Student Spotlight: Georgeara Castañeda ‘22.5

2019 Mellon Mays Fellow

Name: Georgeara Castañeda

Concentration: Religious Studies

Graduation Year: 2022.5

Hometown: Laredo, TX

About the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship

Founded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 1992, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship supports students from historically underrepresented groups or with demonstrated commitments to addressing racial inequality who pursue a PhD in key fields. Brown selects 4-6 sophomores. All United States citizens, permanent residents, and DACA and undocumented students are eligible to apply. Your application is due on UFunds by February. Read more about the Mellon Mays on Brown’s website.

MMUF provides network and support after you graduate Brown. For example, I’m choosing to take some time off post-graduation to work instead of directly going into to a graduate school program. MMUF provides me access to application support after gap years, so they’ll be available to help me with applications for PhD programs as well as potentially financial support. However, you don’t have to wait until you graduate undergrad to access the variety of benefits the fellowship offers. As a low-income student, it was super helpful to be given stipends throughout my junior and senior year to support me as I was exploring what research meant for me and what exactly I wanted to do. I definitely appreciate the community that you have access to once you become a fellow because Mellon Mays is a national network with chapters in different universities, so through conferences you attend as a fellow, you get to meet students in the program. Moreover, the stipend isn’t the only funding provided. You get a limited amount of funds every semester to potentially cover expenses regarding your research, like getting books or traveling to a conference. 

What are your goals?

I’m graduating at the end of this year, however, I’ve chosen not to go directly into a PhD program because I want to have work experience before dedicating myself to several years of a PhD program. My timeline and plans tend to change rather frequently, but at the moment, my plan is to return back to Laredo, TX and connect with doulas in South Texas to contribute to my doula training and certification. Hopefully, in Fall 2023, I want to get a Masters of Communications with a focus on Border Media Studies that’s offered at the Texas A&M campus located in Laredo, TX. I have a hope to do a PhD in Religious Studies after I get work experience and a sense of what research direction I’d like to pursue in that type of program. When will that be? I’m not too entirely sure, but I’m anticipating it happening later on. 

How did you find out about the MMUF?

As a sophomore (and first-year), I was a part of Brown’s Presidential Scholars Program. Through there, I was introduced to fellowships available for humanities, and at that time, Mellon was shared with me as a potential avenue for me to learn about research. My advisor, Daniel Vaca, is a part of the Mellon Advisory Board, so he was also very supportive of my curiosity regarding MMUF. 

What did your application process look like?

The application process was two-fold. The first round consisted of a uFunds application where you had to submit a personal statement and research proposal. If you were selected to move into the second round of the application process, you had an interview with a couple of people from the Mellon Advisory Board (some were professors, some were deans). For my written application, I found it really helpful to connect with Mellon Fellows that had already gone through the process. The personal statement was a way to share your goals and interests, such as if you had any specific programs you would like to do after graduation while the research proposal was an opportunity for me to share what my project was and what I anticipated doing for the next two years in preparation for an honors thesis. However, if you are accepted, you are  definitely not bound to the ideas you put in your application—I changed my project entirely when I entered my junior spring and the plan I laid out as a sophomore in 2019 has transformed immensely. Moreover, the written application also asks if you have a faculty in mind to work directly with during your fellowship. 

What are the benefits of the application process?

The application usually opens up at the end of sophomore fall. I am totally okay with admitting that I knew little to nothing about graduate school and a project when I was considering MMUF. The application process, however, really helped me research graduate programs and learn more about what exactly I wanted to do regarding a thesis. Students normally do not begin thinking about a thesis sometimes until the summer before their senior year, so the application process brought in these questions early on and provided me extra time to think about what was resonating with me, what was my attention being drawn to, etc. Since the application asked if I had a faculty I wanted to work with, it expedited the process of connecting with my advisor (as he became my faculty person for MMUF) as well as urging me to connect with other professors that could later help with the work I was doing for MMUF. 

What do you feel were your strengths in applying for the MMUF?

When I was applying for MMUF, I felt that I didn’t have any strengths because I had never engaged in this type of work before. I barely even understood what graduate school was when I was a sophomore, let alone what PhD programs looked like. Yet, I applied because I had an immense curiosity to explore and I felt that MMUF was an opportunity to do exactly that. I can confidently say that my skills and experiences, both as a disabled and FLI scholar, informed how I approached the work and contributed to the intentionality and care I put behind the work I was doing. For a lot of people going into academia, PhD are avenues to become professors and enter the roles where you can be directly supporting people like you. And I wanted to do that as a sophomore, I wanted to learn and I felt that I was curious enough to do it. It’s sometimes really hard to see your strengths when you feel that academia isn’t a space for you, but that doesn’t make your strengths any less real or valuable. At the time I applied, I was an MPC (Minority Peer Counselor) and while it didn’t click that the work I did as an MPC was impacting the way I approached MMUF, it definitely shaped the way I viewed research and it shaped how I was able to engage with the work because I approached with the intention of accessibility outside of academic spaces. 

What, if anything, did you see as a potential limit to your candidacy?

I didn’t know what research was as a sophomore. I’m a first-generation and low-income college student, so I was already entering the application process with immense hesitation because I didn’t know what research meant or what it could look like. My inexperience felt like a limitation, especially in the context of other Brown students coming from families that had university-level degrees and awareness about academic spaces. 

What advice do you have for anyone applying for the MMUF?

