Read this section if you wish to apply for Montana NSF EPSCoR co-funding of a graduate stipend.

UM has been highly successful in recruiting new tenure-track faculty in the sciences over the prior two award periods (1998-2004) with 25 new faculty hires. These faculty have productive research programs, however, nearly every lab is in need of graduate students. Obviously, the addition of these new hires has far exceeded its existing graduate student population; larger classes of incoming graduate students are required to fill these laboratories. For the new faculty to be successful, and to draw upon their mentoring skills to ensure their retention, we must increase the number of graduate students.

The UM NSF EPSCoR program will award up to twelve stipends in 2004 to qualified, first-year graduate students. In fiscal years 2005 and 2006, the award distribution will include second-year graduate students as well as newly recruited awardees. Although the EPSCoR program will support up to two years in stipend funding, any remaining program support (tuition, fees, etc.), beyond EPSCoR-support years is the responsibility of the student, participating department or center and individual directing the student. Selection of these students will be based upon those showing superior academic/research promise and who associate with the focus research areas.

• Awards are only for PhD students in science and are based upon GPA ( >3.25), GRE ( >60% verbal and Quantitative), letters of recommendation and prior research experience.
• Awards are for new, first-year PhD students only (2004). In 2005 and 2006 awards may include second-year graduate students.
• Students must be mentored (either assigned or selected).
• Faculty members are given eight months to recruit the student or the award is withdrawn.
• UM NSF EPSCoR stipends are typically two, twelve-month awards with the second twelve-month award contingent upon adequate progress in the program.
• No formal undergraduate teaching is allowed for stipend recipients, however, select or volunteer lecturing, not to exceed 6 hr/semester is permitted.
• Awardees will be expected to participate in EPSCoR outreach activities (e.g., science fair judging, mentoring middle or high school science students, etc.).
• Submit a yearly progress report to the UM NSF EPSCoR Office.
• Submit photographs of research being performed in the laboratory and/or the field.
• If requested, attend a State of Montana or national NSF EPSCoR conference.
• The PhD committee may replace students who withdraw from the program. The committee will review these occurrences on a case-by-case basis and redistribute the award in order to fully utilize the remaining funds.
• Must be a US citizen or naturalized citizen.
• Statement explaining long-term goals.
• Three letters of recommendation (one of which may be from nominating committee member).
• Prior research experience or strong evidence of research potential.
• Nomination from departmental member or committee summarizing qualifications.
• Complete the NSF EPSCoR Graduate Student Stipend Application. (See Applications)

Non-compliance, failure to respond or providing insufficient or false responses within 30 days of project completion, may result in suspension of all future UM NSF EPSCoR funding for the awardee and host department or center.

NOTE: If the above criteria are not met, consideration will be given to additional documentation demonstrating applicant’s strengths and research promise.