Transcript Slide 1

NSF Graduate Research
Fellowship Program
Seminar 1
The Graduate School
August 2007
Why would I want an NSF GRF?
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Prestige & recognition
Career enhancement
Research independence
Generous stipend ($30,000 per
year) and tuition/fee payment
($10,500 per year) for 3 years;
travel allowance; use of national
laboratories
Supplements other funds you
receive (RA; GA)
Eligibility for WIE and Computer
and Information Science Awards
Honorable mention
$100 incentive award
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Topics we’ll cover today:
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Eligibility for the NSF GRF
Logistics
What it takes to win
NSF’s evaluation criteria
Tips on how to write a competitive
application
• Essay 1: Personal Statement
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Topics we’ll cover later
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Essay 2: Previous Research Experience
Essay 3: Proposed Plan of Research
Letters of recommendation
Fastlane
Viewpoints and suggestions from reviewers
Questions and comments
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Where did I get my information?
• NSF instructions and seminars
• My own experiences with proposals and
fellowship applications
• Other voices of experience: GRF reviewers
and successful applicants
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Eligibility
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen or national or permanent
resident alien status
• Fields: For graduate study in STEM fields supported
by NSF – see the Program Announcement
• Degree Requirements: Completion of no more than
12 months full time graduate study. This means you
can apply at 3 times : (1) senior year of college, (2)
before or during 1st year of graduate school, (3)
beginning of 2nd year of graduate school (if < 12
months of full time study)
You can apply more than once.
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Logistics
These are mandatory, not optional!
• You must use Fastlane, NSF’s on-line document submission
system.
• Observe application deadlines – they vary by program
• Don’t wait until the last minute – system could be clogged &
you won’t get in
• Follow all instructions – for example, Essays: 12-pt or larger
font; page limits; margin sizes.
• Submit all required documentation (transcripts, GRE scores, 3
letters of reference, etc.) by the specified deadlines.
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What about things like:
• My GPA – how much does it matter?
• Should I take the GRE subject test?
• What zip code should I use?
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What are the odds?
• About 10,000
applications expected in
November 2007
• About 1100 awards will
be made
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Hmmm…
1 in 10 odds.
Not bad!
You can’t win if
you don’t enter!
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What does it take to win?
• A great research idea
AND
• Well-expressed essays
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How to develop a great research
idea:
• The most welcome research ideas
are those that fill an existing void
and/or are hot topics in your
discipline – reviewers know!
• Your advisor can help.
• Do your own research and thinking
• Read journals in your field
• Talk to others in your field
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Priority Areas 2007
$2217.97 Million of $6,020 Million Requested Budget
2%
9%
41%
BE
Climate Change
26%
Cyberinfrastructure
HSD
Mathematical Sci
Nanotechnology
IT R&D
2%
3%
17%
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Well-Expressed Essays
• This seminar series
• Practice and allow plenty of time – nothing substitutes
for practice
• Your advisor
• Get and use feedback
• Use other resources: Clemson’s professional
development courses and writing center
• NSF publications
• There is a lot of grant proposal advice on-line.
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NSF’s Review Criteria
• Intellectual Merit
• Broader Impacts
These are the criteria that you must address as you
complete the three essay portions of the Application.
Your reference letters must also address these criteria.
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Intellectual Merit
(1) Demonstrated intellectual
ability and
(2) other accepted requisites for
scholarly scientific study such
as the ability to:
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Plan and conduct research
Work as a member of a team and
independently
Interpret & communicate research
findings
How will reviewers rate the Intellectual
Merit of your application?
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Your academic record
Your proposed plan of research (essay 3)
Previous research experience (essay 2)
Letters of recommendation
GRE (general and subject) scores
Appropriateness of Clemson for your field of graduate
study
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Broader Impacts
Contributions that:
• Integrate research & education at all
levels, infuse learning with the excitement
of discovery, assure that findings &
methods are communicated to a large
audience
• Encourage diversity, broaden
opportunities & enable participation in
science and research
• Enhance scientific & technical
understanding
• Benefit society
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How will reviewers rate the Broader
Impacts of your application?
• They will consider your background – your
personal, professional and education
experiences – that demonstrate your potential to
have a positive influence on those around you
(essays 1 and 2).
• How will your research (essay 3) make a
difference?
• See:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf
for examples of broader impacts activities.
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Your Three Essays
1. Personal Statement
2. Previous Research Experience
3. Proposed Plan of Research
I will explain how the Intellectual Merit and
Broader Impacts criteria can be addressed
in each of these essays.
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How to Write
Well-Expressed Essays
The Top 5:
“Do” and “Don’t Do”
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NSF Graduate Research
Fellowship Applications
Don’t Do:
The top 5
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Don’t wait until
the last
minute.
Break the essays down into smaller more
manageable tasks. Do them one by
one. Develop a work timetable. Plan
to have all essays done at least 2
weeks before the deadline.
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Do not fail to follow all instructions
exactly. Provide all information
requested and answer all questions
(hint: make lists).
If something is ambiguous, ask.
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Don’t lie. Don’t plagiarize.
Don’t promise something you can’t
deliver.
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Don’t ever say “it is
obvious” or “it is
apparent”.
Explain what needs
to be explained.
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It is
obvious
that…..
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Don’t give up!
You can’t win if you don’t enter!
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YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
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YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
Do: The top 5
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
YES!
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Do develop a
great research
idea that NSF
will want to
fund – you can’t
win without it!!!
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What is a great research idea?
