DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program
2009 Competition Guidelines and Materials

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ANNOUNCEMENT:  Competition Closed

The current competition cycle for this program is now closed. The information presented below is for reference only. The next competition cycle will be announced in the fall on this web site.

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Graduate Fellowship Details

Eligibility

• You must be a U.S. citizen as of the application deadline.
• If you have earned a master’s or doctoral degree as of the application deadline, you are ineligible.
• If you are pursuing a DVM, MBA, MD, joint MD/PhD, JD, or joint JD/PhD degree, you are ineligible.
• You must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA from the institution granting your bachelor’s degree of 3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale, including fall 2008 grades if enrolled during that term.
• If you are currently enrolled (as of the application deadline) in graduate school, you must have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale, including fall 2008 grades.
• You must be pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree with a thesis requirement in a homeland security science, technology, engineering or mathematics (HS-STEM) field which is a STEM field with coursework and/or research relevant to a homeland security research area. See DHS Research Areas.
• If you are a college senior as of the application deadline, and you will graduate prior to fall 2009, you are eligible.
• If you have previously earned a bachelor’s degree but are not currently enrolled (as of the application deadline), and as of fall 2009 you will have completed no more than two graduate courses since completion of a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible.
• If you are enrolled full-time in the first year of a PhD program as of the application deadline, and prior to fall 2008 you have completed no more than two graduate courses since completion of a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible.
• If you are enrolled full-time in the first year of a master’s program as of the application deadline, and prior to fall 2008 you have completed no more than two graduate courses since completion of a bachelor’s degree, and you will begin a PhD program in fall 2009, you are eligible.
• If you are enrolled part-time in graduate courses as of the application deadline and wish to enroll full-time in a PhD or master’s program in fall 2009, and as of fall 2009 you will have completed no more than two graduate courses since completion of a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible.
• If you are a veterinary medical student who is enrolled at an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine and who is currently in the fourth year of a professional curriculum leading to the DVM or VMD degree, and who will begin a postgraduate course of study in the 2009-2010 academic year leading to a PhD degree, you are eligible.
• If you have any commitments such as active military service, summer field work, or study abroad, that would prevent you from attending school full-time, attending the fall 2009 DHS HS-STEM Career Development Conference, participating full-time in a 10-week internship during the summer of 2010, or completing the homeland security service requirement following receipt of your degree, you are ineligible.

Stipend

• $2,300/month for 12 months

Tuition

• Full tuition and mandatory, nonrefundable fees paid

Duration

• Appointments are for up to three years, beginning fall 2009, given satisfactory academic progress and availability of funding.

Research Internship and Service Requirement

• A 10-week, continuous, off-campus research internship at DHS or a DHS-affiliated facility will be required during the summer between your first and second year appointments. Internship placement will be coordinated through this program.
• A one-year, full-time service requirement in a relevant HS-STEM field will be required. This requirement will be fulfilled with paid employment that you will secure through traditional job search techniques. The work done during this service must be applicable to one of the 16 homeland security research areas. The one-year service commitment must be served at a DHS-approved STEM venue and must be completed within two years of your final stipend payment. Options for completing this service requirement at a DHS-approved STEM venue include full-time service for: (1) one continuous year; or (2) two six-month periods at no more than two locations.

Other Important Items

• You must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited college or university located in the United States or its territories during your appointment. However, this condition would not prohibit a student from doing some of their study or research at a foreign institution, with approval from DHS.
• You must be accepted in a graduate program by fall 2009.
• No deferrals of a DHS award, the internship component, or the service requirement will be allowed.
• Students in a 4-year joint baccalaureate-master’s degree program should apply in their fourth year of college attendance.
• Students in a 5-year joint baccalaureate-master’s degree program should apply in their fifth year of college attendance.
• If you accept a DHS Fellowship, you cannot accept any other fellowships, grants or federal loans while on your DHS appointment except educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and need-based assistance approved by DHS.

