Navigating Graduate School: Funding and Training for Your Doctorate Journey

1. Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D. Asst. PD, MBRS-RISE & MARC U*STAR Univ. Texas at San Antonio Funding Graduate School 02/18/2011

2. Assumption of Research Training Programs:You are going all the way to a Doctorate!

3. Graduate School? • UTSA – M.S. Program • World • Academic programs after Bachelor’s work • Often default for Ph.D. • Today: Ph.D. Funding

4. 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

5. 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

6. 1-2 Yrs Standard Ph.D. Training Path 3 - 6 Yrs Post Bacc Research “Hard” Sciences 4 - 7 Yrs Academics Academic Postdoc Government Postdoc Bachelor’sDegree. Grad. path Depends on Field Government Doctoral Studies Industry Postdoc Continue Education Industry M.S. Degree Engineering/Humanities etc Other Work

7. So…You’ve Applied for doctoral Training… What does it Cost & Who is Going to Pay for it?

8. 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

9. 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!

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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….

13. Health Insurance • Don’t believe that you will always be healthy… • HBC grad student • Cervical pre-cancerous lesions • Appendicitis

14. 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.

15. 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 $$

16. University This will most likely be your graduate experience… Tuition/Fees/Health Ins. Stipend Scholarships Fellowships TAship You

17. 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?

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Where does the money come from?

22. Endowments/ Interest Philanthropy/ Private ResearchGrants Students’ Tuition/Fees Services Alumni State Investments Department/ Program Govt Programs University College/Grad School Tuition/Fees/Health Ins. Stipend Scholarships Fellowships TAship You

23. Yale University Income… • http://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W098_Fin_Inc_bySrce.pdf

24. 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

25. Endowments/ Interest Philanthropy/Private ResearchGrants Students’ Tuition/Fees Services Alumni State Investments Department/ Program Govt Programs University College/Grad School Tuition/Fees/Health Ins. Stipend Scholarships Fellowships TAship Mentor Research Grants You

26. 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

27. Endowments/ Interest Philanthropy/Private ResearchGrants Students’ Tuition/Fees Services Alumni State Investments Department/ Program Grants/Fellowships Scholarships Govt Programs University College/Grad School Tuition/Fees/Health Ins. Stipend Scholarships Fellowships TAship Mentor Jobs Research Grants You Loans

28. Evolution of Dr. T’s Funding • State Fellowship through School – 15K • State Fellowship through School – 15K • State Fellowship through School – 15K • State Fellowship through School – 15K • Teaching Assistantship – 13.5K • Had to TA • Department Funded • Research Assistantship – 20K (1/2 year) • My Own Research • Department “deal” with Mentor The Whole Time the Department was paying $13,500 Tuition

29. 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..)

30. 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

31. Obtaining a Grant or Fellowship

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

33. 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.

34. When can you write? • Before or During studies • Held to different criteria • NSF – can write your way into any grad school…

35. 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

36. 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

37. Identify Sources • Private Funding (Paul and Daisy Soros, GEM, etc.) • Government Funding (NIH, NSF, US Homeland Security, etc.) • Various Scholarships (HACU, university-based, etc.)

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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!

41. 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

42. 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)

43. 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

44. 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…

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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