NASA/Gamma Ray Large Area Telescope (GLAST)
GLAST FELLOWS PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Can SLAC and/or Stanford (Department of Physics) be considered as a separate institution and then can be chosen as the second and third host institutions?
ANSWER: A goal is to spread the expertise and interest in GLAST. While, in principle, listing SLAC and Stanford as first and second choice is allowed by the Announcement, the reason for declining your first choice could be that a higher rated applicant also listed that as his/ her first choice. In this case, in the interest of achieving a balance, it could work against your evaluation by the selection panel to have too many GLAST Fellows at the same institution. In other words, you are allowed to do this, but it could make your proposal less competitive.
QUESTION Is it possible that one of the referees belongs to the first, or other secondary host institutions?
ANSWER: There is no restriction on the institutional affiliation of the persons providing endorsement letters.
QUESTION: On the application form, there are spaces for "Primary Contacts" for the Second and Third choice Host institutions. I was under the impression that only a Primary Contact for the first choice institution was required. Is this incorrect?
ANSWER: A contact should be provided for each of the three potential host institutions as an indication that each institution has agreed to host the Fellow if his/her application is successful.
QUESTION: Is it OK if the reference letters are received before the application form?
ANSWER: Reference letters may be submitted at any time, but must arrive before the application deadline for the application to be complete.
QUESTION: I'm supposed to finish my PhD in June/July 2008. What evidence would you need? Is it enough if it is written in the letter of reference from my supervisor?
ANSWER: Yes, a letter from your thesis advisor stating his/her belief that the university requirements for your Ph.D. will be satisfied prior to 28 December 2007 (as stated in the Announcement) should be included with your application.
QUESTION: does the page limit for the current and previous research summary include the reference list and figures or can they be put on an additional page, like in the case of research proposal?
ANSWER: The page limit for the current and previous research summary is 2 pages. Therefore the reference list and any figure should fall within the limit.
QUESTION: Given current University of California policy, the fellow would be eligible not only for health insurance but also the benefits associated with regular employees. For example, our current benefit rate we use for all grants, federal and nonfederal, for post-docs is 25% which includes health insurance. For the purposes of the GLAST fellowship, is it an allowable cost to charge the full 25% or are only the health insurance -related costs allowable? Also, if the full 25% is allowable, is that above the $56,000 allowable for the stipend, or should we budget for it within the $56,000?
ANSWER: The policy for the GLAST Fellowship is that the host institution may claim reimbursement only for the costs of health insurance and applicable government mandated employee fringe benefits. The costs of any benefits above and beyond these must be covered as a contribution by the host institution.