External Fellowships

A Holistic Approach to Fellowships

On identifying likely funding opportunities

Consider your strengths. Look for funding opportunities that emphasize your abilities.
- Types of “Strengths” in order of importance when picking funding applications:
  - Applicable Research
  - Relevant Previous Research and/or Work Experience
  - Outreach / Service Activities
Consider your application profile. If you do not fit what the fellowship is calling for, consider spending your time on another application.
Get creative. Your “weaknesses” might very well be the reason reviewers like you!
Look for these common restrictions before you apply; are you even eligible?
- United States citizenship
- Age and years of graduate education
- Service requirements (e.g. the SMART fellowship)
- Restrictions on holding multiple fellowships
Time Commitment; expect multiple fellowship applications to take the time of a full course – if you are applying to NSF & FINESST & others this will add up!
- Do you have the time to apply or will you only half complete the application?

On writing applications

Answer the following questions:
- How am I going make sure I communicate that I am qualified?
- How will I emphasize that I am unique?
- How will I make sure I have applicable and justified research?
  - Consider looking up relevant policy documents, National Science Board for NSF, NCA and IPCC reports for climate science, NASA Strategic Plans for FINESST.
Make an outline of your essays AND a timeline for their completion (I need section X written by date Y)
Be creative. If you have examples of previous applicants' essays, write yours FIRST. Do not use language your advisors send you verbatim. Reviewers know.
Find someone to review your work, and get their feedback WELL before it’s due – 3 weeks is recommended for MAJOR rewrites. For many fellowships it’s better to have a good editor than someone in the field.

Relevant Examples

Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST)

Funds 3 consecutive years of graduate education and includes travel money.
Deadline: ~January, the internal UM deadline is sooner, plan on having it completed before Winter break. Coordinate with your advisor and a department admin to find the appropriate due dates.
Profile of awardees: High-ish GPA, previous research experience. NASA experience. Well-thought-out research plan.
Restrictions: Few. Must be a graduate student in good academic standing. International students CAN apply and they do win.
Required Materials:
- Proposal (6 pages)
  - The CLASP student writing seminar course will help you prepare a research statement.
- Personal Statement
- Mentor/Mentee Plan
- Internal UM forms & processing (yes this takes time)
- Data Management Plan
- CV / Advisor's CV
What you should aim to show in your essays:
- How is my research logical, well planned out, supported, and related to NASA’s missions (don’t be afraid to quote policy documents). Make sure it is your original work and ideas driving this project, it will come across.
Other:
- You apply to a NASA division (Astrophysics, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, Earth Science)
- This is a grant. You apply THROUGH UM, and if awarded, your award is processed as a grant – this makes a difference in how you write the fellowship. It’s not so much about you as your research.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)

Funds 3-5 non-consecutive years of graduate education.
Deadline: ~October, rolling based on field and varies each year; letters of recommendation are due AFTER your application.
Profile of awardees: High-ish GPAs, many service commitments, numerous previous research experiences. Fit within NSF’s categories of Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merits as a person.
Restrictions: Must be US Citizen, can apply as an undergraduate in their final year, and only ONCE as a graduate student (first or second year only)
Required Materials:
- Personal Statement (3 pages)
- Research Statement (2 pages)
- Letters of Recommendation (5 letters, 3 of which are submitted)
- Online application
- Transcript
What you should aim to show in your essays: How you as a person, will change the field of science through broader impacts and intellectual merit as a person, and through your research.
NSF Jargon / Evaluation Criteria:
- Broader Impacts: The impacts of your work, and life, to the community.
  - Ex: For research
    - space weather impacts / societal benefits
    - climate science risks, how climate affects communities etc
  - Ex: For personal: Volunteering activities / leadership roles, not how you yourself are diverse unless it’s related to your volunteer activities and personal journey in graduate school
- Intellectual Merit:
  - Ex: how is your research novel, interesting, justified etc.

Other opportunities:

NDSEG, SMART Fellowships and related scholarships (US Department of Defense)
NASA Space Technology Fellowships (NSTRF) (engineering focused)
Hertz Graduate Fellowship Award (very competitive)
Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) (computing focused, very competitive)
Newkirk Fellowship (solar physics focused, includes 9 months of remote study at HAO)
Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) Graduate Fellowship Program
[please add to this list!]

Sample Timeline

Step One

~3-4 months before the application is due

Identify your fellowship opportunities.

Which ones are you eligible for and have a good chance of winning?
Do you fit the profile of their ideal applicant? If not, is there a way you can highlight your unique profile?
Especially determine WHY you are applying to fellowship so you can demonstrate need in your application.

Step Two

~3-4 months before the application is due

Plan out your schedule.

When will your drafts be done?
Do you have time with your current courses to do this? If not what will you sacrifice?
When will you submit your application? NOT the night before.

Step Three

~3-4 months before the application is due

Start researching your subject and draft an outline for your essays. Discuss your plans with your advisor and mentors.

Step Four

~2-3 months before the application is due

Write, write, write. Iterate on at least two final drafts before editing with others.

Step Five

~4 weeks before the application is due

Finalize drafts, review with your advisor and other non-experts to determine if your project makes sense. Ask your letter writers if they would be willing to write a letter for you. Give them a reason that you are applying to fellowships.

Step Six

~2-3 weeks before the application is due

Deliver the penultimate drafts to your letter writers, along with your CV, and thank them for their time. Give them a deadline for edits.

Step Seven

~3-5 days before the application is due

Turn in the application!

This page is based on Abigail Azari's Fellowship Briefer.

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