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WVNano Graduate Bridge Awards for STEM PhD Candidates

The WVNano Initiative seeks to broaden participation of minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and first generation college students in pursuing careers in STEM education and research with a particular emphasis in nanoscale science and engineering fields.  The EPSCOR RII component of the Initiative provides funds for awards to attract highly qualified UREP graduate students for a bridge program in the summer prior to their first semester of enrollment in a Ph.D. program and continuing through their first year of study.  To enhance UREP graduate student recruitment, WVNano can provide an award of $5,000 per student to support up to twelve (12) students who have been accepted in STEM departments with the intent to enroll eight (8) BS to PhD students and four (4) MS to PhD students targeted to increase diversity.  The WVNano Initiative also wishes to aid in recruiting high quality graduate students into STEM disciplines and is providing an additional eight (8) awards without specific reference to diversity and citizenship.  These funds are to be used for a bridge program ($3,000) beginning in summer 2008 and continuing through both semesters ($1,000/semester) of the 2008-2009 academic year with the intent of providing competitive stipends of at least $22,500 per student.  The awards are for students accepted for doctoral study from either the BS or MS level.  The awards should be used as a recruiting tool and must be applied on top of and not supplant regular or customary departmental stipends.  Upon demonstration of exemplary progress, the awards may be renewed for a second year.  Students that receive these awards must agree to:

  • Participate in a bridge program designed to facilitate transition into graduate programs within STEM disciplines during the first year (elements of the bridge program available upon request)
  • Attend the WVNano Seminar Series
  • Obtain exposure to research through summer participation in a  research project
  • Attend regularly scheduled advising/mentoring meetings with a WVNano or interim department advisor
  • Complete surveys and provide annual up-dated demographic and educational data while enrolled in the PhD program.

Upon identification and acceptance of a highly qualified STEM graduate, the Department Chair or designee should complete the attached nomination form.  Nominations will be reviewed beginning December 14, 2007 and will continue until all awards are made.  Prioritized review and selection criteria include the following:

1)   STEM doctoral graduate student
2)   Evidence indicating student is highly qualified
3)   Interest in pursuing doctoral study within areas of interest consistent with nanoscale science and engineering (required for the eight non-specific awards only but encouraged for all awards)
4)   Broadening participation category (required for the 12 awards targeting enhancing diversity):

  • African-American, Hispanic, Native American Indian or Alaskan native
  • Female
  • Person with Disability
  • First Generation College Student
  • Socio-economically Disadvantaged Region (i.e., Appalachia, Mississippi Delta)

5)  Citizenship Requirement for Broadening Participation category:  At the time of appointment to the graduate program, individuals selected for the WVNano Awards must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of The United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.  Non-citizen nationals are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the United States (e.g., American Samoa and Swains Island).  Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible for the twelve awards targeted for diversity.