Strengths don’t just look like having previous experience in research or having a super-detailed plan about the next five years. Strengths can and do look like engaging in community-oriented work on campus. Sometimes our strengths look like having an ability to connect with people and meet them where they’re at. Research should not exist in solitude, it is, to me especially, a potential space for collaboration and learning. So when applying, don’t limit yourself to only the academic things you’ve, like written an amazing paper (although that’s great to mention to), because the work we do outside of academic spaces—such as hosting workshops or tutoring or being a UFLi student—inform how we engage in this work and I suggest honoring that. Don’t force yourself to reduce all the work you’ve done solely to academic papers and presentations because the best work I’ve encountered has been created by scholars that are invested in communities and in care. If you’re choosing to apply to MMUF, remind yourself that you are a sophomore—things can and will change and that’s okay. Your application is only a sliver of all the things you are and will be, so take it with grace and lean into the spaces that have provided you with opportunities to thrive because you might find amazing support for your applications and work.

How do I find Fellowships, Internships, and Research opportunities?

There are a number of different ways to go about finding fellowships, internships, and research opportunities. Below are a number of the main resources for searching for these opportunities to give you a sense of the differences between them.

You should also be asking older students, alumni, and faculty about opportunities they may know about, especially if they are in areas of study or industries related to what you are interested in. They are the most likely to know about things and be able to talk with you about the process. The databases and lists below are places to start as you go about your search.

You may want to make a spreadsheet that you can use to keep track of anything you come across that is interesting to you including information like the title, what company or organization is offering it, the deadline, and what supplemental materials are required.

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Alumni Job Board (AJB)

Use AJB after graduating to find job and internship postings, particularly from other alumni. You can also use this to get access resources for finding and applying for jobs and networking.

Bridge.Jobs

This site is primarily used for current and graduated students to connect with employers in Rhode Island to find internships as a step towards finding a job. Bridge.Jobs saves your resume and also allows you to sort your internship searches by deadline, employer, or whether you’ve submitted your application. They also maintain a blog that provides useful job and internship tips.

BrownConnect

Use BrownConnect to find internships, funding opportunities (such as fellowships), and connect with alumni. Try using advanced search.

+ You can search for internships based on field, type of opportunity (i.e. paid or unpaid), and sector (i.e. private companies, non-profits, or government). Also pay attention to whether internships are marked Bruno internships. Bruno internships are either specifically for Brown students or have spots available specifically for Brown students. Many of the Brown connect internships can be applied to through Handshake.

+ You can search for alumni to connect with based on many different metrics including their previous concentration, class year, and area they currently work. You can use the connect button on an individual alumni’s page to send them an email using a pre-made template (though I suggest you edit the template provided to personalize it).

+ The funding opportunity list draws from the Fellowships @ Brown site as well as the opportunities available from individual departments.

Brown Undergraduate Research Portal

Listing of various Brown supported Fellowships and Research Opportunity Programs.

Careers in the Common Good (CCG) Database

Use the CCG Database to find jobs, internships, and fellowships specifically related to social change work such as education. You can access this from the CareerLAB tab on ASK and clicking Exploring Options.

 

CRC FIRe List of Targeted Opportunities for Students from Historically Underrepresented Groups

Use this list for looking for opportunities that are specifically for members of certain groups, particularly underrepresented minority students. It is curated by the FIRe coordinator in conversation with University Deans and staff. If you know of other opportunities that are not listed on this list please email the FIRe coordinator at crc@brown.edu with more information.

Fellowships @ Brown (F@B)

Use F@B to find fellowships and research opportunities. Some are nationally competitive while others are internal to Brown. See FIRe FAQ to learn more about fellowships.

Handshake

Undergraduates, graduate, and alumni use Handshake to find and apply for jobs, internships, and funding opportunities, and access other resources and services offered by the CareerLAB. The site allows you to create a profile for a more customized approached based on your interests, experiences, and timeline.

+ You can sign up for CareerLAB job and internship search and skill-building workshops, employer information sessions, and on-campus interviews. There are restrictions on the opportunities alumni can apply for. For example, only current graduate and undergraduate students can participate in on-campus recruiting.

+ This site is also linked to BrownConnect and all internships posted in Handshake will also appear in BrownConnect.

Serve Rhode Island Volunteer Portal

Serve Rhode Island connects schools, nonprofits, and other organizations with people looking for volunteering and community service positions. Take a look at their website if you are looking for an organization to get involved with in Rhode Island.

UFunds

You can use UFunds to apply for many different funding and fellowship opportunities. Visit their site to apply for Emergency  Gap funding, which may be helpful for supplementing things other funding might not cover such as travel costs.

 Watson Institute Undergraduate Opportunities

The Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs has various research and fellowship programs available to undergraduate students, especially those concentrating in Public Policy and International Relations.

Student Spotlight: Kenny Blakey ’23

Name: Kenneth Blakey

Concentration: Mathematics

Graduation Year: 2023

Hometown: Deltona, Florida

About the Goldwater Scholarship

Established by Congress in 1986, the Goldwater Scholarship supports college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue graduate school and a research career in mathematics, sciences, or engineering. Brown can nominate four candidates and one additional transfer student each year. All United States citizens or nationals are eligible to apply. Your pre-application is due on the Goldwater website by November 14 and your complete application is due by December 5; read more about the Goldwater Scholarship on Fellowships@Brown.

What are some additional benefits of the Goldwater?

The Goldwater is a scholarship that you can apply for as a sophomore or junior. Depending on when you are awarded the scholarship, you will receive, for each remaining semester, a last-dollar scholarship of $7,500. But the Goldwater is not really about the funding you receive. Think of it like this: the Goldwater scholarship program “seeks to identify, encourage, and financially support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this Nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields.” So, the Goldwater is like this “stamp of approval” that shows other people that a national program believes you will become one of the next leading researchers in your field. It’s a snowball effect now – being able to list that you are a Goldwater scholar on any future scholarship/fellowship application immediately makes your application more attractive.

