NASA/Gamma Ray Large Area Telescope (GLAST)
GLAST FELLOWS APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1. General Information
Awards are made on the basis of a review of the applicant's research proposal -- its science merit and relevance to gamma-ray astronomy and the GLAST mission -- as well as the curriculum vitae, list of publications, summary of previous and current research, three letters of reference, and the host institution letter of endorsement. The details of the application are described fully below.
2. Application Deadline
The application deadline for the current cycle is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007 (5:00 pm EST). All application materials, including those not sent directly by the applicant, must be received at the GLAST Fellowship Program Office (GFPO) by this date. Incomplete applications and/or applications received after December 7, 2007, will not be considered. We strongly suggest that applicants begin the application process early so all questions and issues that arise from this process are resolved before final submittal of applications materials. All questions, including technical questions, related to our program, may be directed to Sandra.L.Barnes@nasa.gov.
3. Application Procedure
Applicants must submit all application materials according to the instructions below. If for any reason you are unable to apply in this manner, contact Ms. Barnes.
4. Materials Submitted Directly by the Applicant
The applicant should send the following files, as part of the application, directly to the GFPO:
a) Application Form (to be completed and submitted on-line);
b) Curriculum Vitae;
c) Publication list;
d) Previous and current research summary (limited to two pages);
e) Research proposal, as described below.
All materials submitted must be in at least 11-point fonts. Individual files must not be more than 20 megabytes in size. Files, except for the Application Form, shall be converted by the proposer to portable document format (.pdf) prior to transmission. (Information regarding .pdf files is available at www.adobe.com).
A link to the 2008 GLAST Fellow Application form may be found on the fellowship homepage (or in the link on the left side of this page). Fill this out and submit it to the Fellowship Program Office. Applicants successfully submitting the application form will receive both an acknowledgement notice on their browser and also an e-mail message with a record of data submitted on the application form.
Please forward this e-mail message to Sandra Barnes, and attach .pdf files containing your Curriculum Vitae, Publication list, Previous and Current Research Summary, and your Research proposal. Include your name in the subject line. If you have difficulty sending these attachments all at once, divide them up into multiple e-mails.
Without prior agreement by the GFPO, applications transmitted through any other method shall not be considered for award.
Research Proposal: Each applicant must formulate a specific research plan that is related to GLAST science and is generally compatible with the research activities of the host institution. The proposed research need not be based directly on GLAST data, but its relevance to GLAST science must be clear and unambiguous. Relevance to the GLAST mission will be interpreted broadly, and encompass both observational and theoretical research.
The text of the research proposal should be AT MOST THREE PAGES in length, with 1-2 additional pages allowable for references and figures. Reviewers will be instructed to ignore any pages in excess of the stated limits. It is valuable to reviewers if the proposal includes a specific plan showing how the work is expected to progress throughout the three years.
5. Endorsement Letter
Applicants must arrange for their research proposals to be read and approved by a faculty member or member of the scientific staff of the first-choice host institution and endorsed by an official of that institution. The endorsement must be sent directly to the GFPO by the first-choice host institution BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE. The institutional endorsement is necessary to indicate that adequate facilities will be provided for the GLAST fellow, but does not ensure selection. This endorsement should consist of an endorsement letter signed by an authorized official of the first-choice host institution. A sample endorsement letter is as follows:
GLAST Fellowship Program Office
Attn: Ms. Sandra Barnes
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Mail Code 661
Greenbelt, MD 20771To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in regard to [applicant's name]'s application for a GLAST Fellowship. We have reviewed his/her research proposal entitled "[program title]" and are pleased to endorse it and to inform you that we will welcome him/her here and offer him/her support and facilities should a fellowship be offered. Dr. [principal contact's name] has agreed to serve as his/her principal contact.
I understand, and agree to the GLAST Host Institution responsibilities and commitments, as described in the GLAST FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT, TERMS OF THE GLAST FELLOWSHIP, under Section 2. Host Institution. We understand and agree that the institution's indirect cost rate may not be applied against either the fellowship stipend or health insurance.
Sincerely yours,
Authorized Signatory
Host Institution
The letter must be received by the application deadline and should be mailed directly to the fellowship program office. Provided the letters contain original signatures, they may also be e-mailed to Sandra.L.Barnes@nasa.gov as Word or .pdf file attachments.
6. Letters of Reference Applicants should arrange for letters of reference to be submitted by three individuals familiar with the applicants' scientific abilities. The names of the references are to be listed on the standard application form. All letters should be sent directly to the GFPO by the three referees. APPLICANTS SHOULD EMPHASIZE TO THEIR REFEREES THAT THE LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE GFPO BY DECEMBER 7, 2007 (5:00 pm EST), in order for the review panelists to be able to see the letters. If more than three letters are received, the first three received will be used.
These letters must be mailed directly to: GLAST Fellowship Program Office Attn: Ms. Sandra Barnes NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Mail Code 661 Greenbelt, MD 20771.
Provided the letters contain original signatures, they may also be e-mailed to Sandra.L.Barnes@nasa.gov as Word or pdf attachments.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that letters of reference have been received by the GFPO.
For Questions, contact:
Ms. Sandra Barnes
GLAST Fellowship Program Office
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Mail Code 661
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Sandra.L.Barnes@nasa.gov
301-286-7780