Prospective students and trainees

To qualify you need to be a registered, full-time student in a relevant M.S. or Ph.D. program in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or Polymer Science at the University of Akron (UA), completing a thesis or dissertation. Prospective students will need to apply to and be accepted into one of the above graduate programs at UA.

We strongly encourage students from varied backgrounds and students belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM to apply. These include women, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), LGBT+, disabled, low-income families, first-generation college, veterans, single parents, or rurally isolated.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Opens: 02/1/2024

Deadline: 05/15/2024

The application process is competitive and is overseen by the participating NRT faculty members and the program evaluator. The applicants must meet the already established selection criteria of graduate program assistantship in the program of choice.

Requirements for this fellowship include:

1. full-time enrollment in a graduate program in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or Polymer Science at UA.

2. good academic standing

Required Application Materials

Prospective graduate students to UA need to email the following by May 15 of the year to nbw1@uakron.edu: 1. Application form:

2. Resumé/Curriculum vitae (CV)

3. Transcripts (all college transcripts, official or unofficial)

4. 1-2 page Personal Statement (please see guidelines below)

5. 1-2 page Letter of Support (please see guidelines below)

Personal Statement should include:

1. Statement of your academic, research, and personal experience and interests and career goals as they relate to the NRT program.

2. Students will work on interdisciplinary teams throughout the NRT Traineeship. Discuss your strengths in engaging in collaborative activities (e.g., incorporate others’ work in your work, participate in seminars and workshops, design a viable completion plan, participate in group field work, craft a collaborative publication/report) with your peers.

3. Description of how the NRT Traineeship fits into your degree plan (should be in step with your degree

progression and not add time to degree completion). Include how the NRT program will further your career goals and can be incorporated into your research.

4. Description of your funding for completing your degree and statement of financial need. If requesting to be considered for a one-year NRT fellowship, state so in the letter. A limited number of one-year NRT fellowships are available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and will be assigned based on overall qualifications. Fellowships include a $34,000 yearly stipend, tuition, and benefits.

Letter of Support from someone familiar with your work should include:

1. Description of how the student can succeed in the NRT program.

2. Examples of how the student will succeed in collaborative, cross-disciplinary team settings.

3. Evidence of a viable plan for funding the student for his/her/their entire degree program, including RA/TA and tuition support.

4. Describe your explicit commitment to working with the student and other NRT faculty in the training aspects of the program. Specifically address how you will:

· follow student progress to finalization of degree

· participate in NRT activities (e.g., stakeholder workshop, co-development of research topics, summer blitzes, etc.)

· engage with other NRT faculty collaborating with your student