What are your goals?

I plan to attend graduate school to obtain my Ph.D. in mathematics, specializing in Symplectic Field Theory. In the long term, I plan to become a tenured professor at an R1 institution.

How did you find out about the Goldwater?

My first year at Brown, I actually found the Fellowships@Brown webpage and read through all the scholarships/fellowships. I then made a list of the ones I wanted to pursue in the future. So, when I got to the end of my sophomore year, I refined the list and started preparing my applications. Simultaneously, my 1^st/2^nd year advisor told me I would be a strong candidate for the Goldwater, and that reinforced the idea that I should apply.

What did your application process look like?

The application has two stages, the nomination stage, and the final stage. In some sense, you are trying to convince the two different panels of two different things. For the nomination stage, you are convincing a panel of Brown faculty (most of which are not in your field) that, if you are nominated, you will be awarded in the final stage. If nominated, you will get a mentor from the Brown panel and your application back, so that you can continue working on it before the final stage. In the final stage, you are convincing a panel of people, in your broader field, that you will be one of the next top researchers in your field. In order to move onto the final stage, you have to be one of the four Brown nominees, and depending on how you look at it, being nominated might actually be the hardest part.

What both panels are looking for is that you have the traits that will enable you to succeed in a research career: curiosity, resilience, strong work ethic, etc. As for ways to express this, the Goldwater has short essay prompts related to what your future goals are, experiences that solidified you want to be a researcher, how your background has affected you, and how the pandemic impacted you. The longer research statement is then your opportunity to explain a larger research project or proposal for a project – here you go into motivation/background, methodology, and so on – and this is written so that a broader STEM audience can understand. Finally, there are standard parts of the application, like: activities, awards/honors, recommendation letters, etc. This whole package is your persuasive letter that you will be a great researcher.

I started on my application in about June of the preceding summer, and the Brown deadline was in December, so this gave me quite some time. I would recommend, at the least, to start on the research statement early and have multiple people look at it. This will be the hardest part of the application because you have to explain your research so that people not directly related to your topic can understand it. Then, in between drafts of your research statement, work on the other parts of the application.

What are the benefits of the application process?

The Goldwater application will (probably) be the first time you are trying to convince a larger foundation about your research ability. This forces you to dig deep about why you want to be a researcher, how you are going to accomplish your future goals in your research career, and how to explain your research to broader audiences. This is great preparation for future research fellowships you might apply for (Churchill, Gates-Cambridge, NSF-GRFP, NDSEG, Hertz, etc.) and for graduate school applications.

What do you feel were your strengths in applying for the Goldwater?

The Goldwater is picking awardees based off of the belief that they will have a successful research career. Therefore, I had to paint a picture of the type of mathematician I was.

My curiosity about mathematics is what pushed me to do all the things I have. I came from quite humble beginnings, and the only reason I wanted to perform well in school and go to college was because mathematics was simply interesting. With all of mathematics’ arcane symbols and abstract ideas – I just had to know what it all meant. So, by the time I applied for Goldwater, I had completed almost all of the graduate mathematics courses Brown offered, worked on numerous independent studies, and was preparing a solo-authorship paper in Symplectic Field Theory. In essence, most of my time at Brown has been occupied with mathematics. I wanted to show I am the type of person that will work on problems, which interest me, for as long as it takes to solve them.  

What, if anything, did you see as a potential limit to your candidacy?

A trip to the Goldwater website awardees section will reveal something quite quickly: out of the approximately 400 awardees a year, only about 10 research in pure mathematics. I feel like this is because preparing a research statement in mathematics that is understandable to a broader audience is difficult. In fact, writing a research statement in mathematics that other mathematicians in different subfields can understand is quite the feat! Moreover, I knew the Brown nomination panel didn’t have any pure mathematicians on it at all, so I thought I’d never get nominated.

I struggled quite a bit with my research statement. Every draft of it was too technical, and I could not find the words to simply explain my research. When submission time came around, I thought I had at least something understandable, and I hoped for the best. But even though I was nominated, I was told by the Brown panel that they unanimously agreed what I wrote was practically incomprehensible. I had one more chance before the main submission, and I worked every day on the statement. I believe it was rewritten a total of 20 times from first draft to final submission. Luckily, I eventually found the words to explain what my research was about. The main takeaway is, if you feel that you research is very technical, start on the research statement early. It will take more than one attempt to get it right.

What advice do you have for anyone applying for the Goldwater?

This goes for any scholarship/fellowship application: you only have a limited number of chances to be an X scholar/fellow in your life. If you do not apply, you will never get to be one, so you might as well apply and have a chance at it.

Now, specifically for the Goldwater, you should focus on the following. You want to convince a panel of people, which have no prior knowledge of you or your research, that you will become a leading researcher in your field. So, your application has to convey that you have the ability to succeed in a research career. Talk about the failures you may have had in your current/past projects and how you overcame them. Discuss the challenges you have faced in your advanced courses and how you persevered. This may seem counterintuitive, but the Goldwater is not awarding you based on past successes alone, the Goldwater is awarding you based on the belief that you will be an extraordinary leader in your field. Granted, past successes will be a good indicator that you are a capable researcher, but you also have to prove that you won’t give up when researching gets tough. Show the Goldwater foundation that you are in it for the long haul, and that you will do great things.