• It fills an existing void and/or it is a hot topic within
your discipline.
• It is doable
– by you
– with available resources, and
– it fits within a dissertation timescale
• It is a good fit for you and you demonstrate clear
knowledge of the subject matter
• It will further social goals or have important policy
implications.
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Do ask for and use
available help (advisor,
mentor).
Do use constructive
criticism wisely.
Do surround yourself with
those who will be your
champions.
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That idiot
doesn’t
know
anything!!!!!
Now that’s
a good idea.
I’ll try
that.
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Do show your
passion.
You must sell
yourself and
your research.
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The number 2 rule!
Make the job of reading your essays
as easy and pleasant as possible
for the reviewers.
This
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Not This
As you write your essays, remember this:
A reviewer has about 7 minutes to
read and rate all three of your
essays!
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How Your Essays Look –
it does matter!
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Use headings to define major topics.
Make each page look inviting. Nothing is
more daunting than a solid page of text.
Don’t throw in everything but the kitchen sink
– keep to the important stuff – you only have
2 pages!
Use white space (even when space is at a
premium).
Use diagrams, tables, pictures, charts. But
keep them simple and understandable.
Use bullets and numbered lists.
Ask: Do I want to read this?
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Hypothesis
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
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1st
Qtr
3rd
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East
West
North
Grammar matters!
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No misspellings
Proper sentences
Proper grammar
Correct punctuation
A great reference tool, even today:
The Elements of Style
William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White
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Your writing style matters:
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Direct sentences are best.
The hypothesis to be researched is…..
It is proposed to….
Better:
My hypothesis is…..
My research will investigate….
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• Write in the first person (I, we) unless you are directed
otherwise.
• Avoid technical jargon when possible.
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NSF directs that proposals should be written, insofar as possible, for
“scientifically or technically literate lay audiences.”
• Avoid phrases like: It is obvious. It is apparent. As
previously stated.
• Take out every “very” in your narrative.
• Use short, easy-to-read sentences and paragraphs.
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It is OK to use the same words as are used in the
instructions. Reflect back the words that NSF uses,
such as “broader impacts”.
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Use references to support your proposal.
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Is your proposal internally consistent – no
contradictions and no ambiguities.
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Be yourself and show who you are.
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Be truthful and make sure your essays are your own
work.
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• Does what you have written make sense? Read
it aloud. Ask others to read it. Do they
understand it – every part of it? Do they enjoy
reading it?
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Be an
optimist!
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Essay 1: Personal Statement
2 pages
• Read the instructions carefully and provide the
information requested – make a list.
• Purpose of this essay: to demonstrate that
you have a passion for research, that you can
have a positive influence on others, and to
allow the reviewers to get to know you.
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Personal Statement, continued
• Describe personal, professional or education
experiences that have prepared you or contributed to
your desire to pursue graduate study in STEM
• Describe your competencies and evidence of
leadership potential.
• Discuss your career aspirations and how the NSF
GRF will help you achieve your goals.
• Include details about you that address the NSF review
criteria of Intellectual Merit & Broader Impacts.
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Suggestions
• This is usually the first essay a reviewer reads so you must
make a great first impression.
• The things you write about don’t have to relate to your field –
this is mostly concerned about how you make a difference.
• Let the reviewer get to know you. Make it personal and make
it entertaining.
• DO NOT begin your essay with: “Ever since I was a child.”.
Your challenge is to create a great new opening line.
• The key is organization – this essay must be focused and must
not ramble.
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Your Personal Statement: Broader Impacts
Integrating research and education:
– Activities that show how you connect science research and
education
– Research experiments used in academic activities that you’ve
worked with or taught
– Research in summer education programs with K-12 or other student
groups
– If you are a GTA or have other teaching experience, how do you
bring research experiences and results into your classroom?
– How do you involve your students in these activities – active rather
than passive learners?
– What are some of the results or feedback you’ve received?
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Advancing diversity in science:
– Impact is what counts – how do you make a difference?
– Experience tutoring or mentoring students from underrepresented
groups (African American, Hispanic, Native American, disabled)
– Taking science to underrepresented groups through work with
public or private K-12 schools, community groups, clubs, college
youth programs, summer work
– Advocacy work
– If you are from an underrepresented group, how have you been a
role model?
– Examples of results or feedback you’ve received
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Enhancing scientific and technical understanding:
– Articles you’ve written for general or technical audiences
– Presentations you’ve made for general (community groups, K-12,
clubs, other) or technical audiences
– Putting things into plain, understandable terms so that others can
understand them
– Demonstrate that you understand why this is important and how it
contributes to public support for science and leads to more students
who may want to pursue science careers
– Examples of results or feedback
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Benefits to society:
– Remember, the personal statement is intended to demonstrate how
you have made a difference. The things you’ve done to benefit
society do not have to relate to your field of study.
– Volunteer and community work – what it was and why it mattered
– Things you’ve done as a student (high school, undergraduate,
graduate) that have had public benefits
– Impacts that have resulted from your efforts
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Your Assignment
• Write a first, second, third – whatever it takes –
draft of your Personal Statement.
• Get some feedback: your advisor; me
([email protected]); grant writing editing
assistance in your college/department; your
friends.
• Revise, revise, revise.
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This Seminar Power Point is on the
Graduate School web page at:
http://www.grad.clemson.edu/fellowships.php
You need your user ID and password to access
the power point presentations.
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Next seminar
Wednesday, September 19
9 a.m. – Noon
6 p.m. – 9 p.m
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