Fellowship Obligations

The fellowship program requires a program of study (POS) that will provide a solid background in one of the three major topics listed under Program Objective.  Breadth in the program of study that might include courses in the physical, engineering, mathematical and computer sciences is highly desirable.  The submitted program of study must be approved and signed by the graduate advisor from your preferred institution.  Undergraduate and graduate applicants who are specifying more than one university should assemble a POS based on the courses offered at the university of their first choice.  If it is impossible to obtain a signature from a graduate advisor at the preferred university, then your current advisor should review and sign the proposed POS.  In all cases, the advisor should review this outline of the POS requirements.  If it is unclear whether a particular course fits these guidelines, you should obtain more information about the class from the preferred university.  Timely completion of the POS is an explicit commitment accepted by students and their advisors.  Once accepted into the program, changes in the POS may be made only with the advance consent of the program’s advisory committee.

Support of this fellowship is limited to four years and must be renewed each year.  Duration of the award is affected by the status of the awardee and projected availability of funds.  Renewal of the fellowship each year is based on the submission of an online renewal application that demonstrates acceptable academic performance, progress toward completing the approved POS, and research consistent with program goals.

The practicum (research assignment) will be undertaken at a NNSA research laboratory for at least one three-month period.  The practicum is intended to broaden the fellows’ experience outside the main thesis path and to make them become better aware of the areas that encompass stewardship science.  The practicum is normally undertaken during the summer and must be completed before the end of the second year of the fellowship.  An additional allowance is provided to cover extra expenses during this time.

Fellows are expected to attend an annual fellowship meeting, usually held in June in Washington DC for ~3 days. The expenses of attending this meeting are separately compensated by the program.

During the fellowship period, fellows are expected to be enrolled as full-time graduate students at a U.S. college or university and conducting study and research within the objectives of the fellowship program.  The summer should be spent conducting full-time research related to the completion of their degrees, being enrolled in classes, or being on practicum assignments.

For More Information Contact: SSGF Coordinator 1609 Golden Aspen Dr., Suite 101 Ames, IA 50010 Phone:  515.956.3696 Fax:  515.956.3699 ssgf@krellinst.org