Public Impact Fellowship - AY 2009-2010

Introduction

The UCI Graduate Division is pleased to invite nominations for the Public Impact Fellowship, which highlights and supports doctoral students whose current research has the potential for substantial impact in the public sphere. Ideal candidates will be involved in research designed to significantly improve or enrich the lives of Californians and/or national and global communities.

All schools are eligible to nominate students to compete for a total of 14 fellowships. Each of the four full awardees — two from STEM and two from non-STEM disciplines — will receive $10,000 for spring quarter 2010 support. Ten honorable mention awardees each will receive $1,000.

Eligibility

Award Amount

$10,000 (full award) or $1,000 (honorable mention award) to be used as a stipend.

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees must, at minimum, meet the following criteria:

Maintain UC GPA of 3.5 or higher through fall quarter 2009.
Be a current, full-time doctoral student making satisfactory academic progress.
Conduct research that has critical public impact. (Examples of relevant research include studies that aim to improve economic opportunity and well-being, health care, social justice, political participation, cultural engagement, and scientific or technical solutions to pressing social issues.)
Be willing to have research spotlighted/featured on both the Graduate Division’s and UCI’s home page, and be able to effectively communicate and discuss their research in lay terms with prospective donors, legislators and/or their staff, and the media.
If selected as a finalist, student must be available to give a five-minute presentation to the selection committee, followed by a brief interview, on Friday, January 22, 2010.

Deadline

The deadline for e-mail receipt of completed/signed nomination packages is 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Application/Nomination

NOMINATION PROCESS: (last updated November 20, 2009)

Schools are asked to collect nominations from each department and then forward the most promising nominees, based on merit and the potential public impact of the student’s research. There is no limit to the number of nominations each school may submit. The final selection committee will consider several factors when choosing the awardees, including the student’s presentation and interview, academic records, letters of recommendation, degree progress since matriculation into the program, and research impact.

Student Information Forms (to be completed by the student):

Students may apply via the fillable/savable Microsoft Word form from the Graduate Division Website: Public Impact Fellowship Student Information Form
Students must complete and submit the Student Information form as a Microsoft Word document via e-mail to their department (including the Student Profile and Student Research sections)

Student Information forms must be saved in Microsoft Word as "IMPACT APP - SID#.doc", e.g. "IMPACT APP - 12345678.doc"

Students must also provide the following items to their department:

A printed/signed copy of the Student Information form (including the Student Profile and Student Research sections)
A current, printed curriculum vitae

Nomination Forms (to be completed by the department):

Departments will nominate students via the fillable/savable Microsoft Word form from the Graduate Division website: Public Impact Fellowship Nomination Form

Click here for some instructions on using Word-based data entry forms

Nomination forms should be saved in Microsoft Word as "IMPACT NOM - SID#.doc", e.g.

"IMPACT NOM - 12345678.doc"

Print the nomination forms and gather original signatures for each form
Once forms are final with signatures, scan documents to a single PDF file for each nominee in this order:

Nomination form (signed by the student)
Student Information form (signed by the faculty advisor and Associate Dean)
Curriculum vitae
Faculty Advisor letter of recommendation
Associate Dean letter of recommendation

Save the new PDF file as "IMPACT - SID#.pdf", ex:

"IMPACT - 12345678.pdf"

Associate Deans to submit a signed cover letter rank ordering the nominees from the school
When all documentation is complete, e-mail the following items separately for each student:

Email to rizza.barnes@uci.edu:

The original Microsoft Word (.doc) nomination form
The original Microsoft Word (.doc) Student Information form
The PDF file (.pdf) with the packet (to include all items listed above)

DEADLINE to submit nominations to the Graduate Division: 12:00 p.m. (noon), Friday, January 8, 2010

Late or incomplete nominations packets will not be reviewed

Of Note

Students who receive the full $10,000 awards are not to be appointed as TAs during the period of the fellowship. However, students who receive $1,000 honorable mention awards may be appointed as TAs.
For students already receiving financial aid, acceptance of a Public Impact Fellowship may affect his or her overall financial need-based support package. In such cases, students are encouraged to consult with the UCI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Previous winners (both full awardees and honorable mentions) are not eligible for this year’s competition; a list of past Public Impact Fellows is available below.

Contact

Questions should be directed to Rizza Barnes, Director of Communications, at rizza.barnes@uci.edu or 949-824-7005.

PUBLIC IMPACT FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS - AY 2008-2009

Biographies of Spring 2009 Fellows

Full Awardees: $10,000 for spring quarter

Student Name

School

Department

Mary Amasia	Engineering	Chemical/Biomed Eng.
Research Project: Development of an automated CD-based Anthrax detection system for rapid testing and containment of anthrax

Thomas Gilbreath	Biological Sci.	Eco/Evo Biology
Research Project: Effects of deforestation on aquatic habitat and mosquito larval development; how it contributes to malaria mosquito ecology and increased malaria transmission.

Maria Parente	Education	Education
Research Project: How child/adolescent self-care affects developmental outcomes of academic performance and social behavior.

Michael Powe	Social Ecology	Planning/Policy/Design
Research Project: Social, political and economic consequences to the community resulting from upscale loft conversions in LA's Skid Row.

Honorable Mention Awardees: $1,000 for spring quarter