Category: STEM

Fulbright and Watson Notes for Applicants

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, Postgraduate Opportunities, STEM, Teaching English Abroad

 It’s almost August (gasp!) and this is usually that time when I get a lot of questions from students and alumni wanting to apply for a Fulbright or Watson fellowship. It’s also a time of year when I am not always in the office so try to answer some frequently asked questions below. Read on–and read carefully! It is long.

How do I talk with Dean Gates? Check out go/appt for open appointments through Aug 13. You can also email me with good dates/times (M-F, 9am-5pm ET only). I will post appointment hours for Watson and Fulbright applicants (and UK nominees) the week of August 26 soon.  Appointment hours for Sept. will be posted later in August. Please note, I will be away from the office for parts of August.

I missed the preliminary deadline for Watson or Fulbright. Can I still apply? Yes, you can! The HARD deadlines coming up are Middlebury’s internal deadline: Thursday 9/5 at noon for Watson, Sunday 9/8 at 11:59pm for Fulbright. We also strongly encourage Fulbright applicants to complete the August 15 tasks in MiddApply with drafts of their essays–this will ensure you receive feedback before the internal deadline.

I’m just thinking about applying for a Watson or Fulbright right now. How do I get started? Review the information and directions at go/fulbright or go/watson and start the application processes in MiddApply. Some application types may be more or less feasible at this point in time, so it’s important you get some feedback.

Watson FAQs

I want to apply for the Watson and need to get access to the Watson online application. How do I do this? If you are not yet registered for the Watson online application, contact fellowships@middlebury.edu. Read the instructions at go/watson carefully regarding which application sections to complete for the internal deadline. We ask you to complete abbreviated essays and only some sections of the Watson application for the internal deadline. Again, instructions are available in your MiddApply (go/middapply) portal as you complete the Watson materials there.

Where do I find info about the Watson internal application process? Instructions for nomination materials and submission are online at go/watson . Please review the linked Google documents carefully–there’s a lot of useful info there and answers to common questions. You will need to complete the tasks in MiddApply (go/middapply) and selected sections of the Watson online application.

Is the Watson Internal Deadline (Thursday September 5, 2024 at noon) a hard deadline? Yes, it is. If you anticipate any difficulties with this, talk with us.

Fulbright FAQs

I’m an alum and interested in the Fulbright. Can I still apply through Middlebury? Yes! You will need to adhere to our internal deadline and interview with our campus committee via Zoom in September.

What is the August 15 “Intent to Apply” deadline, what do I do, and what happens if I miss it? This deadline tells us who is planning to apply in this cycle. You can still apply for the Fulbright if you miss it, and you can decide in September that you don’t want to proceed–just tell us. This deadline gives us a sense of the number of Fulbright applicants we will interview and most importantly, TIME to send you feedback on your drafts before the internal deadline.  For the August 15 deadline, complete the tasks in your MiddApply (go/middapply) portal. This gives us the materials we need to review! Note: Drafts are fine at this point! Make sure you review the guidance at go/fulbright (see Fulbright Guidance Google doc) before sending to us, however. Make sure you are including the information required for the Statement of Grant Purpose in your draft. Recommendations, transcripts, affiliation letters, etc. are not needed at this time (but if you have an affiliation lined up, include a copy of that). We will review your materials, send comments as needed, and you can continue working on your application. We will provide official transcripts for those who complete the August 15 tasks in MiddApply.

If you do not complete your Aug 15 tasks in MiddApply, we may be less able to provide substantive comments on your essays depending on when you send in your materials to review. You will also need to order your own transcript. If you discontinue your application after this point, that is also fine, just let us know.

Is September 8 at 11:59pm (Sunday) a hard deadline for my Fulbright application? What if I’m missing some recommendations or a letter of affiliation? Yes, this is a hard deadline. You will need to lock your application for campus review by this deadline. If you have a letter (recommendation, affiliation) that is late in arriving, just be in touch with us. If you want to apply after this deadline, you may do so, but will not be able to participate in the campus review process and may not receive feedback. As always, if you have questions or issues, talk with us.

