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National and International Agencies

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National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships

The NSF graduate fellowships offer recognition and three years of support for advanced study to approximately 900 outstanding graduate students (nation-wide) in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science and the philosophy of science, and to research-based PhD degrees in science education.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals who are at or near the beginning of their graduate study.  Awards that were made in March 2003 carry a stipend for each fellow of $27,500 for a 12-month tenure (prorated monthly at $2,291 for lesser periods) and an annual cost-of-education allowance of $10,500, paid to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees. See http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.

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NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants.

The NSF offers DDIGs in Physical Anthropology, Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology. Awards of up to $12,000 to meet expenses associated with doctoral dissertation research. Items normally requested include per diem for time spent away from the home institution, travel funds, supplies and equipment, costs associated with field research and analysis fees.  Salary for research at one’s home institution is not permitted. Recent panel advice to applicants in cultural anthropology notes that “projects which advance our theoretical understanding are more scientifically meritorious than descriptive projects which add a case study of some (albeit fascinating and topical) situation. Outstanding proposals specify how the knowledge to be created advances our theoretical understanding of the study situation, so that people interested in similar situations in different contexts will learn from the project’s outcome. The key is to be explicit in showing how the general theory explains the local situation, and in showing how the new knowledge from the local situation will advance the theory.”  This advice is relevant to applicants in all subfields. http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov

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Fulbright Fellowships for Graduate Study and Research Abroad.

These awards provide travel and maintenance, and specific book or research allowances for study or research projects in over 100 nations. Level of required language training depends on the project or study plan and the country in question. The UO interviews applicants and forwards applications in a single institutional packet. For application materials see Kathy Poole, OIP, 346-1212. The campus deadline is in late September or early October.

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Preservation Technology and Training Grants
(PTTGrants) Program: The PTT Grants program supports research, training, meetings and conferences, and publications that advance the application of technology to the preservation of cultural resources.  Preservation technology refers broadly to any equipment, method, or technique that can be applied to the discovery, analysis, interpretation, conservation, protection, and management of historic objects, sites, structures or landscapes.  Research priorities include protecting cultural resources against vandalism, looting and terrorism, studying environmental effects of pollution on cultural resources, and documenting and preserving threatened cultural landscapes. The proposal deadline is usually in December.  More information can be found at www.ncptt.nps.gov.

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National Institute of Mental Health: The National Institute of Mental Health is the lead Federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders. NIMH does support some doctoral research, please see http://www.nimh.nih.gov/nimhhome/index.cfm and discuss with your advisor.

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Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)

The Student Career Experience Program is a strong recruitment source for Federal agencies that need to attract diverse and talented students with skills which will be critical to the future workforce needs of the Federal Government. For example, both the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management use this program to train and recruit archaeologists and heritage specialists.  The program provides for work-study partnerships between the students, the university, and a Federal agency.  The SCEP provides an opportunity to gain work experience directly related to an academic field of study, and allows for a flexible work schedule. See http://www.usajobs.gov/EI14.asp, and the appropriate federal agency website.

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Canadian Embassy – Canadian Studies Graduate Student Fellowships

The purpose of the fellowship is to offer graduate students an opportunity to conduct part of their doctoral research in Canada. The fellowships will support research in the social and human sciences, journalism, business, trade, environment, and law with a view to contributing to a better knowledge and understanding of Canada and its relationship with the U.S. and/or other countries of the world.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and should have completed all doctoral requirements except their dissertations at the time of application. All dissertations must be related in substantial part to the study of Canada, Canada/U.S. or Canada/North America.  The fellowships are available for up to nine months, with a maximum stipend of up to $850 per month.  See http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/washington/studies/graduate-en.asp.

Please note: the Canadian Embassy is just one example of an international funding opportunity.

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