Full Application Requirements

The process of applying to join the program serves two roles. It provides the IGERT Executive Committee with information that is needed to make fair funding decisions. It also contributes to the program's training objectives, since proposal preparation is an important aspect of a scientific career. A full application has 3 sections, consisting of (1) student records, (2) a research and training plan (including a rotation and 'broader impact' plan) and (3) letters of support. Documents should use single-spaced text, in a size that is readable by normal people.
All documents except for the confidential letters of recommendation (3b) should be submitted electronically by the student to Csilla Kajtar (ckajtar@umd.edu), as a single PDF file. The confidential letters of recommendation should be emailed separately to ckajtar@umd.edu - PDF, MSWord, or email text are all fine, though PDF is strongly preferred.

Student records

a. CV
b. Academic records (transcripts and test scores). Official copies are not needed; an unofficial transript downloaded from Testudo is perfectly acceptable.
c. Description of student's existing funding plan for the PhD, listing the source and anticipated amount of funding. If there is a plan to apply for other fellowships (e.g., NSF-GRF, NIH-NRSA, CEBH) please mention this. Important: this information is needed for organizational reasons, and will not be a factor in funding decisions, so there is no benefit in concealing funding sources.

Research and training plan

a. Training plan [2pp max] - this plan should explain which courses will be taken to meet the IGERT program course requirements, and when. It should also explain how the IGERT courses align with the course requirements of the student's home PhD program. Courses may be counted towards both programs, but students are expected to take at least some courses that go beyond their home program requirements. If the student plans to complete the NACS Certificate program in conjunction with the IGERT coursework, then this should be explained. Past experience suggests that it is particularly helpful to include in the training plan a table that shows how courses will be counted towards the student's home department PhD and to the IGERT program requirements.
b. Research plan [4pp max] - this plan should describe a program of research that could be carried out in the context of the training program, and should include an explanation of the importance of the research and how it contributes to the integrative goals of the program. It is important to explain the context for the research, in a fashion that is understandable by an interdisciplinary readership. The IGERT grant proposal submitted to NSF discusses some possible integrative research activities - these should be taken as suggestive examples rather than as a fixed set of options to choose from. Applicants can obtain useful ideas for integrative research projects by talking with current students and participating faculty.
c. Rotation: It is preferred to include a plan for a lab rotation (i.e. plan for one semester working primarily with a different mentor).
d. Broader impact plan [1p max] - this plan explains how the student's IGERT training would benefit their home department and how the student could contribute to the outreach goals of the project, e.g., high school/undergraduate mentoring, international activities, organizational support or committee service, offering training in specific skills as a component of Winter Storm.

Support letters

a. Advisor's letter of commitment - this letter confirms that the advisor has discussed the student's plan and that the student's participation in the program has the support of the advisor and the home department. The letter should also describe how the advisor and/or the home department is willing to contribute to the goals of the IGERT project. Examples include: (i) teaching IGERT-related courses; (ii) participation in outreach activities; (iii) committee membership; (iv) help with mentoring IGERT students from other departments; (v) non-NSF funding.
b. Two confidential letters of recommendation, of which one should be from the student's primary advisor.

Evaluation process

Admission and funding decisions will be made by the IGERT Executive Committee, which is a representative committee of 7 faculty members from participating departments. Current committee membership is marked on this website. Evaluation criteria will include the quality and potential contributions of the application. Students may apply for funding more than once.