We are pleased to announce a pilot program of Physics Diversity Fellowships for graduate students to promote student efforts in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) in the Physics Department. This pilot program anticipates supporting 2-3 diversity fellows each semester in the 2021-2022 academic year and recognizes that graduate students play an important role in advancing DEIB activities in the Physics Department. The fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis following an application process and committee review.
Compensation and Commitment: Physics Diversity Fellows will receive an additional $2,500 to their semester stipend and are encouraged to add the distinction as a synergistic professional development activity on their CV. The Physics Diversity Fellowships are modeled after the McDougal graduate teaching fellow program. Fellows typically work 6-8 hours/week in a flexible schedule that fits with most coursework. Proposed projects should be of a scope that is appropriate for the time commitment in one semester and expand on or complement existing department activities. At the end of the semester, a short final report or presentation must be submitted.
Experience: We anticipate several networking events throughout the academic year for the cohort of Yale Physics Diversity Fellows and for participants in a similar pilot program in the Earth and Planetary Science Department (EPS). We plan for the Physics Fellows, along with their colleagues in EPS, to present their projects at an event open to members of both departments at the end of the academic year.
Application Procedure: Applications will be due the semester prior to the proposed work. The application and proposal must be developed together with, and supported by, a faculty mentor (or staff from a campus center like the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning) who is responsible for supervising the work during the semester. All graduate students are eligible to apply but we expect that most of the fellowships will be awarded to students in their second year or higher. Applications consist of a short proposal (< 2 pages) and must describe clearly
- Project title and faculty mentor
- Applicant’s motivation for the work proposed
- A well-defined project or set of activities including goals and timelines
- Expected products and outcome of the work
- Methods to assess and measure the impact of the project in the department and beyond
Please submit your completed applications and a letter from your faculty mentor via email to Graduate Registrar stacey.watts@yale.edu by May 31st. For any questions or feedback on your project ideas during the application process please contact graduate program coordinator Rona Ramos rona.ramos@yale.edu. A few examples for potential DEI projects are listed below.
Applications for the fellowships will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee consisting of the graduate program coordinator, registrar, the DGS, faculty lead of the CDC, and Chair. Criteria for selection will include the feasibility and likely impact of proposed projects. Applicants for the Fall fellowships will be notified before July.
AWARD WINNERS
- 2022-2023: Sanah Bhimani
- 2021-2022: Iris Ponce and Sanah Bhimani