Recruiting Fellowships

Background

The McLaughlin Gormley King Company (MGK) has been developing and offering insect solutions designed to enhance human and animal health and the environment since its founding in 1902. In recognition of the extraordinary partnership the company has with the Department of Entomology, and its aspiration to pursue better answers to pest management, MGK has established the MGK Fellowship to support graduate students (PhD and MS) in the Entomology Graduate Program in their research in developing best practices in integrated pest management.

Purpose

The purpose of the MGK Fellowship fund is to provide financial support to attract prospective students or for students enrolled in the Entomology Graduate Program whose research is in the area of developing best practices in integrated pest management. Nomination and Fund Use: Faculty members recruiting exceptional students who meet eligibility criteria listed below should submit their nomination in the online Nomination form. Details are listed below. The MGK Fellowship will cover academic year stipend (Fall and Spring), tuition at the general graduate rate for up to 14 credits per semester, subsidized health and dental insurance through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan. MGK Fellowship recipients are responsible for all other fees or charges and tuition beyond 14 credits (general graduate rate).

Eligibility Criteria

• Incoming full-time graduate students in the Entomology Graduate Program. If incoming graduate students are not available, current graduate students will be considered. See Priority for Selection below. 
• Graduate students planning to conduct research geared towards developing best practices in integrated pest management
• Graduate students in good academic standing
• Graduate students with exceptional potential in their field

Priority for Selection

• Incoming PhD students who will commence their Entomology Graduate Program in Fall for recruiting exceptional PhD students to the field of insect/arthropod pest management
• Incoming MS candidates who will commence their Entomology Graduate Program in Fall for recruiting exceptional MS students to the field of insect/arthropod pest management
• Current PhD or MS students in the Entomology Graduate Program

Consideration will be given for recruitment to laboratories that have not had awardees of this fellowship in recent years.

Nomination Requirements

• Nominee name and contact information
• Nominee CV
• A statement by the nominator (faculty member recruiting the student) indicating how the nominee meets the eligible criteria listed above (250 words max)
• A statement by the nominator (faculty member recruiting the student) indicating availability of financial support for the student beyond the first year if awarded the fellowship

Review Process

Proposals will be evaluated by a Fellowship/Scholarship Selection Committee that will not include advisors of applicants.

Evaluation criteria (100 points)

• Academic record (40 points)
• Promise of the proposed/current research to developing best practices in integrated pest management (30 points)
• Promise of the nominee in pursuing a career in integrated pest management (30 points)

Purpose

To provide support for an entomology graduate student to perform research in any area of entomology. The purpose of this fund is to recruit exceptional students to the field of entomology.

Eligibility Criteria

• Full-time graduate students enrolled (or soon to be) in the Entomology Graduate Program. If incoming graduate students are not available, current graduate students will be considered. See Priority for Selection below. 
• Studying in any area of entomology
• In good academic standing
• With exceptional potential in their field

The EE Fellowship includes a stipend for the academic year 2024-2025 (summer not included), tuition for up to 14 thesis credits each semester (fall & spring), and subsidized health insurance through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan. Students may be eligible for funds from this Fellowship for more than one year (see below for priorities for selection), as long as they are making demonstrable progress towards a degree and continue to meet the criteria above.

Priority for Selection

• Incoming PhD students who will commence their entomology graduate program during the 2024-2025 academic year; used as a recruiting tool to attract top tier students
• If incoming PhD candidates are not available (who meet eligibility criteria listed above), incoming MS students who will commence their entomology graduate program during the 2024-2025 academic year will be considered
• If incoming MS candidates are not available, existing entomology graduate students (PhD or MS) will be considered

Nomination Requirements

• Name of the nominee
• The CV of the nominee
• A statement by the faculty advisor, indicating how the nominee meets the eligibility criteria listed above (250 words max)
• A brief statement by the faculty advisor indicating availability of financial support for the student beyond the one year of the fellowship (if the nominee were to be awarded the fellowship)
• Diversity statement from the nominee’s application to the Grad Program

Review Process

All proposals will be evaluated by a committee of faculty from the Entomology Graduate Program, which will not include nominators.

Evaluation Criteria (100 points)

• Academic record (50 points)
• Promise of the nominee in pursuing a career in entomology or its related fields (25 points)
• Strength of diversity statement (25 points)