Are you expecting a complete and polished Fulbright application on Sept 8? Yes. But see note above about missing letters–it does happen. But everything in your control should be done and finalized at this point. Essays must be polished with no grammatical or spelling errors. You will be able to continue working on your materials after this date, however. You will often receive suggestions during your campus committee interview and may find things you want to tweak. 

Fulbright webinars and tutorials: are ongoing this summer. Check out http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/videos-tutorials and http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/information-sessions  (click on webinars to see schedule).

June 2024 Notes for Fulbright and Watson Applicants

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, Postgraduate Opportunities, STEM, Study Abroad, Teaching English Abroad

If you’re thinking about applying for a Fulbright grant or Watson nomination in the fall, let’s get moving! Summer goes fast. Many of you have already talked with me about your ideas or completed a preliminary application this spring–which is a great way to get started! And yes, you can absolutely still apply for these in the fall even if you did not submit a preliminary application! Below are a few notes for those of you just considering a Watson or Fulbright fellowship or those of you already working on the applications:

If you haven’t sent in a preliminary application for Watson or Fulbright, you can still apply! Alumni, you can apply for Fulbright through Middlebury; you just have to follow our internal process and deadlines. Fill out the Fulbright and/or Watson preliminary application at go/middapply .

Watson applicants only: I will need to register you for the Watson application however, so you’ll need to get in touch. I automatically register all students for the Watson online application if they complete the Watson preliminary application. As of today, everyone who has submitted a preliminary Watson application has been registered in the Watson application platform! If you can’t find your link, check your junk/clutter/spam filters. For technical or password problems with the Watson online system, you must contact the Watson office for help.

I am happy to talk with you, answer questions and review essay drafts during the summer. You can email questions to me fellowships@middlebury.edu and/or make appointments at go.middlebury.edu/appt . I have limited appointment hours during the summer–June and July appointment hours are posted! If you don’t find available appointments that work for you, you can email some good days/times. Zoom and in-person meetings are possible. Email works too–that’s a great way to get feedback on essays or ask quick questions. Please note, I will be out of the office June 19-July 4, so drafts submitted in that period will not be reviewed until after my return.

Make sure you know the internal deadlines and application processes! See https://go.middlebury.edu/fulbright and https://go.middlebury.edu/watson for details. I often get questions that can be answered by reviewing the information on these pages, so please review carefully and then send your questions. You will also find information about internal deadlines and application instructions on these pages. 

For more Fulbright info, check out the webinars offered by the Fulbright team–see the schedule here: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/information-sessions. There are some great sessions coming up, including answering the short answer questions on the Fulbright application and office hours focused on the Study/Research and ETA grants with program staff. For Fulbright applicants, the main dates to focus on now are the August 15 “Intent to Apply” deadline, which guarantees we can provide at least one full round of feedback on your materials.

Internal Deadlines for Fall 2024:

Fulbright: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11:59 pm (aka midnight!). For this deadline, you must LOCK your application. DO NOT CLICK SUBMIT at this time. This is a change from last year. Watson:  Thursday, Sept. 5 at noon. You must complete tasks in MiddApply AND the specified sections of the Watson application.

How to reach me (Dean Lisa Gates)? Email fellowships@middlebury.edu , book appointment at go/appt, or stop by Library 212.

NSF GRFP Winners and Honorable Mentions from Middlebury!

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, STEM

We are excited that Seven from Middlebury receive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships and another six received honorable mention! Congratulations to all! The NSF GRFP supports master’s and doctoral studies in STEM and broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000. Learn more at https://www.nsfgrfp.org/ . Contact fellowships@middlebury.edu with questions.

