Fellowship Information

CRITERIA AND EVALUATION

Candidates will be evaluated using the five categories listed below. In addition to meeting the outlined criteria, we are seeking individuals who have leadership attributes, analytical and critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, effective communication skills, and demonstrated commitment to their specific STEM discipline.

The five criteria categories are presented with descriptors of what we seek in potential fellowship finalists and the point ranges used by the Reviewers and Selection Committee members when evaluating applicants in each category. A perfect score for a single candidate would be 100 points.

STEM Background and Academic Achievement (1-40 points)

• Solid STEM education and academic experiences in specified area
• Undergraduate academic record
• Standardized test scores (GRE is required for most graduate programs)
• Internship, research, or employment experience in STEM-related fields

Leadership and Potential (1-15 points)

• Prior leadership roles
• Demonstrated skill/potential to organize, plan, and implement projects and lead people toward positive outcomes
• Confidence, maturity, and self-direction with the capacity, initiative, and flexibility to work well independently as well as in groups
• Potential to take initiative to make the fellowship a rich and positive experience, to disseminate the skills learned through the fellowship, and take advantage of networks developed

Analytical and Problem-solving Abilities (1-15 points)

• Evidence of creative thinking and analytical skills
• Capacity to make connections between STEM academic areas and broader economic, social, and political issues

Communication and Interpersonal Skills (1-15 points)

• Excellent communication skills: articulate, cohesive, concise, rational flow of information, and clear in both context and detail
• Ability to convey scientific knowledge in broader, non-scientific contexts
• Capacity to work effectively and complete assigned tasks and responsibilities

Residency Requirements (1-15 points)

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• Must be a legal resident of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Washington DC as determined by city and state of applicant’s high school
• Must have gained acceptance into a STEM discipline Master’s level program in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Washington DC