AFRL/DAGSI Ohio Student-Faculty Research Fellowship Program

The AFRL/DAGSI Ohio Student-Faculty Research Fellowship program, funded through DAGSI by the Ohio Board of Regents, supports graduate science and engineering students and faculty who conduct research in areas targeted by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.   

The key program objectives are:  

• To strengthen AFRL research ties to Ohio ’s academic science and engineering community
• To stimulate effective collaboration between Ohio universities and the AFRL
• To leverage Ohio research funding through use of AFRL resources
• To develop research talent to fulfill future AFRL—and Ohio ’s Third Frontier--workforce needs

All projects involve basic research in aerospace technologies and originate from research topic areas provided by the six AFRL Directorates with a presence at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio:  Air Vehicles (VA); Propulsion (PR); Sensors (SN); Materials and Manufacturing (ML); Human Effectiveness (HE); and Information (IF).

Graduate students and faculty from any of the eighteen members of the OBR's Research Officers Council (ROC) that have graduate science and engineering programs are eligible to participate.  ROC members include the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT); the University of Akron (UA); Bowling Green State University (BGSU); Central State University (CSU); the University of Cincinnati (UC); Cleveland State University (CSU); the University of Dayton (UD); Kent State University (KSU); Miami University (MU); The Ohio State University (OSU); Ohio University (OU); Shawnee State University (SSU); University of Toledo (UT); Wright State University (WSU); Youngstown State University (YSU); Medical College of Ohio; Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine; and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).

A graduate student and a faculty member, working as a team, submit a proposal in one of the target research areas.  For Ph.D.-level projects, the proposal should be developed and written largely by the student, with support, guidance, and input as necessary from the faculty partner.  For M.S.-level projects, the proposal can be developed and written jointly by the faculty member and the student.  Selection of proposals for funding will be made jointly between AFRL and DAGSI.  Participating students and faculty work together with AFRL scientists and engineers, using AFRL facilities in addition to their university facilities, to conduct their research.  The AFRL is committed to providing significant on-site involvement and support to the academic participants.  The fellowship term is one year.  Each student is required to spend a minimum of eight consecutive weeks conducting research at Wright-Patterson AFB.  Each faculty member is expected to spend at least one month’s worth of time conducting research at WPAFB.  This requirement helps foster strong linkages between Ohio 's academic research institutions and the Air Force.  The expectation is that most if not all students will use this research as the basis for their M.S. or Ph.D. dissertations.  

The Application Process

The Technical Directorates at AFRL/WPAFB submit research topics to DAGSI for posting on the DAGSI web site.  Each topic has a short (one or two paragraph) description, and a technical point of contact within the directorate will be identified.  Topics for each research fellowship round will be posted by September 15.  Applications may be submitted any time between December 1 and the following January 31.

Application materials include:  

• Application forms (one for student, one for faculty)
• Research proposal
• Endorsement from the institution's authorizing representative (e.g. Dean, VP for Research, Director of Sponsored Programs)
• Transcripts for the student applicant
• Letters of reference for the student applicant (at least one must be from someone other than the faculty research partner)

Award decisions are made by March 15 for research commencing summer term.

Each student and each faculty applicant may (together or separately) pursue up to two research opportunities.  A student may hold one award only.  A faculty member may receive one or two awards in a given cycle but may hold no more than three awards (new award(s) plus renewal(s)) in total at any one time.  Each proposal should address a single research topic UNLESS topic combination has been approved by AFRL.  Applicants should clearly indicate the topic title and number on the proposal.

Collaboration among universities is encouraged.  For example, two teams from two different schools may collaborate on a topic, each submitting a separate application but indicating that the applications should be considered together.

Renewals of existing awards require a separate application.  Renewals are not guaranteed.

The DAGSI website will be kept up-to-date with the latest program information.

The Award  

DAGSI anticipates awarding at least 20 student-faculty fellowships annually, including renewal of some projects already in progress.  The award consists of:

• Student stipend of $22,500 for students who hold an M.S. and are pursuing a Ph.D.; $18,000 for students who hold a B.S. and are pursuing an M.S. (either terminal or to be granted on the way to a Ph.D.)
• Student’s tuition for one academic year (unless covered by another source)
• Faculty stipend of $10,000
• Student and faculty allowances of $3,000 each for program-related travel or other expenses agreed upon jointly by the student and faculty member (note:  student benefits may be taken from the miscellaneous allowance if no other source is available)

o        The faculty member must sign off on a student's request for spending

o        The university authorizing official must sign off on the faculty member's request for spending

• Awards are made for one year.  A renewal request must be submitted for a second or third year of funding.  The final decision on renewals, based on satisfactory academic achievement, research progress, and available funding, will be made by a joint committee of AFRL and DAGSI.  Typically, students pursuing a M.S. degree would receive one year of support.  An M.S. renewal award includes student tuition only (no stipends), plus carry-over of any unused miscellaneous funds from the first award year.  Students pursuing a Ph.D. may be renewed up to two times for a total of three years' support.  
• Overhead at a maximum off-campus rate of 26% will be added to the student and faculty stipends and student and faculty miscellaneous allowances (not to tuition).
• Fringe benefits will not be added.  These may be allocated from within the faculty stipend or, for the student, from within the student’s miscellaneous expense funds.  Alternatively, they may be added to the faculty and/or student stipend by the university or department as cost share.  Student benefits should not be allocated from the student stipend.  The faculty’s miscellaneous expense funds are not to be used to cover benefits.

