The Chemistry Department of the University of North Dakota announces the availability of six fellowships for Ph.D. graduate studies in Chemistry. These are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) Program and matching funds from the University.
In addition to increasing the number of chemistry graduate students at UND, our objectives also include:
-
Enhancing the training of all Fellows in instructional techniques.
-
Assisting GAANN Fellows to complete their Ph.D. degrees within five years of entering the program.
-
Assisting each GAANN Fellow in obtaining a suitable professional position upon graduation.
Fellowship Details
Each individual student's fellowship will be awarded for up to three years and will include:
-
Stipend of $21,500 per year (2003)
-
All tuition, fees, and health insurance paid
-
Books and supplies allowance of $3,000 per year
-
Travel allowance of $1,500 per year (for professional meeting travel)
-
Research supplies allowance of up to $5,500 per year.
Requirements
Successful applicants will be American citizens or permanent residents, with good academic records (GPA above 3.5 preferred), starting their Ph.D. graduate studies in the Fall of 2004. Women and under-represented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. The amount of support will be determined following financial need guidelines used in Title IV programs.
Continuation of Support
The Department of Chemistry maintains a policy of supporting all graduate students in good academic standing with teaching or research assistantships until they fulfill the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Upon completing three years of the GAANN Program, all graduate students will be supported for at least two more years as Teaching or Research Assistants to complete their Ph.D. degrees. Support after five years is subject to annual reassessment.
Other Program Aspects
Supervised training in instruction
Each of our GAANN Fellows will normally be expected to teach for at least two semesters. This teaching experience will not only include an opportunity to conduct the usual laboratory instruction, but will also have Fellows each paired with a faculty teaching mentor for exposure to teaching methods for small classes and large lectures. The Department of Teaching and Learning offers a graduate course on college teaching. GAANN Fellows will have this course assigned as part of their program of study. From it we expect that they will gain an additional perspective on the process of helping college students learn, which will be of value in their teaching assignments as GAANN Fellows and beyond.
Teaching Mentors
GAANN Fellows will each be paired with a chemistry faculty teaching mentor in addition to their advisor/research mentor. Fellows will meet weekly with their teaching mentors to discuss their current teaching assignment. During those semesters when the Fellow is not assigned to teach a laboratory section of a course, meetings with the teaching mentor will be focused on the current course that the mentor is teaching. Fellows can "shadow" the mentor as they go through the process of course design and execution.
Application Procedures
Students must first apply for graduate studies at UND. The Graduate Recruiting Committee reviews applications for admission of students for graduate study in Chemistry. The general criteria used for evaluating prospective graduate students include undergraduate records, three letters of recommendation, and the student's statement of purpose. Scores on the general and subject (Chemistry) Graduate Record Examinations (GRE's), if available, are used as supplemental information. The Program Directors and the Advisory Committee will interview prospective Fellows. Final decisions will be based upon a combination of strength of academic record, expressed interest in research and teaching, prior research experience, and the overall potential of the candidate to successfully complete the Ph.D. program and pursue a professional career in chemically-related science. Applicants may also be asked to write a short statement describing how a GAANN Fellowship will aid them in achieving their goals.
Inquiries should be sent to the following address:
Dr. Harmon B. Abrahamson
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Chemistry
University of North Dakota
Box 9024
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9024
The University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, ND. Our city (population of 50,000) is located between the Lakes country of Minnesota and fields and plains of the Dakotas. UND graduate students qualify for living in the dorm. UND apartments are also available, but for a limited number of students (students should apply directly to the UND Housing Office). Early application and acceptance increases the chances of getting a nice inexpensive UND apartment for the very first year of graduate studies. |