Student Spotlight: Catherine Nelli ‘23

2022 Beinecke Scholar

Name: Catherine Nelli

Concentrations: Comparative Literature (Sanskrit, French, English), Classics (Sanskrit), and International and Public Affairs (Security)

Year: 2023

Hometown: Richmond, Virginia

About the Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship supports college juniors with financial need who intend to pursue graduate school in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Brown can nominate one candidate each year. All United States citizens or nationals are eligible to apply. Your application is due on UFunds by December 15; read more about the Beinecke Scholarship on Fellowships@Brown.

In addition to receiving $30,000 for graduate school, the Beinecke Scholarship awards each recipient an extra $4,000 the summer before graduate school. It goes directly to the student and can be used towards any costs–a big help when moving to a new city for grad school or putting down a deposit on an apartment! The Beinecke also gives scholarship recipients discount codes for the GRE and GRE prep materials. The director and former director of the scholarship are also incredibly generous with their time and help–they have helped me edit other scholarship applications I’m working on, and they advise students through the graduate school application process. The director of the scholarship makes themself a tremendous resource for students, and visits each scholar on their campus during their senior fall!

What are your goals?

I plan to attend a PhD program in South Asian Studies and Comparative Literature to study the colonial reception of classical Indian texts. I hope to secure a career in academia researching the colonial foundations of academic knowledge and the reception of Sanskrit literature!

How did you find out about the Beinecke Scholarship?

At the beginning of my junior fall, I looked at the Brown fellowships page to see what sorts of opportunities I might be a good fit for. I knew I wanted to pursue graduate studies, though I wasn’t yet sure exactly what I wanted to do. I met with Dean of Fellowships Linda Dunleavy, and she encouraged me to apply for the Beinecke because I was interested in being an academic!

What did your application process look like?

The application process is very holistic. The Beinecke scholarship is looking for students who want to pursue careers in the humanities and social sciences and who will make an impact both within and beyond their field. They want to support students who will enter research-focused graduate programs (particularly PhDs or MFAs), rather than professional schools. In addition to academic achievement and potential to succeed in their chosen career, the Beinecke scholarship factors in financial need because they want to make it possible for students to be courageous in choosing their graduate study. Brown is able to nominate one junior to the national competition, so I began working on the internal application in October and November, drafting my personal statement and receiving guidance from professors. After the internal selection, I worked with the fellowships office (thank you Julia Huggins and Dean Dunleavy!) at the end of January to edit my personal statement and incorporate feedback from the internal selection committee. 

What are the benefits of the application process?

The application process was so helpful in helping me to articulate what my interests and motivations are. I was able to learn a lot about the editing process and about what I want to spend the next several years doing. The process was a huge help for the next round of scholarship applications I worked on senior year, and it will be helpful for graduate school applications! It even helped me narrow down what I wanted to focus on for my senior theses. 

What do you feel were your strengths in applying for the Beinecke Scholarship?

I think my area of scholarship isn’t really something people have thought of before, but because I was able to explain what I wanted to do, why it matters, and why I was a good person to do it, I was able to draw in the interest of people on the selection committee who are outside of my field. 

What, if anything, did you see as a potential limit to your candidacy?

I think I had been pursuing two separate paths for a lot of my time at Brown, looking at going into either academia or law/government. I was worried that my application wouldn’t seem cohesive–that my interests looked a bit scattered. But I think I was able to draw connections between what I had learned in both lines of interest to show how they related and how everything I had done in college would help me in the next steps I wanted to take in becoming an academic.. 

What advice do you have for anyone applying for the Beinecke Scholarship?

Anyone who thinks they may want to go to grad school in the humanities or social sciences to do a research program should definitely apply! Beinecke scholars have a huge range of fields they are pursuing. I highly recommend seeking guidance from the fellowships office—they have incredible people who can give you feedback and guidance on your application (again, huge shoutout to Julia Huggins!). Writing a personal statement is difficult, because you want to communicate how you developed your interests, what you want to do, and why it matters to your field and the broader society—and in language that people outside your field will understand and be excited about! With help from the fellowships office and other mentors, you’ll definitely be able to do it. If you’re excited about your research interests and think you may want to continue with them, apply!

Student Spotlight: John Lin ’23

2022 Truman Scholar

Name: John Lin

Concentrations: Health Systems and Policy (IC), Biology

Graduation Year: 2023

Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas

About the Truman Scholarship

Established by Congress in 1975, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship supports college juniors who intend to pursue careers in public service and have records of campus/community service and/or leadership. Brown can nominate four candidates and up to three additional transfer students each year. All United States citizens or nationals are eligible to apply. Your application is due on UFunds by November 7; read more about the Truman Scholarship on Fellowships@Brown.

Aside from the $30,000 scholarship and the auxiliary full rides to schools like Princeton, the Truman Scholarship is fundamentally a community of aspiring public servants. It’s so tight-knit that we’re called the ‘TruFam’. In late May, I attended Truman Scholars Leadership Week (TSLW), where I met some of the most impressive (and friendliest!) folks I’ve met in my entire life. Indeed, Senior Scholars volunteer their time to come to TSLW and teach us junior scholars about their experiences with public service. Last week, the Truman Foundation connected me with another Truman Scholar who had worked in the White House and was now a Stanford law student, and he was thrilled to talk about his experiences. When I worked in DC this past summer, I hung out with many of the friends I had made at TSLW nearly every day. 

What are your goals?

I plan to attend medical school. In the long run, I hope to serve as an academic physician and help build a more equitable healthcare system through patient care, research, and policy.

How did you find out about the Truman?

