FUNDING GRADUATE SCHOOL

Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D.Asst. PD, MBRS-RISE &MARC U*STARUniv. Texas at San Antonio

02/18/2011

ASSUMPTION OF RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMS:YOU ARE GOING ALL THE WAY TO A DOCTORATE!

Graduate School?

UTSA – M.S. Program World

Academic programs after Bachelor’s work Often default for Ph.D.

Today: Ph.D. Funding

What is a Doctorate (Ph.D.)? Latin: Philosophiae Doctor A doctorate or doctoral degree is

An academic degree of the highest level. Recognition of the candidate as an equal by the

university or Graduate School faculty under which he or she studied.

Usually research doctorates are awarded in recognition of academic research Is of a publishable standard (even if not actually

published) Represents at least a modest contribution to human

knowledge Is usually assessed by submission and defense of a

doctoral thesis or dissertation, though in some cases a coherent body of published literature can be accepted instead.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_school

Training… All of the careers requiring a Doctorate

come out of basic training in an academic institution University “Graduate Schools” at Medical, Dental, Vet

Schools

Standard Ph.D. Training Path

Bachelor’sDegree.

Grad. path Depends on Field

M.S. Degree

Post BaccResearch

DoctoralStudies

Academic Postdoc

Industry Postdoc

Government Postdoc

ContinueEducation

Academics

Government

Industry

Other

1-2 Yrs

Engineering/Humanities

etc

Work

3 - 6 Yrs

4 - 7 Yrs “Hard” Sciences

So…You’ve Applied for doctoral Training…

What does it Cost &

Who is Going to Pay for it?

Financial Costs for PhD Training

Generally Full Time Student Usually no outside job Sometimes Company will PAY for Ph.D.

Tuition/Fees Living Expenses – Food, housing, etc. Books, Thesis and Degree Costs, etc Health Insurance Travel to Conferences

Ph.D. Program and Money…

Already have HUGE Undergraduate Loans

Medical/Professional School Costs High….

For Ph.D.? Usually someone else pays or keeps you

“employed” Money comes from all over!

Tuition/Fees Cost of classes and university amenities Someone always has to pay the tuition

Does not merely “disappear” if funded by Univ.

Usually Dept. will keep paying Must consider tuition/fees, Health Ins,

Travel if you obtain alternative funding

Travel May learn technique elsewhere Presenting at conferences very

important to development Submit abstracts (small publication) Make Oral/Poster Presentations Network with others in field Find jobs

Stipends Amount you are given to live upon 20K – 30K level Amount depends on…

School Cost of Living/Location Degree Competitive recruitment

High Stipend may mean you pay Tuition….

Health Insurance Don’t believe that you will always be

healthy… HBC grad student Cervical pre-cancerous lesions Appendicitis

Don’t Worry…. Grad students seldom are without

funding if.. Are progressing (< 7th year) Doing “solid” work Have a good reputation

Generally, if you’re in and prior to your 7th year, you will be funded.

Most Fields… Accept position by “Financial Aid

deadline” University matches you with $$ Money available for

URM/Disadvantaged students Go about your business (for as long as $$ is promised) Then, get new source… Some Fields/Univs…you seek $$

You

University

StipendScholarshipsFellowships

TAship

Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.

This will most likely be your graduate experience…

Who Pays for All of This? You? Your Mentor (when mentors have

grants…) The Program? The University? The State? The U.S. Government? Private Organizations? Outside Jobs?

All of These, depending on School, Field and Timing…

Financial Aid from School Stipend (usually for first few years) Fellowships/Scholarships

Money awarded to student Reward grades (entice top tier students) Support someone with certain background Usually no service reqd.

Research assistantships/associate-ships Must perform research

Teaching assistantships Must teach (~1 class/sem or yr)

Special programs/funds MBRS-RISE or training grant MCNAIR – Graduate Scholars

Clarifying Fellowship…

Fellowship may refer to: A merit-based scholarship, or form of

academic financial aid An academic position: see fellow Fellowship (medicine), a period of medical

training after a residency

Where does the money come from?

You

University

College/Grad School

Department/Program

Alumni

Investments

ResearchGrants

Students’Tuition/Fees

Philanthropy/ Private

Endowments/Interest

State

Govt Programs

StipendScholarshipsFellowships

TAship

Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.

Services

Yale University Income…

http://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W098_Fin_Inc_bySrce.pdf

Financial Aid Through Research Advisor

Research Assistantships Work on own research (Same as

mentor’s) Work on Mentor’s research (In addition

to own) May come from Grant May come from Univ

You

University

Department/Program

Alumni

Investments

ResearchGrants

Students’Tuition/Fees

Philanthropy/Private

Endowments/Interest

State

Govt Programs

Mentor

ResearchGrants

StipendScholarshipsFellowships

TAship

Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.

Services

College/Grad School

Obtaining Your Own Funding Private programs/funds State Federal Jobs

Complementary to degree Get Ph.D. WHILE on the job

Loans Types of Funding

Pre-doctoral Fellowships, Scholarships First 3-4 years

Dissertation Scholarships/fellowships Last 1-2 years

You

University

Department/Program

Alumni

Investments

ResearchGrants

Students’Tuition/Fees

Philanthropy/Private

Endowments/Interest

State

Govt Programs

Mentor

ResearchGrants

StipendScholarshipsFellowships

TAship

Tuition/Fees/Health Ins.

Loans

Jobs

Grants/FellowshipsScholarships

Services

College/Grad School

Evolution of Dr. T’s Funding

1) State Fellowship through School – 15K2) State Fellowship through School – 15K3) State Fellowship through School – 15K4) State Fellowship through School – 15K5) Teaching Assistantship – 13.5K

Had to TA Department Funded

6) Research Assistantship – 20K (1/2 year) My Own Research Department “deal” with Mentor

The Whole Time the Department was paying $13,500 Tuition

Why Do Others Pay?

