* Carleton announces the 2024 Paglia Post-Bac Research Fellows.
* Hear from the first class of Paglia Post-Bac Fellows regarding their experiences.
Purpose
The goal of this fellowship is to enable graduating seniors with a strong interest in a career in scientific research to experience working life in a lab/group at a US Research One (R1) university (see the FAQ to learn about R1 designations), or a prominent non-university institution similarly dedicated to research, for a period of two years.
Fellows will have access to the intellectual life of the host institution as well as infrastructural and other support for research under a PI. The expectation is that networking and other opportunities available in a research-focused environment will inform and strengthen the fellow’s commitment to a career in research and help them secure letters of recommendation for an eventual application to a PhD program.
Carleton will select up to three fellows for this opportunity each year.
Selected fellows will be required to return to Carleton to discuss their experiences, in both formal and informal contexts, and to stimulate enthusiasm among potential applicants. Costs for these return visits will be covered as part of the fellowship award.
Eligibility
Graduating seniors with a major in a discipline represented on Carleton’s STEM Board (Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychology) are eligible to apply.
Students who wish to pursue the MD and enter clinical practice should not apply, but those students interested in an MD/PhD track are welcome to do so.
International students are able to participate in the Paglia Post-Bac Fellowship as part of their OPT (optional practical training) F-1 visa extension.
Applicants selected for the Paglia Post-Bac Fellowship must graduate by June of the award year, and take up their post-bac positions by September.
Potential applicants must discuss this opportunity with faculty in their disciplines/advisors; consult first with them about which faculty at R1 institutions to contact; and follow the instructions here to communicate with prospective hosts and establish an affiliation. The Director of Student Fellowships is available to provide additional advising on the application process and materials.
Application Materials
Deadline: 11:59 PM Central Time on Friday, February 21, 2025
We hope to announce selections by the beginning of Spring Break.
Application
Please attach the following documents in a single PDF to the online Application form:
- CV/Resume including list of honors, awards, etc.; list of publications and presentations; research/other employment experience; non-academic interests and activities, as appropriate to your specific background and experience;
- Research statement (maximum 750 words, citations excluded) that describes the proposed research you will do as a post-bac fellow (what will be undertaken? where and with whom – and why? what skills, techniques, experience will you gain through participation in the research project?);
- Personal statement (maximum 750 words) that describes how this opportunity will affect your career trajectory (what are your career plans? what factors in your background or experience – academic and personal – have shaped your decision and ability to pursue a STEM career? why is this opportunity a good next step for you? what will you gain from the particular placement, beyond what is described in your research statement?); and
- a Transcript (please order an official e-version through the Registrar’s Office).
During our review process, we will contact your prospective host PI (using this form) to ensure that they are willing to host you; we will ask for a brief description of the research project you will join and information on other opportunities that may be available to you as a member of their lab/group or through the institution (such as auditing or taking classes for credit; participating in colloquia or other events; etc.).
See sample research statements for the Paglia here!
Recommendations
Two letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted to fellowships@carleton.edu by the deadline. If you have completed research, at least one of the letters must be from a research supervisor. For all applications, at least one of the letters must be from a faculty member in your major. Please direct your recommenders to our guidance on the purpose and content of their letters.
Selection Criteria
- Potential impact of the post-BA experience on the applicant’s career trajectory;
- Academic performance (especially GPA in the major/STEM fields);
- Quality of the placement (for the particular applicant’s experience/field); and
- Previous research experience and/or demonstrated capacity for research.
Financial Matters
The stipend amount for each fellow will be set in consultation with the host institution and will depend largely on their practices and policies, as well as considerations of location and cost of living.
This award is designed as a fellowship and we are hopeful that it will allow forbearance of student loan payments (that is, payments would not be due during the period of the fellowship) but we are unable to guarantee that will be the case.