Tag: alumni

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.

Truman and Marshall Scholarship Information Session on April 17(noon ET); sign up below!

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding

Here’s a new online information session organized by the Truman and Marshall Scholarship foundations: Post-Graduate National Scholarship Opportunities – Information Session for Prospective Candidates

Date: 17th April 2024

Time: 12pm-1pm ET

Panel: Josh Stanton (Head of Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy – British Embassy), Haley Addison (Manager – MACC), Megan Friddle (President – NAFA), Dr Terry Babcock (Truman – Executive Secretary), Tara Yglesias (Truman – Deputy Executive Secretary).

Sign up link: https://forms.gle/wBiSe4BDLAqbzPSc8

Created by Congress in 1975, the Truman Scholarship provides funding and support to aspiring leaders pursuing careers in public service. Over 3,500 Truman Scholars have gone on to successful careers in public service, serving in government and the military, transforming non-profits, and organizing for change in local communities.

The British Government-funded Marshall Scholarship allows up to 50 high-achieving American undergraduates each year to pursue fully-funded graduate study at any university in the UK in any academic topic. With multiple degree options and funded research and travel opportunities within the United Kingdom, the Marshall Scholarship provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunityto secure a postgraduate degree at one of the UK’s world-renowned academic institutions.

Representatives from both scholarships will shed light on the benefits offered by both scholarships and offer tips on navigating the application process. See go/truman and go/marshall to learn more about eligibility and how to apply through Middlebury.

Delegate Applications for Yenching Global Symposium Due 1/31/24

Lisa Gates / / Postgraduate Opportunities, Study Abroad, UR Opportunities

Middlebury seniors and alumni are invited to apply for the 2024 Yenching Global Symposium (YGS), the annual flagship conference of the Yenching Academy of Peking University. This is a fully-funded symposium taking place at Peking University in Beijing, China, from April 11 to 14, 2024. The application link and more information regarding eligibility criteria for“Equilibrium: Our World in Balance” can be found here. Applications opened on January 1, 2024 and will close at 11:59pm CST on January 31, 2024.

The theme of this year’s Symposium is “Equilibrium: Our World in Balance”. Finding equilibrium in light of changes in technology, the natural world, and human culture is key to promoting shared prosperity in the 21st century. Focusing on the interplay between these dynamic forces, YGS 2024 will examine how societies respond to contemporary challenges and how the local cultural, economic, and political contexts shape these responses. Fully in person for the first time since COVID-19, this three-day, fully-funded interdisciplinary conference will dive into a wide range of topics from artificial intelligence to China’s eco-cities to expression of nature through literature and artwork. 

YGS consists of engaging lectures, panel discussions, and interactive sessions about China’s impact on the world and the influence that the world has on China. The Symposium serves as a platform for today’s leaders to share their insights with a select audience of 200 students and young professionals from around the world, all united by their passion for exploring China’s role in their work and research.

Blakemore Fellowship for Asian Language Study, Deadline Dec. 30, 2023

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Study Abroad

The Blakemore Foundation is now accepting applications for its  Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study and the new Blakemore Kingfisher Art History Language Fellowships. Both programs provide full tuition and a stipend for living, travel and study expenses at approved language programs in Asia for an academic year of full-time intensive language study during the 2024/2025 academic year.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study are awarded to graduating seniors, college graduates, graduate students and young/mid-career professionals for advanced study of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, or Vietnamese in Asia.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States, have completed (at minimum) the third year of study of the Asian language, and are ready to advance to professional fluency.

Blakemore Kingfisher Art History Language Fellowships will be awarded for study of Chinese or Korean in East Asia. These grants are open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada who have a well-demonstrated intent to study the pre-twentieth century history of Chinese or Korean art at the doctoral level. Applicants must have received a bachelor’s degree by the start of a grant and have completed (at minimum) two years of classroom study of the language in rigorous college-level language programs.

Who should apply? The Blakemore Foundation is looking for exceptional candidates who will make significant contributions to their career field. The ideal candidate is someone with stellar grades, outstanding recommendations, and a demonstrated commitment to the Asian country and language. Beyond commitment, we are looking for a mature purpose: a career path that will require and benefit from fluency in that Asian language throughout that individual’s life.

Applications may be submitted athttps://blakemorefoundation.communityforce.com with a deadline of December 30, 2023.  

More detailed information on our fellowship programs is available at www.blakemorefoundation.org. 

Approved Language Programs

● International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan
● Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China
● Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies at Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul National University, Sogang University 
● Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in Yokohama, Japan  (Blakemore Freeman Fellowships only)
In addition to Chinese, Japanese and Korean, Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are also available for advanced language study in: ● Thailand ● Vietnam ● Indonesia ● Cambodia   

NIH Fellowships for PhD, MD/PhD Degrees

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, STEM, UK
  1. NIH-Penn Advanced Scholars in Immunology Graduate Partnership Program: The future of biomedical research demands exceptional immunologists, and this program is dedicated to creating the next generation of leaders in the field. Through a unique collaboration between NIH and the University of Pennsylvania, students admitted to the University of Pennsylvania Immunology Graduate Group can take advantage of unparalleled research resources and mentorship from scientific leaders at both institutions. With access to over 350 immunology laboratories, you can tailor your research to your specific interests. Explore this exceptional opportunity at Program Link: https://www.med.upenn.edu/nih-igg-partnership/program/#:~:text=The%20partnership%20between%20NIH%20and,selecting%20either%20Penn%20or%20NIH
  1. NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program: This program is a beacon of excellence in the world of doctoral training for biomedical research. For outstanding students with an unwavering commitment to biomedical research, the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program is an accelerated and highly individualized doctoral journey. Students are mentored by two Investigators—one at NIH and another at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge in the UK—to work on a joint internationally collaborative dissertation project. With a focus on research and minimal formal coursework, students can earn their doctoral degree in approximately four years. Explore it further at Program Link. https://oxcam.gpp.nih.gov/
  1. Accelerated MD/PhD Partnership Training Program: For students aspiring to be physician-scientists in basic and translational biomedical research, this program is a game-changer. Designed to foster innovation and interdisciplinary PhD partnerships combined with MD training, it offers an accelerated path to success. With access to the NIH Clinical Research Center and numerous collaboration options, you can be part of cutting-edge disease-based or basic science research. Whether you’re finishing your Bachelor’s, enrolled in medical school, or in the NIH Graduate Partnerships Program, this program offers opportunities for you. Dive into this exciting opportunity at Program Link: https://mdphd.gpp.nih.gov/

Contact fellowships@middlebury.edu with questions.