American Society for Microbiology Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship

The Program

The goal of the fellowship is to increase the number of underrepresented groups completing doctoral degrees in the microbiological sciences. The ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship is aimed at highly competitive graduate students who are enrolled in a Ph.D. program and who have completed their graduate course work in the microbiological sciences. The fellowship encourages students to continue and complete their research project in the microbiological sciences.

Students will be:

Required to submit an abstract each year to ASM for presentation at the annual ASM General Meeting
Required to attend the ASM Kadner Institute one time during the three-year tenure of the fellowship
Eligibility

Eligible candidates must be from groups that have been determined by the applicant's institution to be underrepresented in the microbiological sciences. The ASM encourages institutions to identify individuals that have been historically underrepresented, and remain underrepresented today in the microbiological sciences nationally. These groups include African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders.

In addition, applicants must:

Be formally admitted to a doctoral program in the microbiological sciences in an accredited U.S. institution
Have successfully completed the first year of the graduate program (first year graduate students cannot apply)
Have successfully completed all graduate coursework requirements for the doctoral degree by the date of activation of the fellowship
Be a student member of ASM
Be mentored by an ASM member
Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident
Not have funding OR have funding that will expire by the start date of the fellowship
This fellowship cannot run concurrently with other national fellowships from NIH, NSF, HHMI, etc.

Funding

The program provides a total stipend of $63,000 ($21,000 a year) for a three year period (September 2008-June 2011). Students will receive six stipend payments. Funds cannot be used for tuition and fees.

Supporting documents

Three letters of recommendations must be submitted with your application. One letter must be from your research advisor/mentor. You may choose to submit references online or via mail.
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please submit by mail your undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

Criteria for Selection

Applicants will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

Academic achievement
Evidence of a successful research plan developed in collaboration with research advisor/mentor
Relevant career goals in the microbiological sciences
Involvement in activities that serve the needs of underrepresented groups.

Application Process

Applicants must apply electronically. There is no paper application. Applicants must complete all sections of the application and then share their PIN and PASSWORD with their faculty mentor. The PIN and PASSWORD are necessary for the faculty mentor to complete his/her section of the application. Faculty mentors must save their information and notify the applicant when finished. Once both parties have completed their respective sections, the applicant should submit the application to ASM. It is the applicant's responsibility to submit on time.

NOTE: Changes cannot be made once the application is submitted.

Deadline

May 1st

Contact
Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship
Education Board
American Society for Microbiology
1752 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel:(202) 942-9283
E-mail: fellowships-careerinformation@asmusa.org