Funding Graduate School

1
Funding Graduate School

• A Students Experience

Luis D. Medina SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program
in Clinical Psychology
2
Types of Funding

• Predoctoral Awards
• Dissertation Awards
• NIH Supplements
• Academic Scholarships
• Supplemental Awards

3
Sources of Information

• Grants.gov
• UCLA Graduate Postdoctoral Extramural Support
  (GRAPES) Database (www.gdnet.ucla.edu/grpinst.htm)
  
• UC Research Grants Program Office
  (www.ucop.edu/research/rgpo/funding.html)
• UCSD Search for University Research Funding
  (SURF) Database (research.ucsd.edu/surf/index.html
  )
• APA (www.apa.org)
• UCSD Graduate Funding Blog (ucsdgraduatefunding.wo
  rdpress.com)

4
Common National Fellowships

• F32 National Research Service Awards (NRSA)
• Stipend 21,180 Institution 4,200
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate
  Research Fellowship
• Stipend 30,000 Institution 10,500
• Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
• Stipend 20,000 Institution 2,000
• APA Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  (MHSAS)
• Stipend Varies

5
Other Sources

• NIH Diversity Supplements
• UC-MEXUS
• UC Pacific Rim Research Program
• Intramural Awards

6
Application Process

• Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Support
• Essays
• Personal Statement
• Research Experience
• Research /Training Proposal

7
Writing Tips

• Check out your target agency's recent awards
• Speak with a program officer
• When preparing your proposal, follow the agency's
  guidelines
• Be particular about the little things
• Have a colleague read the proposal before you
  send it off
• Don't wait until the last minute to prepare and
  submit your application
• Don't assume that reviewers will be experts in
  your subspecialty
• Don't give up if you're rejected
• Don't forget to obtain copies of the reviewer's
  comments
• From The Buck Starts Here by Karen M.
  Markin, PhD

8
Rater Comments

• This applicant has remarkable potential as a
  scientist
• His proposed research is creative and
  cutting-edge.
• He writes with great passion and
  persuasiveness
• Well justified and well described research
  study.
• Well defined future life goals and very well
  written and personal essay.
• He presents clear hypotheses and has the skills
  and resources to complete the work.
• The proposed research will enhance scientific
  understanding

9
Multiple Sources of Funding

• Main versus Supplemental
• Stipend versus Small Awards
• Multiple Main Sources
• Short-term versus Long-term

10
Final Advice

• Keep your CV updated!
• Keep copies of your essays (e.g., Personal
  Statement, Research Experience, Research
  Proposal)
• Search early
• Search often

11
Thank You!
Luis D. Medina E-Mail MedinaL_at_rohan.sdsu.edu Offi
ce 619.594.8374

• Mailing Address
• SDSU/UCSD JDP in Clinical Psychology
• 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103
• San Diego, CA 92120

Physical Office/Laboratory Address Memory and
Aging Laboratory 6475 Alvarado Road, Suite
104 San Diego, CA 92120