www.sampleresume.net |
|
|
Predoctoral Fellowships
|
Article on Predoctoral Fellowships
Fellowships provide a great way for university students working toward advanced degrees to go out into the wider world, beyond the university study setting and into the realm of work and research. Fellowships may be thought of as very high level paid internships and predoctoral fellowships allow students to earn money and or stipends, travel allowances and tuition offsets while doing research toward their doctorate degree. The fellowship experience varies immensely depending upon the type chosen and the field of study.
Types of fellowships
University or institutional fellowships expect that the student will spend the fellowship period at the sponsoring school. External or portable fellowships provide more flexibility, allowing the student to go outside their university for the fellowship. Organization-sponsored fellowships, funded by private firms or non-profits, and many government-funded programs as well, are closest to a regular job. Many provide salary, and some may offer benefits and relocation allowance. Entrepreneurial Fellowships, in which the predoctoral student seeks to start a new organization, may obtain seed money and technical support for innovative projects from funders acting as investors.
Project-based fellowships
Research or project-based fellowships can be proposed by the pre-doctoral student, as an original study or project design of their own. Projects can also be chosen from a list of projects the supervising or host organization is seeking to pursue. The funder’s choice to award the fellowship is based on the reputation of the host and the fellow, as well as the feasibility of the project idea.
Benefits
Fellowships provide impressive credentials for the resume, and can be the gateway to a permanent job offer, as well as allowing predoctoral students do thesis research toward their degree. Whether a permanent position is offered or not, the student has the opportunity to be mentored, supervised and trained by top people in a given field. It’s important to make industry connections outside school, and to begin building a professional reputation. In return, the sponsor of the fellowship gets an infusion of new ideas and energy to their organization at a bargain price.
Application Advice
Predoctoral fellowships are extremely competitive. It pays to speak with others who have prepared and reviewed applications in the past. This research will go a long way toward producing the strongest application package possible. It is important to allow enough time to line up all the elements necessary. Organize the information well and keep to the point. The student’s personal narrative essay should highlight talents, skills and convey a sense of the energy and commitment behind the credentials.
How to Locate a Fellowship Opportunity
Directories of available predoctoral fellowships are available on university web sites and are also listed on the sites of any of the outside funders, like private companies, non-profit organizations or the U.S. government. A fellowship will give the student an invaluable perspective on the chosen field outside of the confines of the university. The variety of fellowships is enormous but so is the competition. Fortunately a student who’s reached this level of education is well - equipped for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|