In my sophomore year, my longtime research mentor—Dr. Paul Greenberg, who has always been incredibly supportive and helpful—recommended that I consider applying for the Rhodes Scholarship. I couldn’t say that I knew much about the Rhodes Scholarship at the time, other than that Cecil Rhodes had a complicated legacy. He explained what the Rhodes Scholarship was and threw out a few other suggestions—the Fulbright, the Truman, and the Goldwater. My first reaction was shock. Really!? But I did more research into each of these scholarships on the Fellowships@Brown website (and I mean research in the loosest possible sense, not in the Goldwater sense), and I realized that I might be qualified for the Truman Scholarship.

What did your application process look like?

The application process is very holistic. Your grades matter insofar as they show that you can succeed in graduate school, but you won’t be selected or rejected just for having a 4.0 or 3.0 GPA. (At Brown, we don’t even have a GPA!) What the Truman Foundation cares about is your record of service and leadership—whether that’s leading a student organization, serving in the community, or working in government. As the Truman Foundation says, it’s rare that you find a Truman Scholar who has done all three.

I began reviewing the Truman Scholarship application in September, creating a Google Doc with all of the questions and character limits. I started noting down a few things I wanted to mention for each question (but nothing too formal), and I began assigning myself deadlines to finish each essay question. After I finished the application, I worked with the Writing Center (shout-out to Fiona Sappenfield!) to revise my submission, and I submitted my application in early December. There are up to two interviews—first with Brown’s selection committee, and then with the Truman Foundation’s regional selection committee.

What are the benefits of the application process?

For anyone who is thinking about graduate school, the Truman Scholarship makes you consider your motivations for applying, your career plans, and how your experiences have led you to this point. I wrote my Truman Scholarship application before I started on my medical school applications, and having so much written about my background and goals helped me finish my application so much quicker.

What do you feel were your strengths in applying for this fellowship?

The most important trait for any Truman applicant is the ability to articulate your experiences and interests in a cohesive story that explains why you are interested in public service. For example, my main focus was health equity. For Question 7 (leadership example), I described my journey from volunteering in community clinics to founding the Medical Literacy and Access Project to connect low-income, immigrant patients with healthcare. For Question 8 (public service example), I talked about proposing, writing, and passing hate crime legislation in the Texas House of Representatives. For Question 9 (issue statement), I wrote about high healthcare costs and other barriers to care in the United States. For Question 11 (graduate school plans), I explained why I wanted to pursue an MD/MPA and specifically focused on the only medical school that provided this dual degree program at the time. For Question 12 (post-graduate school plans), I discussed how I would integrate health equity into my residency plans (e.g., serving in community/government health centers, researching public health, and advising municipal and state policy. For Question 13 (5-7 years after graduate school), I said that I hoped to work in academic medicine and lead a public health system. For Question 14 (additional personal information), I described the barriers that my family has faced in accessing healthcare and how this influenced my outlook on life. My policy proposal, addressed to the then-director of the state department of health, related to price transparency programs for healthcare services, which I had researched. Through each of these questions, I added more and more to my story and explained my goals further and further.

Keep in mind that your narrative does not need to be perfect! However, you should hopefully have a solid explanation as to why you want to do what you want to do.

What, if anything, did you see as a potential limit to your candidacy?

I always thought of the Truman Scholarship as a scholarship for the politically and legally inclined—its most famous alumni are people like Stacey Abrams. Neil Gorsuch, and Janet Napolitano—so being a student interested in medicine and public health, I didn’t know if I was a good candidate for the Truman Scholarship. I’m so glad I applied—I’ve met many fellow Truman Scholars who are also passionate about epidemiology, medicine, and health policy, as well as Truman Scholars in diverse fields like forestry and educational psychology.

What advice do you have for anyone applying for the Truman? The Truman Scholarship wasn’t even on my radar until my junior year, so my primary advice is to try applying if you’re interested in attending graduate school and in public service. The name ‘Harry S. Truman’ sounds intimidating, but the scholarship is open to everyone who wants to eventually work in government or nonprofits. At TSLW, I met Truman Scholars who were aspiring musicians, environmentalists, and foresters. Whether you’ve worked with a bunch of student clubs, or interned in a city, state, or federal government office, or conducted research in a lab, I say: go for it!

Read more about John and his accomplishments on the Brown website. If you’re interested in reaching out to John, please contact fire@brown.edu.

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Student Spotlight: Devin Juros ’23

2022 Goldwater Scholar

Name: Devin Juros

Concentration: Biology

Graduation Year: 2023

Hometown: Pleasantville, New York

About the Goldwater Scholarship

Established by Congress in 1986, the Goldwater Scholarship supports college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue graduate school and a research career in mathematics, sciences, or engineering. Brown can nominate four candidates and one additional transfer student each year. All United States citizens or nationals are eligible to apply. Your pre-application is due on the Goldwater website by November 14 and your complete application is due by December 5; read more about the Goldwater Scholarship on Fellowships@Brown.

Aside from the $7,500 scholarship award per year (if you apply as a sophomore, you could be awarded for two years), the Goldwater Scholarship connects you with a group of passionate science researchers. Frequent virtual events and online chat allow Goldwater Scholars to connect and discuss opportunities for graduate programs and industry jobs. I have been able to talk to others and get advice for certain biology PhD programs to apply to, and what these programs are looking for in applicants.

What are your goals?

I plan to attend a graduate program to get my PhD in cell biology or pathobiology. I am passionate about using biology research to generate knowledge that can help treat various age-related diseases. In the future, I hope to run my own lab studying the biology of age-related diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s, and to teach at the university level.

How did you find out about the Goldwater?

I found out about the Goldwater Scholarship through someone I worked with in my lab who had applied the year prior. This labmate told me about the Goldwater and, given my passion for biological research, I decided to pursue it, with advice and support from my labmate.

What did your application process look like?

