The United Negro College Fund and the Merck Institute

for Science Education announce the availability of the

UNCF•Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships.

 

These fellowships are a component of the

UNCF•Merck Science Initiative, the goal of which is to

support the training and development of world-class

African American biomedical scientists.

 

At least 12

UNCF•Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship

awards will be made per year. The competition is open

to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

Award recipients are selected based on the applicants’

abilities and accomplishments.

 

PURPOSE

The UNCF•Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships are intended to support African American graduate students as they complete coursework, conduct research, and prepare the dissertation required for the doctoral degree in the biomedically relevant life or physical sciences.

 

AWARD DESCRIPTION

Awards up to $52,000.

At least 12 Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship awards will be made in 2010. Each award is up to a maximum of $52,000 and consists of a Fellowship Stipend of up to $42,000 for the award recipient and a Research Grant of up to $10,000. For administrative purposes, the awards will be made to the institution with which each award recipient is affiliated. Only institutions in the United States are eligible. As the awards are intended to be used to support graduate student stipends and research, no part of the awards may be used for indirect costs. Awards begin no earlier than September 1, 2010.

 

Fellowship Stipend

The Fellowship Stipend of up to $42,000 is intended to cover a minimum of 12 months up to a maximum of 24 months of fellowship tenure. A maximum of $30,000 may be received per 12 month period. Applicants must been gaged in dissertation research and within one to three years of receiving the degree. All qualifying exams for candidacy for the degree must have been successfully completed before an award can be disbursed. Award recipients will be known as UNCF•Merck Graduate Fellows. Each Fellow will be mentored by a Merck scientist. As part of the award, each Fellow will be expected to make regular contact with his/her Merck mentor. Each Fellow is also expected to present a progress report of his/her research results in the last half of their fellowship tenure at a Merck research facility. The cost of this visit will be underwritten by Merck & Co., Inc. A two-page summary of research results must be submitted to UNCF at the end of the fellowship tenure. Each Fellow is expected to notify UNCF upon receipt of his/her doctorate degree.

 

Research Grant

A Research Grant of up to $10,000 will be given to each award recipient. It is intended to support the research of the award recipient; for example, to purchase research supplies, equipment, travel to scientific meetings, etc. Fringe benefits payments, e.g. for health insurance, of up to $5,200 are also allowed. It is preferable that a special account be established by the institution for the Fellow for these purposes. All items purchased become the property of the department at the end of the fellowship tenure. Any funds remaining in the Research Grant at the end of the fellowship tenure must be returned to UNCF. However, a proposal may be submitted for the use of these funds to support research in the department. A report of all expenditures is due at the end of the fellowship. The grant may not be used to support tuition, salaries, faculty, or indirect costs.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered for the UNCF•Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship awards, an applicant must be:

 

• African American (Black)
• Enrolled in a full-time Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree program majoring in a life or physical science. M.D./Ph.D. degree candidates are eligible
• Engaged in and within 1-3 years of completing dissertation research, having successfully completed all qualifying exams
• A citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

 

SELECTION

A UNCF•Merck Selection Committee consisting of educators and Merck scientists will select the awardees. The academic ability and record of accomplishment of the applicant and the soundness of the proposed doctoral research plan are the criteria for selection. Since selection is partially based on the research proposal, the award may not be transferable to another project, laboratory, department or institution.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Online applications must be submitted by December 1, 2009, at www.uncf.org/merck.

 

All required information (marked with an *) must be entered or submission will not be allowed

 

Save each page as you fill in the requested information before going to the next page. Failure to do so may result in your being required to reenter information.

 

When you submit your completed application, an email will be automatically sent to the institutional officials listed in your application notifying them that you have applied for the scholarship

 

Recommendation letters from three individuals is required for a complete application and must be uploaded to your application by the recommenders. One of these recommenders must by your graduate advisor. Recommendation letters must be uploaded before December 1, 2009. In order to give recommenders the maximum amount of time to submit recommendation letters, you should enter all information for your recommenders as early as possible and click the "email" button. This generates an email to each recommender notifying them of your application and request for a letter of recommendation. They should log on to the website and register as a recommender using the information contained in the email, and upload a letter of recommendation for you.

 

The following item must be uploaded from your computer

• Career Interest and Goals Statement
• Resume/C.V.
• Dissertation Research Proposal

 

Up to two reprints of published papers and/or up to two published abstracts may also be submitted with your application. An uploaded digital file must be done by December 1, 2009.

 

The following items must also be uploaded by December 1, 2009 Without these items, an application is considered incomplete.

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (copy of birth certificate, U.S. passport, Resident Alien Card)
• Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions

 

Please complete the online application and submit it, along with the other items required, by midnight December 1.2009. All items must be entered online including proof of citizenship and transcripts. Other information may be requested from: Jerry L. Bryant, Ph.D., Director, UNCF/Merck Science Initiative, United Negro College Fund, Inc., 8260 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Suite 110, Fairfax, Virginia 22031-4511.