Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants
If you have a question that is not answered below, please submit it to ura@wtamu.edu.
What kinds of thesis topics are of interest to the AFCI/GNEP University Fellowship Program?
Can I receive the fellowship and also serve as a teaching assistant or graduate assistant?
I am going to get a Ph.D. Can I apply for the fellowship?
Can I start my graduate program in June?
My master's degree program will take longer than 18 months. Can I apply?
What kinds of thesis topics are of interest to the AFCI/GNEP University Fellowship Program?
See examples of some AFCI/GNEP projects in the list of projects funded by the NERI University Research Program:
NERI 2008 Award List
NERI 2007 Award List
NERI 2006 Award List
NERI 2005 Award List
Also, see the completed work of past AFCI/GNEP fellows here.
If you have more specific questions about thesis topics, please submit them to ura@wtamu.edu.
I will graduate with my bachelor’s degree in December and will start graduate school in January. Can I apply?
To date, the reviewers have not granted fellowships to students who are beginning their programs in January. The sense has been that the applicant can apply during the next year's solicitation.
Can I receive the fellowship and also serve as a teaching assistant or graduate assistant?
University Research Alliance is seeking an answer to this question and will post the answer here as soon as it is available.
I am going to get a Ph.D. Can I apply for the fellowship?
You may apply for the fellowship only if you will be acquiring a master's degree en route to the Ph.D. The fellowship funds may only be used to support the acquisition of a master's degree.
Can I start my graduate program in June?
You can start your graduate program in June, but you will not receive fellowship benefits until September.
I will have already completed a year of my degree by the time I could be awarded a fellowship. Can I apply?
Yes, you are eligible to apply. Applicants who have already completed a year of their graduate program are considered to be as eligible as new graduate students.
By September when the fellowship will begin, I will only have one semester left in my graduate program. Can I apply?
You can apply, however, in the past, these applicants have been judged to be too far along in their studies for the fellowship to be of great value to the applicant and for the applicant to be of greatest value to the program. So, historically, these applicants have had a lesser probability of being awarded a fellowship.
My master's degree program will take longer than 18 months. Can I apply?
One of DOE's key objectives for the AFCI/GNEP fellowships is to identify highly talented students who will be able to complete their degree programs within 12-18 months. If you know that you will not be able to do that, you should include this information in the final narrative section of the application, the statement of interest.
Then, if you are named a fellow, you will need to request an extension before the initial 18 months is over. While we urge you to complete your degree within 18 months, we do have some leeway to grant additional time. Eighteen months is counted in consecutive months starting in September.
