here for additional information about Fulbright programs.  For the most up-to-date information on all ETA opportunities, students can visit the Fulbright website ETA Table.

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Michigan Space Grant Consortium Funds 27 Projects at Michigan Tech

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The Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC), sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has awarded approximately $375,000 to nine Michigan universities with aerospace, engineering and space- science-related programs. Michigan Tech submitted 40 proposals, and 27 received funding totaling $105,000.

Of that, $20,000 supports undergraduate fellowships, $30,000 is for graduate research fellowships, $30,000 provides seed grants for faculty, and $25,000 is designated for outreach, including K-12 and teacher training programs.

Undergraduate students receiving $2,500 research fellowships include Andrew Ramsey (ME-EM), Phil Hohnstadt (ME-EM), Peter Solfest (Physics), Stephen Schweitzer (Biomedical Engineering), John Visser (ME-EM), Samantha Wojda (Biomedical Engineering), Patrick Bowen (MSE), William Grant (Chemical Engineering) and Ben Gerhardt (ME-EM).

Graduate students receiving $5,000 fellowships include Christopher Schwartz (Biological Sciences), Elisabet Head (Geology), Jarod Maggio (Environmental Engineering), Adam Abraham (ME-EM), Matthew Barron (Biomedical Engineering), Megan Killian (Biomedical Engineering) and Amalia Anderson (Physics).

Faculty members receiving $5,000 seed grants included Shiyan Hu, Jason Carter, Audrey Mayer, Qingli Dai, Ashok Goel and Claudio Mazzoleni. Faculty and staff members receiving $5,000 for outreach, precollege and teacher training programs include Douglas Oppliger, Shawn Oppliger, Joan Chadde and Kristi Isaacson.

One student receiving an undergraduate fellowship is Samantha Wojda. She plans to use her grant to study how hibernation affects the bones of marmots. Disuse osteoporosis is a common problem faced by astronauts in microgravity. Hibernating mammals are also at high risk for the condition, and many have developed adaptive ways of dealing with it. Wojda plans to study hibernating marmots to see how they are affected by or protected from disuse osteoporosis. What she learns may help researchers find ways to prevent human astronauts and others who are immobilized for long periods of time from developing the debilitating condition.

NASA implemented the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program in 1989 to provide funding for research, education and public outreach in space-related science and technology. The program has 52 university-based consortia in the United States and Puerto Rico. As part of the Michigan Consortium, Michigan Tech has been an active participant in MSGC for over fifteen years.

“The MSGC offers faculty, staff and especially students opportunities to develop ideas and submit competitive proposals,” said Chris Anderson, special assistant to the President for institutional diversity and the University’s MSGC liaison. “For undergraduates, the process of developing a proposal and then doing the research allows them to apply what they’re learning in the classroom, get hands-on experience and work closely with faculty.” She added, “The Consortium allows us to do more of this, as well provide graduate fellowships, seed grants and program support.”

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BOC Commits to Financial Aid and Approves Online MBA

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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

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Rail Transportation Program Announces Cross-Disciplinary Scholarship Opportunities

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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

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Nominations Open for Dean’s Fellowships

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Nominations are now open for the Graduate School Dean’s Fellowship.  Nominations are due no later than 4pm on March 1, 2010 in the Graduate School.

This fellowship assists with the recruitment of highly talented applicants to Michigan Tech’s PhD programs.

Please see our web page for full details on eligibility and the application procedure.  Questions may be directed to Debra Charlesworth.

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Reminder: Nominations for the DeVlieg Fellowship due February 4th

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The Graduate School is accepting nominations for the 2010 DeVlieg Foundation Graduate Fellowships.  Applications are due in the Graduate School no later than 4 pm on February 4, 2010.

This year, The DeVlieg Foundation will provide $3,000 for up to four doctoral students and $1,500 for two master’s students in support of research in engineering or a closely related field. Only US citizens are eligible for the fellowships, which may be used to supplement other fellowships or assistantships.  Complete details on eligibility and application process can be found on our web page.

Please contact Debra Charlesworth with any questions.

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California Science and Technology Policy Fellowships

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The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is pleased to
announce that applications are now being accepted for
the 2010-2011 *California Science and Technology Policy
Fellowships *based in Sacramento.

The S&T Policy Fellowship, a unique one-year professional development
opportunity, provides the selected fellows with hands-on experience
working with the California Legislature to incorporate science and
technology into public policy. Eligible applicants will be PhD-level
(or equivalent) scientists and engineers who have a sincere interest in
California current events, the state legislative process, and a strong
desire to learn how policy decisions are made.

Please forward this announcement to any individuals or group listservs
that may be interested in this exciting opportunity.

Deadline for submission of applications is February 12, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. PST.

More information available ( http://www.fellows.ccst.us).

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Nominations open for The DeVlieg Foundation Graduate Fellowships

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The Graduate School is accepting nominations for the 2010 DeVlieg Foundation Graduate Fellowships.  Applications are due in the Graduate School no later than 4 pm on February 4, 2010.

This year, The DeVlieg Foundation will provide $3,000 for up to four doctoral students and $1,500 for two master’s students in support of research in engineering or a closely related field. Only US citizens are eligible for the fellowships, which may be used to supplement other fellowships or assistantships.  Complete details on eligibility and review process can be found on our web page.

Each graduate program may nominate up to two doctoral students and one master’s student.

Nominees should provide the following information:

  • a completed application form
  • a curriculum vita
  • a brief description (no more than one page) of student’s research topic and intended use of the funds
  • a letter of support from advisor describing the merit of the candidate

Students will submit a completed application to their graduate program director.

Each graduate program may set their own internal deadline for review. Each graduate program will review their applicants, and may nominate up to two doctoral students and one master’s student. Graduate programs will deliver completed applications to the Graduate School in either paper or electronic format. If delivered as an electronic document, please e-mail a single PDF file to Debra Charlesworth.

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Muslim Graduate Students Invited to Apply for Islamic Society of North America Fellowship Program in Nonprofit Management

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Philanthropy News Digest

The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Society of North America Fellowship Program is designed to prepare Muslim graduate students to become effective and knowledgeable leaders of nonprofit organizations in North America.

Fellows will be given the opportunity to study nonprofit management, fundraising, capacity development, and other relevant subjects. These courses will be offered at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy or other similar institutions of higher education and centers of philanthropic studies.

Visit site for more information: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=272700027

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