NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster 2011-2012

[CrTo]

Anyone else apply for this fellowship? I saw on an old thread that someone received a rejection email on April 8...So we should be hearing soon if it is similar this year. So anxious.

[bluesand]

Anyone else apply for this fellowship? I saw on an old thread that someone received a rejection email on April 8...So we should be hearing soon if it is similar this year. So anxious.

I also applied. My rejection letter last year wasn't until June 22, so I'm not expecting anything soon.

But the grants.gov site says that recipients will travel to MD the weekend of May 29: http://www.grants.go...IEW&oppId=62213

Edited April 5, 2011 by bluesand

[CrTo]

I also applied. My rejection letter last year wasn't until June 22, so I'm not expecting anything soon.

But the grants.gov site says that recipients will travel to MD the weekend of May 29: http://www.grants.go...IEW&oppId=62213

Oh wow, June 22? Yes, I noticed the May 29th statement as well...So, recipients definitely will know by early May in order to figure out travel plans. Chances are slim since they award so few of these...

I keep thinking I forgot something in my application. Terrible feeling.

[msafiri]

Has anyone else applied for this scholarship this year or in year's past? Any idea when notifications will go out?

I got my rejection last year on June 22. Last year, there were "over 150 outstanding applicants, of which only 7 could be recommended for funding." Any info on this year's competition would be greatly appreciated!

[CrTo]

I'm really tempted to call and ask if they have any estimates on when recipients will be notified...

[msafiri]

I'm really tempted to call and ask if they have any estimates on when recipients will be notified...

It would be so awesome if you did. But I can't believe how early/soon that orientation is. It would seem like notifications would have to be going out ASAP so people can make travel arrangements, you know? And, it seems like a way earlier timeline than last year.

BTW, sorry I made the duplicate post and thanks to whichever mod combined the two. I guess I got overly anxious, especially with all the NSF GRFP and Fulbright news that's come out lately. If only we could hear from NOAA! I'm guessing that the budget situation and the impending shutdown might further delay notification? CrTo, if you do call, do it tomorrow or Friday! Otherwise, with a government shutdown, we may have to wait even longer just to know how much longer we'll have to wait.

What are other people's projects? Mine's kinda social science-y, which is probably why they aren't interested in it. But my advisor tells me to re-apply each year so I keep doing it, even though it kinda feels like a futile effort.

EDIT:

Alright, I'm procrastinating. I looked up the funding announcements from the past two years. The one for 2009 doesn't say when orientation was. The one for 2010 (http://www.grants.gov/search/downloadAttachment.do?afn=attclosed604615709-f51257.pdf&amt=application/pdf) says "Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will travel to Silver Spring, MD, during the week of May 31, 2010, for a NOAA Orientation and to meet with National Marine Sanctuaries Program staff." So, why the hell did we not get rejected until three weeks after that?!?

Edited April 7, 2011 by msafiri

[bluesand]

So, why the hell did we not get rejected until three weeks after that?!?

I'd like to know that too. Especially since it is a generic rejection without reviews or anything. I like to pretend that maybe they held on to top applicants for an extra few weeks just in case, but that only works if that April 8th rejection is true. =)

My research is marine ecology related.

[CrTo]

It would be so awesome if you did. But I can't believe how early/soon that orientation is. It would seem like notifications would have to be going out ASAP so people can make travel arrangements, you know? And, it seems like a way earlier timeline than last year.

BTW, sorry I made the duplicate post and thanks to whichever mod combined the two. I guess I got overly anxious, especially with all the NSF GRFP and Fulbright news that's come out lately. If only we could hear from NOAA! I'm guessing that the budget situation and the impending shutdown might further delay notification? CrTo, if you do call, do it tomorrow or Friday! Otherwise, with a government shutdown, we may have to wait even longer just to know how much longer we'll have to wait.

What are other people's projects? Mine's kinda social science-y, which is probably why they aren't interested in it. But my advisor tells me to re-apply each year so I keep doing it, even though it kinda feels like a futile effort.