The application process focuses on identifying students with promise in research in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. In this sense, the application is not super holistic. They are looking for the applicants with deep involvement in research in their field (as shown by contributions to big projects, attending conferences, or having publications). They are looking for researchers who are passionate and bring something unique to the table (e.g. combining two fields to tackle some issue, or using AI to approach some issue differently than before). Your recommenders should be able to speak about your capabilities as a researcher, so they should be a professor you have done work with, or at least people who know about your research. The research essay would ideally incorporate at least some of your research results you have collected (it is best if it is not all planned experiments). The application explicitly states that it will be harder for people pursuing an MD to get the Goldwater Scholarship. This is because the focus is on researchers (primarily PhD or MD/PhD track). While not impossible, people pursuing an MD must clearly demonstrate their passion for research, how they will continue their research as a core part of their career, and what having the MD adds to that goal.

I began writing my research essay and application questions at the beginning of September, and I had the principal investigator of my lab review the research essay a few times before submitting it to Brown’s nomination committee in December. The Brown nomination committee reviewed my entire application and three recommendation letters, and then nominated me. I had a few weeks to make small edits to my application based on the nomination committee’s comments before submitting the application for the national competition.

What are the benefits of the application process?

If you are planning to apply to an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD program, the Goldwater Scholarship is a great way to start writing application answers that you may be able to reuse in part or in whole for a future application. In addition, the Goldwater application helps you to consolidate your research interests and background, which is helping me to figure out the PhD programs to which I want to apply. Sharing your goals and experiences with your recommenders is always good, especially if you will have them write a future recommendation for you.

What do you feel were your strengths in applying for the Goldwater?

I think my biggest strength in applying to the Goldwater was that I had a few research experiences and each was impactful (for each of them I was either on a peer reviewed publication or had contributed to a major project). I had good relationships with two of the principal investigators at these labs and I am confident that they could write well on my capabilities as a researcher. My third recommender also knew a lot about my research and career path. I also had a specific path (cell biology research to treat aging-related diseases) and something I brought to the table that made me unique (I have done research with a few different model organisms and spoke about making comparisons across them).

What, if anything, did you see as a potential limit to your candidacy?

I didn’t know if I had done enough research to be seriously considered for the scholarship. There are so many undergraduates at Brown and other institutions doing such incredible research and I was not sure if what I had done really stacked up to them. I am glad that I was able to put aside these fears and still apply.

What advice do you have for anyone applying for the Goldwater? 

I was initially intimidated by the Goldwater Scholarship and worried about not having enough research experience to compete. I would encourage anyone who is passionate about research to apply, even if you are worried about having enough research experience. As long as you can show you are passionate about research and have made some meaningful contributions to research, you can put together a really strong application. I would talk to the principal investigator of your lab early about the research essay and if they can help you with putting it together. I think having lab mentors, members of Brown’s nominating committee, or other people who have applied to the Goldwater in previous years to read your essay and application answers is a great idea (feedback is always helpful!).

Sign up for the mailing list for Fellowships, Internships, and Research at Brown! If you’re interested in reaching out to Devin, please contact fire@brown.edu.

The CRC: Interview with Spring ’21-’22 FIRE Coordinator

As the countdown to graduation begins, seniors at Brown are starting to take a step back to reflect on their time at the University. Many soon to be young alumni are also using these final moments to look towards the future. A Computational Biology concentrator, Ijeoma Meremikwu (‘22) recognizes the importance of reflection as she transitions into a new stage of life. 

Amidst implementing feedback to her Honors Thesis, which recounts her research on the haplotype changes in vaccine candidates and focuses on malaria genomics, the Curricular Resource Center’s Digital Archives and Communications Coordinator, Lauren Toneatto (‘22), had the opportunity to sit down with Ijeoma to discuss her role as the CRC’s Fellowships, Internships, and Research experiences (FIRe) Coordinator. 

Lauren Toneatto: What originally drew you to the FIRe role at the Curricular Resource Center?

Ijeoma Meremikwu: I was reached out to be a panelist in one of the summer programs to unmask and talk about research opportunities in general for Brown students. Personally, I went through a whole navigation schematic trying to figure out how to do research well, what is research like, how to improve myself and advocate for myself in certain research spaces; I had a huge struggle with that. When I was talking about my experiences, reflecting, and sharing my experiences on the panel, including all of the bad and all of the good mentoring that I received, I was able to give general advice on how to navigate these spaces.

What drew me into the FIRe role was helping students, especially students who don’t feel comfortable in these research spaces, who don’t feel like they have anyone who has done a PhD or has gone to do university research. Helping people, one, have access to this type of opportunity and this activity, and two, to be able to advocate for what they’re thinking and what they’re thinking about doing within this space. And also trying to claim the space as theirs as well, that’s what drew me to this role. I think it was just based on my personal experiences here at Brown. 

LT: For students who might be having a hard time, don’t know where to start, or may feel like research isn’t something that is accessible for them, what would be your biggest piece of advice for beginning their FIRe journey? 

IM: I think I would give two main pieces of advice. The first one is to reach out to your peers. When I say peers I mean undergraduates and graduate students. I think these are the people that are in the spaces, closer to your training level, and who will tell you the truth honestly. When it comes to entering research spaces, labs, or groups in general, what people don’t know is that it is very much a personal process. You want to be entering some place that is the right fit for you. That is part of the hidden curriculum of research, I don’t think that is really said out loud or told to individuals. Especially for me, I entered a space and stayed there for two years knowing fully well that I wasn’t really gaining or growing as much as I possibly could. I stayed for one year before I spoke up and said I wanted to leave. The only reason that I was able to do that was because I was given this same advice. Talking to graduate and undergraduate peers gives you more information on what spaces you want to enter and also how to navigate the space in general.