Tax Questions:  All questions concerning taxes should be directed to the Internal Revenue Service.  Refer to IRS Publication 520, "Scholarships and Fellowships", and Publication 508, "Tax Benefits for Work-Related Education," for further information.  Both publications can be accessed at http://www.irs.gov/prod/forms_pubs/pubs/

Note:  students and faculty receiving support from the AFRL/DAGSI program do not incur any formal obligation to the U.S. Government.  Program objectives will be best served if the student actively pursues research, teaching, employment in air and space industries or other Air Force-related fields after graduating. 

Program Rules and Requirements  

Student and faculty applicants are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the program rules and requirements.

• Project work must commence no later than October 15 of the award year.
• Each student must spend a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks, preferably during the summer at the start of the award year, at AFRL/WPAFB working with AFRL researchers and using AFRL facilities.  If 8 consecutive weeks cannot be scheduled, the student must present a plan showing how the equivalent amount of time will be accumulated over the award year, with research at AFRL beginning no later than October 1.
• Each faculty member should spend a minimum of 4 weeks' worth of time over the award year doing research at AFRL.  The research plan should state clearly how the student and faculty anticipate making use of AFRL facilities.
• Additional time at AFRL may be negotiated directly between the university researchers and AFRL.
• Student and faculty participants are required to present their work in a review seminar at the end of the award year.
• No student substitution is permitted prior to the start of a project.  If a student receiving an award withdraws for any reason before the project work begins, the full award will be withdrawn and offered to the next project/team on the rank-ordered list.  If a student withdraws after the start of the project but within the first six months of the award year, the university may recommend a replacement student to complete the current award.  That student must be comparable in academic standing and research talent and must submit an application form to DAGSI along with a plan to continue the research already underway.  The participating faculty member on the project and the University Authorizing Official must advise the AFRL sponsor and the DAGSI Director of the change and recommend the alternate.  DAGSI and AFRL have final approval.  Replacement students cannot apply for renewals.  They must compete with new applicants for continuation of their funding beyond the first year.

Eligibility  

• All student applicants must be currently enrolled or admitted as a full-time graduate student in engineering or a similar technical field.  If for some reason a student’s expected admittance remains pending as of the application deadline (January 31), admission must be confirmed by March 1 or the application will be disqualified.  Students admitted to but not yet enrolled in a graduate program must have accepted the school’s offer of enrollment.  Students may apply prior to receiving their baccalaureate degree provided they have been accepted to (and they have accepted) graduate school and will start their program no later than September 15 of the award year.
• Note that the maximum number of years a part-time or full-time student may hold DAGSI support across all programs is 3 for Ph.D. students and 2 for M.S. students.  For example, a Ph.D. student applicant who has held another DAGSI scholarship for one year can receive at most two years of support under the AFRL/DAGSI program.  An M.S. student who has held a DAGSI scholarship for two years is ineligible to apply for an AFRL/DAGSI Fellowship at the M.S. level (although he/she would be eligible if moving into a Ph.D. program). 
• Eligible schools are any of Ohio 's research universities with representation on the Regents' Research Officers Council (http://www.regents.state.oh.us/rgp/roc.html)
• Due to WPAFB access restrictions, student applicants must be US citizens (NO EXCEPTIONS).  Faculty who are not US citizens must contact AFRL regarding their status prior to submitting their application to explore potential for access to WPAFB facilities.
• A student may not hold more than one DAGSI award at a time.  If a DAGSI competitive scholarship student is awarded an AFRL/DAGSI fellowship, the student will relinquish the competitive scholarship.  Total support from DAGSI at the Ph.D. level across all programs is a maximum of three years; therefore, if a student has a DAGSI scholarship for one year and then moves to the AFRL/DAGSI program, he or she will get at most two years’ support for the project from DAGSI.  If a DAGSI fellowship student is awarded an AFRL/DAGSI fellowship, the student will continue to receive a stipend equal to his/her DAGSI fellowship stipend but will be considered an AFRL/DAGSI Fellowship student.
• Faculty applicants must be full-time, tenured or tenure track.  Senior research faculty may apply provided they work closely with and advise graduate students.

Underrepresented minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are strongly urged to apply to the AFRL/DAGSI program.

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Updated: 2/1/07

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