Mathematics Summer REU Application Deadline 3/29/24

Lisa Gates / / STEM, Summer Program, UR Opportunities

The Department of Mathematics at the Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMUC) will host an NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program June 10 – August 2, 2024 at the TAMUC campus in Commerce, Texas. Application is available at   https://www.mathprograms.org/db/programs/1585 . Deadline is March 29, 2024

Eligibility: Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Stipends: $4,800, housing and travel support. Members of of traditionally underserved groups in STEM fields encouraged to apply.

Research Projects

  • Project 1: Coding Theory: “Graph based quantum error-correcting codes”(Mentor: Padmapani Seneviratne)
  • Project 2: Complex Analysis: “The excess area between images of domains under analytic mappings”(Mentor: Mehmet Celik)
  • Project 3: Image Analysis: “Correlation between vector field features embedded into modified by operators and original images”(Mentor: Nikolay M. Sirakov)
  • Project 4: Mathematical Biology: “Estimating the damage due to reperfusion caused by Ischaemia via a mathematical model”(Mentor: Aditi Ghosh)

REU Activities The eight-week program will include an orientation, introduction to computer algebra systems and LaTex, collaboration on a research project with faculty mentors, and other REU students, weekly guest speakers from academia or industry, roundtable discussions, a field trip to a research institution, written project reports, final presentation, and social activities. Submit a letter of interest, unofficial transcripts, a reference letter, and a ranking of 2024(from highest to lowest) projects in which you would like to participate.

Summer Research Program at the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Lisa Gates / / Postgraduate Opportunities, STEM, UR Opportunities

2024 NIDA Summer Research Internship Program

Application Deadline: February 2, 2024

The NIDA Summer Research Internship Program supports all students with a focus on increasing underrepresented populations in drug abuse research. Through this program, undergraduates aged 18 and older are introduced to the field of substance use and addiction research by participating in research internships with NIDA’s distinguished scientists at universities across the United States. Students work with leading scientists for eight weeks during the summer. The internship may include laboratory experiments, data collection, data analysis, formal courses, participation in lab meetings, patient interviews, manuscript preparation, and literature reviews. In addition, it is expected that each intern will deliver a formal presentation on their research project at the end of the internship.

Eligibility:

  • This NIDA Summer Research Internship Program is designed for undergraduate students to experience substance use and addiction research in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences. Applicants must be at least 18 years old on or before May 31, 2024, and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
  • Graduating 2024 college seniors are eligible to apply.
  • Students must be committed to working for 8 consecutive weeks during the summer (some schedule flexibilities may be allowed).
  • Individuals who have already participated in the NIDA Summer Research Internship Program are no longer eligible to apply.
  • NIDA highly encourages those from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups, to apply for this summer research experience (see NIH’s Interest in Diversity). 

Scope of Support:

  • Interns will receive a wage of $15.00 per hour for a maximum of $4,800 for eight (8) weeks.
  • Internship experiences are in-person.
  • Interns may receive a housing reimbursement for up to $2,500 (upon sending NIDA proper documentation of these expenses) if they are required to travel to a different state for their internship. After accepting an internship position, the intern will be required to cover any additional costs for housing and other expenses accrued including but not limited to utilities, cable, Wi-Fi, and meals. NIDA understands that some locations have a higher cost of living and additional housing support will be considered with proper documentation on a case-by-case basis.
  • Interns may also receive a travel reimbursement for up to $500 for travel to and from the internship site, including but not limited to bus, train, metro, airplane, uber, taxi, and parking.

How to Apply

  • Students must complete an online application. Additional details about the Internship Program and research sites can be found online.

When to Apply

  • All application components, including the two letters of recommendation must be submitted online by February 2, 2024, with no exceptions.
  • For more information about the NIDA Summer Research Internship Program, contact: Julie Huffman  , Office:  301-443-9798  , Julie.huffman@nih.gov  OR   Aria Crump, ScD                           Deputy Director, ORTDD,   Director, ODHD,  Aria.Crump@nih.gov