PhD Plus is excited to support UVA doctoral students applying for any research fellowship or scholarship program. UVA applicants have access to virtual workshops, mini-writing retreats, feedback sessions, and online materials designed to help you strengthen your application by providing insight into the entire cycle—from drafting your materials to understanding the review process. To help you plan and set goals weeks or months before the deadline, please download a copy of the PhD Plus - Fellowship Applications Timeline and PhD Plus - Fellowship Application Checklist, which includes a month-by-month breakdown of the how you can begin preparing to apply for upcoming programs, as well as tips and important reminders.
Individual Support
Contact Sam Lake ([email protected]) with questions. We are available to provide individual support for fellowship applications (planning, draft feedback, etc). See our advising page for more details about how to schedule a meeting.
PhD Plus - Summer Fellowship & Grant Writing Series
For graduate students and postdocs applying to fellowships: gain insight into what reviewers are looking for, develop a better understanding of what made past applications successful, begin drafting application materials that highlight your individual experiences and strengths, receive small group feedback on your personal and research statement ideas, and more. This series is applicable to students in ANY field. Students who are planning to apply for the NSF GRFP are strongly encouraged to participate.
- June 5, 2:00 pm: Deconstructing Fellowship Announcements & Evaluation Criteria
- June 17, 3:00 pm: Creating Strong CVs and Cover Letters
- June 26, 3:00 pm: Personal Statements & Essays: Crafting Your Stories
- July 17, 3:00 pm: Research Plans & Statements: Framing Your Research
- August 6, 2:00 pm: Letters of Recommendation; Revising and Refining
- August 19, 3:00 pm: Crafting a Holistic and Compelling Application Package
- Times TBD, Week of August 11-15: Peer Feedback Sessions*
* While most of this series will take place on Zoom, the Peer Feedback Sessions will take place in person.
REGISTER HERE
PhD Plus - NSF GRFP Applicant Support
Find more details here: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Preparation Workshops and Other Support
Videos, handouts, and other resources for NSF GRFP preparation available on Canvas Connect site (open to all UVA graduate students and postdocs).
LEARN MORE HERE
PhD Plus - Mini-Writing Retreats
Need time to work on your GRFP or other fellowship application? Do you like to write in a group setting? Join our Mini-Writing Retreats! Each session will start with a brief welcome and some helpful tips, but the focus of the session will be on writing—turning your ideas and draft materials into a final application. Members of the PhD Plus team will be there to answer questions and provide feedback on your draft materials.
REGISTRATION OPENS THIS SUMMER
PhD Plus - Virtual Office Hours
Have a few specific fellowship or grant writing questions or want to get some personalized feedback? Then join us during the PhD Plus drop-in virtual office hour sessions. These office hours will be held virtually via Zoom, and Sam Lake, Associate Director of Career and Professional Development, will be there to answer questions and offer some immediate feedback.
REGISTRATION OPENS THIS SUMMER
PhD Plus - Science Policy Fellowship Workshop
PhD Plus and the Science Policy Initiative at UVA hosted a half-day workshop in July 2023 for graduate students interested in pursuing science policy internship and fellowship opportunities. The 2.5-hour event included an overview of the different types of science policy opportunities (seasonal internships to postgraduate fellowship programs), a panel discussion featuring UVA alums, tips on how to get started, and more. UVA students can access additional resources on Collab (see below).
Email Sam Lake ([email protected]) to gain access to the workshop resources and recordings.
PhD Plus - Canvas Connect Online Resources
Videos, worksheets, and other resources for graduate research, postdoc, and science policy fellowship preparation are available on our Canvas Connect page (open to all UVA graduate students and postdocs).
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