EDIT:

Alright, I'm procrastinating. I looked up the funding announcements from the past two years. The one for 2009 doesn't say when orientation was. The one for 2010 (http://www.grants.gov/search/downloadAttachment.do?afn=attclosed604615709-f51257.pdf&amt=application/pdf) says "Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will travel to Silver Spring, MD, during the week of May 31, 2010, for a NOAA Orientation and to meet with National Marine Sanctuaries Program staff." So, why the hell did we not get rejected until three weeks after that?!?

I will plan on calling Friday...Will post here afterwards.

That really is crazy they notified you three weeks later...If no word in May, then it must be a no.

I am applying under Applied Math..so I also don't think it is exactly what they are looking for. But, when I emailed them regarding my eligibility since I'm not oceanography, etc., I received this response:

"The research scope for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program has been broadened to include more of NOAA’s mission science areas. The scholarship program provides support for independent graduate-level studies in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas), particularly to women and minorities.

Yes, your research area would make you eligible to apply for the Nancy Foster Scholarship Program."

[msafiri]

I will plan on calling Friday...Will post here afterwards.

That really is crazy they notified you three weeks later...If no word in May, then it must be a no.

So true. And I was all hopeful last year because I didn't get rejected immediately. Apparently not hearing anything is equally awful. At least now I know that if I don't hear anything in the next 2-3 weeks, it means I have failed to make it yet again.

I am applying under Applied Math..so I also don't think it is exactly what they are looking for. But, when I emailed them regarding my eligibility since I'm not oceanography, etc., I received this response:

"The research scope for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program has been broadened to include more of NOAA’s mission science areas. The scholarship program provides support for independent graduate-level studies in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas), particularly to women and minorities.

Yes, your research area would make you eligible to apply for the Nancy Foster Scholarship Program."

I know that's what their website says but, until this past round, none of their past winners had a social science project. My research is in the "resource management of ocean and coastal areas" part of that description. I think I'm also at a disadvantage because my dissertation field site is not in the US. I'm wishing right now that I had pitched my backup dissertation plan in the Nancy Foster but, I didn't want to tell my advisor about it and didn't want letters that talked about one country and a research proposal that talked about another, if that makes sense. Oh well. There's always next year! But, it would be so nice not to have to worry about money for the rest of my PhD, and have enough money to live without roommates and without being completely broke.

[CrTo]

So true. And I was all hopeful last year because I didn't get rejected immediately. Apparently not hearing anything is equally awful. At least now I know that if I don't hear anything in the next 2-3 weeks, it means I have failed to make it yet again.

I know that's what their website says but, until this past round, none of their past winners had a social science project. My research is in the "resource management of ocean and coastal areas" part of that description. I think I'm also at a disadvantage because my dissertation field site is not in the US. I'm wishing right now that I had pitched my backup dissertation plan in the Nancy Foster but, I didn't want to tell my advisor about it and didn't want letters that talked about one country and a research proposal that talked about another, if that makes sense. Oh well. There's always next year! But, it would be so nice not to have to worry about money for the rest of my PhD, and have enough money to live without roommates and without being completely broke.

Yes, I noticed that all of their past winners are all oceanography, marine bio/sciences, etc, majors. Perhaps this is the year that will change!

I had emailed the fellowship regarding "if in the case of a disqualification (maybe incorrect documents uploaded), will the applicant be notified?" because I was slightly freaking out that I forgot something. Today, I received a response that "Your application is being reviewed." That did not answer my question, but I guess that means they are not done.

[msafiri]

Yes, I noticed that all of their past winners are all oceanography, marine bio/sciences, etc, majors. Perhaps this is the year that will change!

I had emailed the fellowship regarding "if in the case of a disqualification (maybe incorrect documents uploaded), will the applicant be notified?" because I was slightly freaking out that I forgot something. Today, I received a response that "Your application is being reviewed." That did not answer my question, but I guess that means they are not done.

Here's hoping!

Are you going to reply to their email to ask when we'll hear?!?

[CrTo]

I called Chantell Haskins, but no answer. I did not leave a message. I did respond to the email from yesterday, so we will see if there is a response.

[CrTo]

Just called a different person at NOAA. He said "um probably around 3 weeks".