My second piece of advice is to never be quiet. I think that when it comes to doing research or fellowships, we are overwhelmed with the technicalities of what we’re trying to learn or what we’re trying to train for, but if there’s something that you’re feeling is not okay, or something that someone said, or something about the way that someone is conducting research, or the way in which someone is speaking to you, regardless of whatever level you are at, never be quiet. It is so easy to get lost in the details or the technicalities of the training that we are doing, it is so easy to lose your voice or not advocate for yourself because sometimes you feel like ‘do I even have the ability to advocate for myself when my science is not going well?’ Well, science doesn’t go well anyway, it is a completely exclusive, separate thing. Never, ever be quiet, always advocate for yourself and really be honest with yourself about where you are at. 

LT: In terms of someone who has told you the truth, perhaps thinking of peers that you admire, is there one thing that a mentor has told you that has really stuck with you to this day? 

IM: One of my mentors, and this was one of my mentors from a separate research program, I think it was the most poignant of them: It goes into the idea of when you’re doing science you’re not doing science for yourself, or the idea of science being cool. Yea, there is some cool science, but you’re also trying to do science in service of others. You’re trying to learn or create or do something in the service of the betterment of your communities. One thing she said was, ‘you can explain the technicalities exactly as they are, exactly what you want to be doing, but at the end of the day can you relate to your audience, can you relate to people outside of the discipline and inside the discipline?’ 

I think that was poignant to me because it touched on communicating not just within your space but also communicating outside. That touches upon a lot of subjects about trying to communicate your project to the public, trying to build trust in your science, trying to talk to other scientists or people who want to be part of the science. It is very important to be a good communicator. If you feel like you need to improve in your communication, that is also okay! But always striving to be the best communicator plays a significant role in how you can be in service to others in this field. Especially in your research experience and opportunities, being a good communicator extends not just in your science but also extends into how you can advocate for yourself for these particular opportunities, as well. 

LT: What are your post-graduation plans? 

IM: Post-graduation I am going to take some time to reflect about myself. I will be working as a post baccalaureate researcher in NIAM’s division (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) at the NIH (National Institutes of Health). Then I will be starting my graduate school program in Computational Biology and Genomics at the University of Pennsylvania.

I think post-grad, the one thing that I think a lot of seniors, but also in general I have been talking to my friends, but personally me that I’m struggling with, is making sure you have your identity and knowing yourself and knowing who you are and knowing who you are outside of academics and keeping with that. I think that’s why I’m going to be taking a year off before starting grad school so that, one I can have money and settle my family, but two, it is to make sure that I am very much sure and confident in who I am in this space. Because once you enter, especially going into grad school, it is going to be tough and I want to be able to have myself in a secure foundation before I start that journey. 

Research Funding for Leavetakers: The Basics

Hello, dear readers!

My name is Cristian Loor (they/them/theirs), and I am the Leavetaking Coordinator for the Curricular Resource Center (CRC) for Peer Advising. Regardless of where you are in the leavetaking process (considering, in the middle of, or returned from leave), I can help connect you to resources and other students with similar experiences. In this Leavetaking x FIRe post, I will consider students’ unique circumstances researching while on a leave of absence. These experiences are surprisingly common; many students decide to secure an on-campus opportunity and end up interning for a professor or working as a research assistant at a lab.

As you may already know, the early SPRINT deadline of February 9 has passed. This date includes the early deadline for LINK awards and the only deadline for UTRAs and Signature Awards. You can find more information here. Thankfully, if you are already on leave or plan on taking it during the fall 2022 semester, this deadline does not apply to you. According to Dean Oludurotimi Adetunji, whom I spoke with during a recent info session on UTRAs, students in these situations are not eligible for this funding.* According to Dean Vernicia Elie, the reason for this restriction is that SPRINTs, like most University funds, fall under federal regulations that stipulate active enrollment. Students on a leave of absence are not actively enrolled and, thus, lose access to most–if not all–University funds.

Brown University is not unique in this regard; most universities require that students be enrolled (if not there, then elsewhere) to access any funds or even research opportunities. For example, consider Boston University’s policy: “Students on a leave of absence are not eligible to apply for funding.” So what should you do if you want to research while on leave but need money?** Well, you have several options. You might be able to finesse Brown funds if you act while still enrolled–money you can then use while away. Dean Elie can be helpful in this endeavor, especially if your research relates to your concentration. (I highly recommend talking to her overall. She has a kind and bubbly personality. You can find her hours here and set up an appointment. Dean Elie can do either online or in-person, though she prefers the latter.) Alternatively, some students explore outside identity- or hometown-based scholarships (you can find a great list of the former here, though many also require active enrollment) to offset living costs or purchase necessary equipment. Yale University also has an excellent page on external scholarships to which students on leave can apply. Finally, many students work part-time.

Although your options are limited, the bright side is that you still have some. The main takeaway is that you should think as far ahead as possible. Finally, you can always reach out to me if you need help planning. You can find me at the CRC every weekday from 4-6 PM EST or email leavetakers@brown.edu to set up a remote appointment or ask quick questions.

Stay safe, and happy researching!

* You may also remember that the soft deadline for declaring a personal leave of absence for the fall is May 1, which is far later than February 9. What would happen if you secured a UTRA but ended up taking a personal or even medical leave? Dean Adetunji said you might have to return the money, so be careful if you already applied for a UTRA.

