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rehab-robotics

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Posts posted by rehab-robotics

  1. Out of curiosity why do you want the NSF GRFP most? Is it the prestige, security of funds, ability to have more freedom in your research, increase in stipend amount, all of the above?

    I've been working (pretty low-paying jobs) through undergrad to subsidize the cost of school. It would be nice to go from -$15k/year (loans) to $32k per year. I'm also trying to do a thesis MS first, so I don't have a shot at other funding right now. It would open up a lot of options (and time) for research in graduate school.

  2. anyone else received any news?

    I got another email from Martina last week asking about my graduation status (bachelor's), whether I'm pursing graduate school and if I can postpone my enrollment in grad school. Something to do with a new law passed in Germany. This was Thursday March 5, and I haven't received a response back yet, or final confirmation from my company. I did speak with the supervisor again, and we talked about start dates and length of stay, so taking that as the company will approve me.

    Phone call with supervisor this upcoming Friday. Will post immediately if I get any more emails from DAAD or Martina. Hoping for one tomorrow with final confirmation, I'd like to book a flight.

  3. I spoke with a professor who sat on a NSF panel two years ago.  The way it was explained to me is that your app is sent out to various researchers in your field (generally 3-4 people). They read it and say to consider it or not. If it passes the initial read, it is sent to a panel of judges in your field.  2-3 of the panelists are in charge of being experts on your proposal. They explain your research, background, etc. to the others on the panel (some are in charge of skimming your projects, some will not read it at all).  The panel will then discuss each proposal and recommends a certain number for funding. 

     

     I have one professor who is sitting on the Ford panel, and she leaves next week to review.  I'd imagine the NSF reviews happen around the same time.  The panel process takes about 1 week to complete.  

     

    The waiting is just awful!

    Really? I don't think I believe this.

    Info on proposal review is in the solicitation here http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14590/nsf14590.pdf.

    "Applications will be reviewed online by virtual panels of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers and other professional graduate education experts. Panels will review applications from broad areas of related disciplines."

    It seems irresponsible to have someone learn your proposal, then present it to the people that are actually grading it. That leaves so much wiggle room to depend on the person presenting your proposal and not the merit of your proposal. At least I hope what you said isn't true...

  4. I got an email today saying they matched me with an internship (they named the company), and they are just waiting on final approval from the company. It's for the company that I chatted with the supervisor over the phone about.

    I'm studying applied physics, also in my final semester. I've got a few internship and research experiences, and a lot of different (but semi-irrelevant) work experience.

    Good luck! I hope you got some good news today too.

  5. I haven't yet. I informally chatted on the phone with the supervisor for one of the companies I applied to. I had a question and he said "we can just talk about it over the phone."

    Which internships did you apply to? I applied to ABB (software engineering), IPA (prosthetics) and the Bayer Healthcare corporate engineering one.

  6. Hello all,

     

    I couldn't find any other threads for this program for 2015, so here it is.

     

    Who else is applying to this program for next summer? I just submitted my application and the waiting game begins. (Well, it continues...) I applied to the undergrad version my sophomore year and wasn't accepted. I'm a little more optimistic now, but I also can't really find any stats on acceptance rates for the Professional program.

     

    The link is here if anyone is unaware of this program. https://www.daad.de/rise-pro/en/

  7. I applied to a few different sets of programs (BME/ ME/ Comp Sci), all focusing on rehab robotics or robotic control.

     

     

    Undergrad Institution: Public. Small, undergrad only. Good name recognition within state. One of the top public schools in the state.

    Major(s): Applied Physics
    Minor(s): 
    GPA in Major: ~3.3
    Overall GPA: 3.59
    Length of Degree: 4
    Position in Class: Probably top 10-20%, but I really have no idea.
    Type of Student: White male, first-generation college.


    GRE Scores:
    Q: 162 (83%)
    V: 164 (93%)
    W: 4.0 (54%)


    Research Experience: 

    • 1 summer paid Astronomy (at home institution).
    • 2 years astronomy after that summer.
    • 1 summer paid software engineering intern.
    • 1 summer optics research, Brazil.


    Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 

    • University Travel and Research Grant (awarded 3x)
    • STEM Research Grant - Global Laboratories.
    • Dean's List (5x).
    • Sigma Pi Sigma (national physics honor society).
    • Applied to NSF GRFP for next fall.
    • Miscellaneous student-athlete awards, NCAA DIII Track and Field. (2x Student athlete of the week, conference champion, team championship, 5x ECAC qualifier, Chancellor's award.)


    Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

    • Undergraduate Lab Instructor, 2 semesters. I actually got paid to teach a lab class on my own. I met with the supervising professor once a week, but other than that I delivered lectures, quizzes, grading, office hours, etc.
    • Student web developer. Writing applications for the university website. Extensive work in OO languages.
    • Resident Assistant (2 years). I wish this counted for something (even though it rightfully doesn't) just because it was such a time sink.

    Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

    • Wrote interesting NSF proposal based on primary POIs research. Sent to him and he is interested in it. Also sent to profs at other schools where the project might fit.
    • Track captain.
    • First-generation college student. In a couple of the "diversity" essays I wrote about my experience working construction growing up and how that affected my work ethic and attention to detail.

    LOR: Current advisor & PI / Summer PI from Brazil research / Professor supervising the lab I teach


    Applying for PhD at:

    Northwestern

    UMich

     

    I applied to other schools for different programs. Mines, Boulder, RPI for comp sci (robotics). MIT Media Lab, Case Western, Purdue and Buffalo for Mech eng (also robotics). I applied to UPenn for electrical and systems as that is where the professors with robotics research are.

     

    I'm really set on Northwestern. I think I wrote a really good, personal, SOP for them. Hopefully I'm not too hopeful.

     

    Good luck everyone!

     

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