Preparing Excellent Fellowship Applications

Writing grant applications is an important part of research and of your development as researchers. The first opportunity to put together something like a grant application for many graduate students is to apply for fellowships. But, why do these fellowships even exist? How do they relate to my time at UBC and my career? How are recipients for fellowships selected? The facilitator will provide perspective on the review process from the perspective of the committees that select fellowship recipients.

Learning Objectives. 

• Understanding selection processes
• Strategic approaches to funding applications
• How to think about your application as presenting an overall narrative
• Selecting referees to ask to write letters of reference
• Tailoring your application to particular audiences
• Awareness of funding applications as a continuous process and motivation to start drafting applications immediately

Who should attend?: Incoming or continuing graduate students, whether you’re eligible for tri-agency fellowships or not. This is a good time to start thinking about and preparing applications generally!

Facilitator

Dr. Julian Dierkes is the Senior Associate Dean, Students, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and is responsible for providing academic leadership in graduate student funding, liaising with external agencies and donors, promoting student success in award competitions, and supporting programs in their responsibilities related to student financial support. He is an Associate Professor and Keidanren Chair in Japanese Research in UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.