Application Deadlines and Notes

• January 6, 2009: You must submit an online application form, including all essay questions, by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on this date.
• January 13, 2009: You must have two (2) online reference report forms submitted on your behalf, by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on this date. No paper or e-mail attachments accepted.
• January 13, 2009: You must have an official academic transcript from all postsecondary institutions attended, including fall 2008 grades if enrolled, submitted on your behalf by this date. Note this is a postmark deadline, not a receipt deadline. There is no need to send information via overnight or special delivery.
• January 13, 2009: You must have official Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test Scores submitted on your behalf from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) by this date. It is recommended that you submit official Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Subject Test Scores, if a test is offered in your academic discipline. If you plan to submit GRE Subject Test Scores, you must have these scores submitted on your behalf from ETS by the January 13, 2009 postmark deadline. Note this is a postmark deadline, not a receipt deadline. It is your responsibility to work with ETS to ensure that your GRE Test scores meet this postmark deadline. All GRE Test scores must be submitted by the Educational Testing Service. Provide the Educational Testing Service with the ORISE Institutional Code of 1590.
• January 13, 2009: If you are a U.S. citizen by birth and do not have a U.S. passport (current or expired), you must submit a copy of your birth certificate by this date. Note this is a postmark deadline, not a receipt deadline. There is no need to send information via overnight or special delivery.
• We will not accept materials via fax or as e-mail attachments. Do not send duplicate items via fax or e-mail.
• Do not submit resumes, official copies of standardized test scores including SAT or ACT test scores which are self-reported on your electronic application or GRE Test score reports which must be submitted directly to us by ETS, off-prints, manuscripts, video tapes, slides, photographs, or other extraneous materials. Do not submit more than the designated page limit for essay questions in the application. The above items will not be used in the review of your application.

Evaluation Process

Applications will be evaluated by a review panel of scientists and engineers who are experts in one or more of the chosen fields. The evaluation will be based on the student’s academic record, submitted test scores, reference reports, and essays. Reviewers will provide an overall rating and a separate rating on each of the following:

• Academic Record
  Transcripts are reviewed and evaluated in conjunction with information on the student’s program and information from submitted reference reports.
• Reference Reports
  The best reference reports typically come from professors who know the applicant and can make an informed judgment about the applicant’s fitness for the proposed program of study. Reviewers look for evidence of the ability to succeed in research therefore references from research supervisors are helpful, even if these references are not the applicants’ professors.
• GRE Test Scores
  These are used to enhance other information related to academic potential. There are no minimum test-score requirements. Applications without GRE General Test scores will not be reviewed. Applicants without GRE Subject Test scores in fields where tests are offered will be reviewed, but strong GRE Subject Test scores can enhance other evidence of potential to succeed in a graduate program.
• Research Experience Essay
  The best essays will do three things: succinctly describe the specific research experience, including the specific role that you played if you were part of a larger project; list any publications or presentations of research findings; and tell the reviewers what was gained from the experience.
• Current Research Interests Essay
  The best essays demonstrate both an ability to define a research problem relevant to the DHS mission and an understanding of how such a problem might be solved. Essays should contain only original thoughts or other properly attributed information.
• Homeland Security Service Essay
  Reviewers will look for evidence that the applicant is interested in a career relevant to HS-STEM and has a commitment to the mission and goals of the agency demonstrated by working for an employer with a direct relationship with DHS S&T. The best essays will demonstrate insight into the career that interests you, the steps you may take to achieve your goals, and indicate how the fellowship will contribute to your career goals.

The most highly rated applications are then reviewed by DHS S&T. The review focuses on factors of special concern to DHS such as the relevance of the applicant’s research interests. The final selection of fellows is made by DHS.

The DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Conditions of Award

Detailed conditions of the awards made to the 2008 Class of DHS Scholars and Fellows are available for your review. Those offered an award will have time to review the final 2009 award conditions before acceptance of the award.

To begin an application you must respond to a list of questions that will help you determine your eligibility to apply to the DHS Scholarship and Fellowship Program. You must answer all questions in the order they appear to get access to an application. There are several opportunities in the questionnaire for you to e-mail us if your answers to the questions do not result in access to an application. Thank you for your interest in the program and for taking the time to answer these questions as accurately as possible. Use the begin fellowship application link on the left to begin your application.