Transcript A New Template for IMG Presentations

Tips for NSF GRF
Applicants
Matt Williams
Barry M. Goldwater Scholar (2004-05)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2005-08)
October 13, 2010
Evaluation Criteria
Intellectual Merit
• Demonstrate intellectual
ability
– Plan and conduct research
– Work in team or
independently
– Interpret and communicate
research
10/13/10
Broader Impacts
• Contributions that
– Integrate research and
education
– Make learning exciting
– Broadly communicate
findings
– Encourage diversity
(women, minorities, people
with disabilities)
– Benefit society
Matt Williams
([email protected])
2/9
Essay Tips: General
• Essays will make or break you
“As a weekend volunteer in
• Follow
essay prompt and target
our GatorTRAX program, I
evaluation
criteria
have had the
pleasure of
– teaching
Addressgrade-school
“Intellectual Merit” and
“Broaderbasic
Impacts”
in all
students
concepts
of essays!
science and
• Bemath,
memorable
engineering.”
• Express excitement and be positive
– Never “I hope”; always “I will ”
“I participated
indepth
the
didI not
goainlot
“… “…
uses
quite
to
UF
sponsoredactivities
on
outreach
demonstrate
GatorTRAX
program
or his personal
accomplishments
rather
“Itdesigned
is commendable
that
to reverse
perspectives
and
plans
than
team’s…”
you
are
thinking
about
the
decline ofthe
to translate
the
decliningresearch
graduate
graduating
engineers
technical
trends
inUnited
the US…”
in
thesocietal
States.
into
impact…”
I spent Saturday
mornings teaching …”
• Revise, revise, revise ...
– … then have others read it and revise
some more.
10/12/09
Matt Williams
([email protected])
From the
Reviewer’s
Mouth…
3/9
Essay Tips: Research Proposal
• Clearly “place” your
proposed research within
your field
– Novelty? Impact?
• Support
– Expertise, courses,
equipment
• Don’t be too technical
–
–
–
–
Best essays are accessible
Limit jargon and acronyms
Diagrams/pictures
Don’t let your professor
write it for you
10/12/09
“… the plan should address
explicitly
novelties
ofyield
the
“Focus on the
improving
crop
proposed
approach.”
and
development
“... isagricultural
familiar
with
available has
potential
impact.”
resourcesbroader
at proposed
graduate
school.”
“… consider the kinds of
facilities available and how they
might contribute to the success
of the project.”
Matt Williams
([email protected])
From the
Reviewer’s
Mouth…
4/9
Essay Tips: Personal Statement
• Open up
– What are you about?
– What makes you tick?
• Childhood wonderment
is tired
• Past outreach activities
“… I feel that I can
“I can feel the
successfully
serve as
a drone
mentoroftothe
young
aircraft
engine
“As
farbecause
back
as of
I my
women
pulsing
through
am
able to
experience
as a my
chest almost
as
remember,
I have
residential
advisor.
strongly
asyear,
myat I …”
been
intrigued
Sophomore
quickly
beating
the
thought
of
heart.”
flight.”
– Use to support future
plans/ideas
10/12/09
Matt Williams
([email protected])
5/9
Essay Tips: Prior Research
• Show technical competence
“… currently working on
• Highlight…
to befindings
published…”
“…paper
research
have
– Valuable contributions
– Achievements
– Leadership
– Communication of results
been presented to the
“… encourage you to have
sponsor; student
faculty or grad students
participated…”
mentor you on writing a
publication, even to a
student conference…”
From the
Reviewer’s
Mouth…
10/13/10
Matt Williams
([email protected])
6/9
Thanks for Listening!
10/12/09
Matt Williams
([email protected])
7/9
Evaluation Criteria
• Intellectual Merit
– Demonstrated intellectual ability and other
accepted requisites for scholarly scientific
study, such as the ability to
• Plan and conduct research
• Work as a member of a team as well as
independently
• Interpret and communicate research findings
10/12/09
Matt Williams
([email protected])
8/9
Evaluation Criteria (cont’d)
• Broader Impacts
– Contributions that
• Effectively integrate research and education at all
levels, infuse learning with the excitement of discovery,
and assure the findings and methods of research are
communicated in a broad context to a large audience
• Encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable
the participation of all citizens—women and men,
underrepresented minorities, and persons with
disabilities—in science and research
• Enhance scientific and technical understanding
• Benefit society
10/12/09
Matt Williams
([email protected])
9/9
Recommendation Letters
• Pick writers who have something interesting to say
about you…
– …or at least give them something to say.
• Prepare your letter writers
–
–
–
–
NSF Evaluation Criteria
Memory-jogging notes
Notes on effective letter writing
Resume
• Arrange a middleman for letter review
– Honors College? Library?
10/12/09
Matt Williams
([email protected])
10/9