Scholarships and Fellowships
Are you a upper level undergraduate or graduate
biology student looking for funding opportunities?
Tales will guide you to academic and financial salvation.
SEEK THE POWER
MAKE THE CONNECTIONS
DON'T WASTE THE CONDUIT
Warning: This site contains facts
based solely on my expert opinion.
I began applying for funding in the fall of 2003 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Three secret words were presented to me regarding the acquisition of funding: apply, apply, and apply. I took this recommendation seriously, and in the following four semesters I applied for over 30 funding sources. Rarely will a student receive a scholarship, fellowship, or grant on their first attempt. But if at first you do not succeed, apply apply again. Also, it may sound sophomoric, but if you do not apply for funding, then you have a 0% chance of receiving anything. If, however, you possess the wit and courage to apply for funding, then not only do you have a chance at the dough, but even if you get a letter saying you did not receive the funding, many times comments for making improvements are included in that letter.
Follow these simple steps. These five steps need not be completed in any order; just complete them BEFORE you begin applying for funding, whether you are applying internally through your institution or externally elsewhere.
1) Become a member of a scientific society in your field. Many times these societies provide sources of funding.
2) Produce a curriculum vitae. Have your academic advisor look it over, but do not stop there. When applying for many fellowships and most scholarships, you will be evaluated by someone outside of your field and possibly an administrator at your institution. Once you and your advisor are through looking it over, give it to someone in your graduate school who oversees scholarships and fellowships there. You may want to use a template for your cv, preferably from a person you respect and who has had success in their pursuit of funding.
3) Network with graduate students and faculty at your institution and abroad. Talk to peers. Write to peers.
4) Plan to attend a scientific meeting of peer scientists in your field within a year.
5) Follow through with every goal you set out to achieve. Make a plan and stick to it.
There is more to graduate school then simply conducting research and getting your degree in a timely manner. There are tools for success in graduate school and beyond that I recommend you read and aspire to follow.
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