Ryan Fellowship, Northwestern University

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The Ryan Fellowship, made possible by a generous donation from Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan, supports graduate students dedicated to the exploration of fundamental nanoscale science and to advancing this knowledge into practical applications of benefit to society.

The fellowship, created in 2007, supports the finest graduate students in the country and provides them with the education and experience to assume leadership roles in the realm of nanotechnology.

Ryan Fellows will participate in a variety of activities including retreats, lectures, symposia, and other opportunities to engage in collaborative discussion and research with domestic and international partners.

Deadline

Applications are by program nomination only. Current students should consult with their Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for the program’s internal deadline. The deadline for  receipt of nominees’ applications is Friday, April 26, 2019, 11:59 pm. Programs must notify TGS of the names of their nominees as early as possible, but no later than Wednesday, April 24 to allow enough time for application submission.

Eligibility

Applications are by departmental/program nomination only. Current PhD students in their second (or third) year, who have shown exceptional scientific talent and who have committed to a specific research project in the area of nanoscience and technology, may be nominated by their program. (Typically students in their 2nd year are preferred, but the committee will consider 3rd year students who are outstanding.)

The inherent interdisciplinarity of nanotechnology makes the Ryan Fellowship applicable to gifted students from a broad spectrum of programs and schools, including:

• Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences
• Feinberg School of Medicine
• TGS Interdisciplinary Programs including: Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences (DGP), Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program (IBiS), and Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN)

Students receiving graduate assistance must adhere to the regulations governing recipients of University assistance.

Award

• The fellowship includes $7,500 as an additional stipend and $2,500 for research expenses each year.
• Current PhD students will receive Ryan Fellowship funding in addition to their current funding for three years or until they graduate (whichever comes first).

Application Instructions

Since programs may have earlier application deadlines and additional requirements and eligibility criteria, students should speak with their program’s DGS for additional information. Applicants must be nominated by their program of study. Programs must notify The Graduate School of the names of their nominees as early as possible, but no later than Wednesday, April 24.

The following items must be submitted to the online application tool directly by students who have been nominated by their programs. A link to submit the application will be provided to those students nominated by their program:

1. Description of the proposed research project

Not to exceed five pages, double-spaced. Endnotes, references, and/or images do not count toward the 5-page limit, but these may not exceed a total of two additional pages.

2. Sample of previous research or published paper

Dissertation proposals, dissertation chapters, and qualifying exams are not acceptable samples. There are no maximum or minimum length requirements for research samples, but only two samples will be accepted. Excerpts are also acceptable.

3. Curriculum vitae (in the format specified by this template).

4. Unofficial Northwestern transcript.

5. Letter of recommendation

One letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor, not to exceed two, single-spaced pages. When submitting the application via the online application tool, applicants will invite a faculty member to submit a letter of recommendation. (Note: The faculty member must be invited using their northwestern.edu email address.) Applicants should notify the intended letter-writer well in advance of entering their name in the online application tool.  Applicants can check the status of the recommendation letter or change the recommender via the online application tool.

Contact

Email gradfund@northwestern.edu for more information.