Dear list,
I found this scholarship description mildly misleading, so I have
appended (after the original post) a piece of their website which
clarifies the meaning of "Post-Graduation Career Opportunities". The
word "opportunity" would be better replaced by "binding commitment" in
describing this scholarship.
Best,
Krzysztof
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Krzysztof Sakrejda-Leavitt
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
319 Morrill Science Center South
611 N. Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
work (cell): 413-325-6555
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART)
Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department
of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students
pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of
civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.
SMART Scholars Receive:
* Cash award paid at a rate of $25,000 - $41,000 per year depending
on prior educational experience
* Full tuition and related education expenses
* Health Insurance
* Book allowance
* Summer Internships (multi-year participants)
* Post-Graduation Career Opportunities
*
For more information, or to apply, see
http://www.asee.org/fellowships/smart/.
Application deadline is December 15, 2008
Frequently Asked Questions
Post-Graduation Employment
What happens if I don't want to work for the service I have been
sponsored by?
Participants are required to complete the internship and post-graduation
service with the SSO. Participants are notified of the identity and
location of their SSO at the time of award and are responsible for
contacting their SSO prior to accepting the award to ensure they are
compatible with the organization. Requests for alternative placement of
a Participant for completion of the post-graduation service must
originate with the SSO or Sponsoring Service.
Can the post-graduation employment period be deferred?
No, awardees are expected to begin fulfillment of the post-graduation
employment period immediately upon graduation.
Will I get to choose the organization I will work for after
graduation?
On the application, Participants have the opportunity to indicate their
top five choices of DoD organizations by which they would like to be
sponsored. Participant preference will be considered; however, placement
with a Sponsoring Service Organization (SSO) will be determined by the
needs of the DoD.
Generally, Participants complete their post-graduation service with
their SSO. Participants are notified of the identity and location of
their SSO at the time of award and are expected to complete the
post-graduation service with the SSO. Participants are responsible for
contacting their SSO prior to accepting the award to ensure they are
compatible with the organization.
In rare cases, a SSO may determine that the Participant’s skills and the
organization’s needs is not a good fit and/or the needs of the
organization have changed such that the anticipated need no longer
exists. In such a case, the SMART Program Office will work first with
the SSO and Sponsoring Service to locate alternate placement within the
Sponsoring Service. If alternate placement within the Sponsoring Service
cannot be found, the SMART Program Office will contact other
participating DoD organizations to locate placement options. If no
option can be found, the case will be referred to the Office of the
Secretary of Defense (OSD) which will determine whether the
Participant’s post-graduation service commitment will be waived.
Requests for alternative placement of a Participant for completion of
the post-graduation service must originate with the SSO or Sponsoring
Service.
