HHMI International Student Research Fellowships - Nov 5, 2013 deadline

Campus Deadline: 11/05/2013

Departmental Nomination Required

Information: https://www.grad.illinois.edu/fellowship/listing/3305

The HHMI International Student Research Fellowships support outstanding international predoctoral students studying in the United States who are ineligible for fellowships or training grants through U.S. federal agencies. Fellowships support students in the biomedical or related sciences, including physical and mathematical sciences. Eligible fields include biology, chemistry, physics, math, computer science, engineering, and plant biology, along with interdisciplinary research.

The fellowships provide support for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th year of a PhD program. Therefore, only those students in years 2 or 3 of their graduate program can apply. Applicants currently in year 2 can, if awarded the fellowship, expect support for years 3-5, while applicants currently in year 3 can expect support for years 4-5 only. No support beyond year 5 is available.

NOMINATION MATERIALS:

The following materials must be scanned into a single pdf file and emailed to the Graduate College at gradfellowships@illinois.edu by 4:30 p.m. on November 5, 2013.

Prepared by the student and submitted to the department by the department's own internal deadline:

1. Personal Statement. A 1-page Personal Statement should describe any significant (scientific or other) accomplishments you have made. You may also choose to use the statement to describe your career goals and any educational or personal experiences relevant to those goals and your thesis research. If applicable, add any information about yourself not found elsewhere in the application (i.e. qualities and experiences that make your success in graduate school and beyond more likely or explanations of gaps/weaknesses in your educational record). Overall, the Personal Statement should demonstrate your potential to be a creative leader in the scientific community. The Personal Statement should be single-spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins.

2. Research Plan. A 3-page Research Plan should describe your intended dissertation research, including a discussion of the significance and innovation of your project. The Research Plan should be single-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. The Research Plan must be written in a manner that can be understood by a non-expert. An additional 2-page bibliography containing key references can accompany the Research Plan. The Research Plan must:
-Present specific aims that describe the goals of the proposed research.
-State the testable hypothesis or engineering objective.
-Explain the significance of the project.
-Present the experimental approach you plan to use and show how your approach is potentially innovative or transformational. You should also describe the expected outcome(s) of proposed experiments.
-Explain and justify the model system you have chosen.
-Note potential pitfalls and discuss alternative strategies.
-Refer to relevant literature.
-Specify your role and that of your advisor and others in the development of the plan.

3. Essay on a Scientific Discovery. A 1-page essay should describe your evaluation of a recent scientific discovery, in any field, that you consider particularly innovative and significant. Explain why you consider the discovery innovative and how you think it has contributed to the field. The discovery you choose should not be one that has been made either by you or your advisor.

4. Curriculum Vitae

5. Three Letters of Reference (one of which must be from your advisor).

Interested students are encouraged to contact Lance Cooper in the Grad Office for information on departmental nomination procedures and deadlines.