[msafiri]

Thanks for the update. I can't believe they'd be telling people with barely three weeks notice to plan to attend the orientation.

[bluesand]

Thanks for the update. I can't believe they'd be telling people with barely three weeks notice to plan to attend the orientation.

Although it would be nice to know further in advance, 3 weeks sounds reasonable. They pay for all the travel, so the only issue would be if you have something scheduled for those dates that can't change -- and likely those plans would have been made far in advance anyway. I did figure out that this is the orientation for recipients of all NOAA fellowships, most of which were recently announced (e.g. Hollings for undergrad).

[msafiri]

Hmmm... I hope they'll announce sooner, rather than later, especially if other NOAA fellowships have already announced their winners. I'd hate to have to cancel a planned trip to see my family and lose the money I spend on plane tickets. Oh well. I guess I'll just keep waiting and checking my email. Wait, does anyone know how awardees are contacted?

[bluesand]

Hmmm... I hope they'll announce sooner, rather than later, especially if other NOAA fellowships have already announced their winners. I'd hate to have to cancel a planned trip to see my family and lose the money I spend on plane tickets. Oh well. I guess I'll just keep waiting and checking my email. Wait, does anyone know how awardees are contacted?

Rejections last year were by email.

I wonder if there is any flexibility for the orientation if you already have plans.

[CrTo]

I also already have plans to see my family in Seattle during the orientation time. However, I booked my flight with Southwest, and supposedly they have no change fees, so that may be okay.

I'm getting anxious again though. I started having dreams/nightmares about the results two nights ago. Does anyone want to call again and check on the status now? Blah just want to know.

[bluesand]

I also already have plans to see my family in Seattle during the orientation time. However, I booked my flight with Southwest, and supposedly they have no change fees, so that may be okay.

I'm getting anxious again though. I started having dreams/nightmares about the results two nights ago. Does anyone want to call again and check on the status now? Blah just want to know.

Changing flights on Southwest is easy, so you are in luck there. =)

Someone could call and ask about conflicts with orientation...that seems like a justified reason to call.

[CrTo]

So, remember when I responded to an email, and asked the same NOAA guy I spoke to (Milton Muldrow) when recipients would be notified? He responded to my email a little bit ago, and said

"The scholarship recipients will be notified by the NOAA Grants Office in late July 2011."

When I called last week, he said recipients would be notified by May. He must have not meant "recipients" in his email response.

Edited April 20, 2011 by CrTo

[bluesand]

So, remember when I responded to an email, and asked the same NOAA guy I spoke to (Milton Muldrow) when recipients would be notified? He responded to my email a little bit ago, and said

"The scholarship recipients will be notified by the NOAA Grants Office in late July 2011."

When I called last week, he said recipients would be notified by May. This leads me to conclude that if they have in fact made their decisions, I was not chosen. He must have not meant "recipients" in his response.

Huh. I am going to assume that the e-mail response means applicants not recipients (unless the bit about orientation is wrong)...or that July is the official release...

[CrTo]

Huh. I am going to assume that the e-mail response means applicants not recipients (unless the bit about orientation is wrong)...or that July is the official release...

Yes, I see that last year's official press release on the NOAA site was July 21: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100721_scholarships.html

[msafiri]

Almost another week has gone by... Anyone heard anything? Also, anyone want to PM me with a phone number that can be called? If so, I'll call tomorrow and check on the status of the applications.

[bluesand]

Almost another week has gone by... Anyone heard anything? Also, anyone want to PM me with a phone number that can be called? If so, I'll call tomorrow and check on the status of the applications.

http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/scholarships_opps.html

Audrey Trotman

(301) 713-9437 ext.155

[CrTo]

http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/scholarships_opps.html

Audrey Trotman

(301) 713-9437 ext.155

When I first called, I spoke to Audrey Trotman, and she told me that she is no longer the contact person. They hired Milton Muldrow as Graduate Programs Manager. His number is (301) 713-9437 Ext 118

When I first got the notifications that someone posted on the thread again, my initial thought was "Someone must have received a fellowship!" Really though...I hope we find out soon...