Doctoral trainees produces original research University gets $$ or reputation Mentor may get publications

Trainees carry University’s reputation PhDs produce for economy/education Alumni donate to help future Philanthropists donate for education PhD income not traditionally high

enough to recoup costs of education (particularly when you count in LOSS of income for 5 years..)

BE CAREFUL!

Sometimes HUGE stipend means you pay tuition

Not all programs include health insurance

If you change stipend sources, could influence tuition, travel, etc

OBTAINING A GRANT OR FELLOWSHIP

Successful Grant Proposals Require… Commitment Creativity Thoroughness Patience and emotional strength Long Term Planning

Why Apply for a Grant/Fellowship?

“Guarantees” a funding source Demonstrates initiative, discipline, and

ambition Demonstrates marketability of ideas Experience integral to your professional

career Makes you more competitive in future

Success is self-perpetuating Gets you thinking about statements,

etc.

When can you write?

Before or During studies Held to different criteria

NSF – can write your way into any grad school…

Grant Writing Process… Develop correct credentials! Identify Source Get Organized/Follow Rules! Solicit Recommenders Idea

May be yours or mentors Creating a Proposal

Following directions!!! Submitting proposal Receiving grant or feedback Revising if necessary Resubmission if necessary

Developing Credentials Grades, courses taken, GPA

GPA improvement is considered GRE Scores (study, retake if needed) Networking/ Letters of recommendation Participate in Co-ops/Programs/Internships

McNair, MARC U*STAR, MBRS-RISE Attend Conferences Get Publications

Thesis, scientific papers, abstracts Have a copy of these – you will submit!

Personal/Volunteer experiences Teaching/mentoring others Health Related?

Leadership/Organizing

Identify Sources

Private Funding (Paul and Daisy Soros, GEM, etc.)

Government Funding (NIH, NSF, US Homeland Security, etc.)

Various Scholarships (HACU, university-based, etc.)

Seeking Funding Sources Internet (Google, msn)

UTSA: http://www.utsa.edu/graduate/FutureStudentsAcademicPrograms/scholarshipupdated.html

UNT: http://www.opgf.unt.edu/ Cornell: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/?p=132 UCLA: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/grapes/search.asp

University Libraries offer books on grants University databases Conferences Mentors Fellowship program officers University Recruitment Programs

Very Prestigious Fellowships Rhodes Scholars

http://www.rhodesscholar.org/ Marshall

http://www.marshallscholarship.org/ Fulbright

http://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm James Madison

http://www.jamesmadison.com/ Harry S. Truman

http://www.truman.gov/about/about.htm Andrew W. Mellon

http://www.mellon.org/grant_programs/programs National Science Foundation

http://www.nsf.gov/ National Institutes of Health

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-002.html

Know the Funding Agency Pertinent Fields of study Foundation’s purposes and activities Eligibility requirements Number and types of awards awarded

per year Rules (deadlines, summer work, etc.) Contact info TALK TO PROGRAM OFFICERS!

Get Organized! Know dates and deadlines

Application Recommendations Pre-Applications?

Know page limitations and rules How long can it be? Margins, font, font size

Know materials requested (i.e. transcripts, C.V., etc.) and date requested or submitted

How should it be submitted Together with rec? Mailed or Online? What formats? How many Copies?

A track of any brain storming, rough drafting, and completion of essays

Time, date, and content of any communication with program officers

Recommendations Usually consist of Letter as well as

ratings form Choose people who have credentials

PH.D. better than Teaching Assistant Program Directors (Long term relationship)

Choose people who know you! Ask Early Provide recommenders with a narrative

of the fellowship, CV/Resume, personal statements

“Remind” recommenders when near dates

Thank your recommenders and any other staff (i.e. secretaries)

Grant Proposal Content Abstract (summary of research) Research Plan (remember page limits)

Specific Aims/Goals, Introduction/Significance/Background, Methods/Research Design, (Prelim data?), Research Plan, Timeline, Expected outcomes

Budget Sometimes:

Cover page Abstract for Laymen Letters of Commitment Biosketch of Proposed Mentor Description of research environment

Where do Ideas come from? Your Own Ideas:

Research Experience Record down Ideas that you have!

Coursework Readings Lectures/Seminars Discussion Groups Important national problems

Extension of Research Mentor’s work If you know where you are going to go…

Specific Aims: State a clear, focused, and attainable

research question or hypothesis Research question can be original, a

reassessment of a prior study, or both contain good ideas that embrace

problems at the forefront of a field be enthusiastic

Significance and Background Starts with literature supporting the Big

Picture Hones down to the rationale of your

project Study detailed reviews of scientific

literature, books, etc). Statements about the importance of the

work proposed

Pilot Studies/Prelim Data: Very important section of proposal

(after the abstract) Describe previous research that led to

your proposal Should demonstrate your ability to

analyze and interpret data

Methods Section: Description of procedures and tests that

will be used in the proposed work Special handling procedures Kinds of data expected How the data will be analyzed

Expected Results Write about what you

hypothesize/expect to see Write up what alternative results you

might get Write about what you’d do if you GOT

alternative results

Hints about Writing To use “active” voice instead of

“passive” Avoid jargon Write in regard to appearance Keep aware of the font Seek constructive criticism Read aloud to yourself Proofread and edit

Extra documentation… Reports Publications CV Resumes “Additional comments” sheet Degree plan of study

Don’t forget to… thank your recommenders thank their secretaries be polite to project officers give yourself credit!

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK!!!