** I assume you either do not have access to funding from the opportunity itself, or the funding available is insufficient. For example, many research assistant jobs pay an hourly wage or a stipend. Other research undertakings might have accompanying scholarships for needs like housing. A note about not having enough money is that if your opportunity already pays you, you might not be eligible for outside funds, similar to how Brown’s LINK award demands that you work in a low-paying or unpaid internship. Always remember to read the fine print!

Finding Undergrad Research Opportunities!

Hello readers!

My name is Ijeoma Meremikwu (she/her/hers) and I wear multiple hats. Two of those hats are that I am a senior here at Brown and I am the Fellowships, Internships, and Research Experience (FIRe) Coordinator at the Curricular Resource Center (CRC) for Peer Advising. I am here to give advice and to also help my peers get into and thrive in research opportunities and fellowships! Whether you have never heard of research or have thought of trying it out but don’t know where to start, I am here to help and guide you through the process.

Research can look different across fields, the type of questions, and also the person. It is a personal journey where mentorship and academic support are needed for growth. In a sense, it really does take a village of people to help and give you guidance. Here at Brown, some opportunities are available and some that may be hidden, just like the “hidden curriculum”. My goal is to illuminate those hidden paths for students, emphasize important ways to navigate research spaces, and also nurture good mentoring relationships with those in the research community!

But first things first, how do you get into a research opportunity here @ Brown or elsewhere?

I created an infographic called “FIRe ROADMAP”. It is a general guide for undergraduates to follow to find, apply, and get into research opportunities for the summer or here at Brown!

I encourage you to look over the guide, click on the links, and start your own research journey! Also, come to my open office hours with the FIRe Coordinator Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 1 pm at the CRC (167 Angell Street). If you want help looking for opportunities, drafting emails, reflecting on the next steps on your own research journey, or anything else, please stop by, drink tea/cocoa, and sit on the couch while we chat about potential exciting opportunities. 

Go to RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES TAB to find the Resource!

Email fire@brown.edu if you have any questions!

Research 101: What is Research?

Research 101: A Conversation About Navigating the Research Process

Check out our slides that explain what is research and how to navigate the different opportunities within your field. Gaining research experience in undergrad can help students understand what career path they would want to focus on.

Check out these slides!

To S/NC or Not to S/NC, That is the Question

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 is the last day to change the grade option for summer courses. To help you make the final decision about whether to take your class(es) for a grade or satisfactory/no credit, below is some food for thought from myself, Mariela, and Dean Chang. These comments were originally published in a Dear CRCer discussion on the topic from the week of October 1, 2019.

Dear CRCers, what are your thoughts about S/NC?  Is there a limit to how many courses I should take S/NC?  I’m worried about how S/NC courses will look on graduate school applications.  Signed, Want to Be Chill But Not Too Chill.

From Dean Chang: While a few of us believe in the S/NC option whole-heartedly, probably most Brown students have worried about how “too many” S/NC courses on the transcript will look to the outside world.

Graduate and professional schools will ask for your official transcript, but they don’t just look at your grades; and by the way, Brown does not officially calculate rank or GPA.  Perhaps more important than a string of As are the list and level of the courses you took in college; the letters of recommendations you submit from faculty, supervisors, and others; and your written, personal statement, in which you make the case for why you are ready for graduate/professional school and why you’re a good fit for their program.  If you’re applying to medical schools, yes, you should take your pre-med requirements for a grade; and a few concentrations at Brown have a policy that concentration requirements are taken for a letter grade.

The S/NC grade option was established in order to give students more of an opportunity to take intellectual risks:  To enroll in courses outside of one’s comfort zone and focus on what you’re learning and not on the end-goal of an A.  Some classes are mandatory S/NC precisely because of the instructor’s emphasis on the learning process.
For any course taken with the S/NC option, you can request a Course Performance Report, or a written evaluation of your work in the class.  We think everyone should take the opportunity to have at least one of these as part of their learning experience!

From Mariela: While it’s always great to be thinking ahead, in this case about graduate school admissions, it may also be helpful to step back a bit and think about where you are right now. For instance, what classes are you taking and what is your motivation for taking them? Are they of personal interest like a language course or a concentration requirement, unrelated to what you see yourself pursuing in graduate school? In these cases, though also in others where you feel you might face some more difficulty than you are usually accustomed to, you might want to especially consider choosing to take a course S/NC. 

At the core of the S/NC option is the notion that it will remove the burden of achieving a specific letter grade from your plate. With that pressure relieved, you have the choice of engaging yourself in the course as much as you feel able or willing. If you choose to go all in, you can do so with the intention of just learning; that is, understanding that your one goal is to build your knowledge of a subject or topic and you don’t need to get everything right away. There is, in a way, a greater sense that you can make mistakes—that they will happen—and that with time, you will correct or learn from them. This can be especially comforting when taking a course you are super interested in but do not have a background in, or generally feel uncertain about. 

As Dean Chang has written, graduate schools take into account a multitude of factors when reviewing applications for admission. In addition to grades, this can include what courses you took (and how well they appear to align with your selected program and personal statement), research experience, publications, etc. This being said, taking various courses or even of number of them S/NC during your time at Brown should not make or break your application. 

When choosing whether to S/NC a course, it’s important to take into account your motivations for doing so. Is the course especially difficult? Do you lack background on the subject? Do you feel you won’t be able to devote the time you need to the course to achieve your desired letter grade? Do you just not want the stress of grades for a particular course? In any of these cases, you might decide S/NC is right for you. If you are especially concerned about a lack of a letter grade and graduate school admissions, you can supplement this by putting your knowledge gained from the course or additional “free” time granted by your limited engagement in the course into a project (including caring for yourself) that will better prepare you for the future.  This can mean anything from trying to get your work from the course published to getting a job that will speak to the skills you built/learned in the course.