Request for Application to the 2017 UTC-IASE Endowed Graduate Fellows Program Now Open

Award Information

The UTC Endowed Graduate Fellows Program sponsors graduate studies leading to masters or doctoral degrees in the field of cyber-physical systems engineering. The goal of the fellowship is to attract exceptional students and to cultivate ties between graduate students and faculty from UConn and engineers and managers from the United Technologies Corporation. Fellows are expected to work closely with UConn faculty on projects that have the potential to help meet the critical needs of the nation in the design of high performance, reliable and cost-effective systems.

Selection Criteria

These twelve-month fellowships will be offered to students who:

  • Have an excellent academic record.
  • Have demonstrated excellence in ongoing scholarly work aligned with UTC interests.
  • Want to engage in new research directions in areas of interest to the UTC-IASE and UTC.
  • Have excellent communication skills.
  • Are engaged in activities that enrich the UConn Engineering community. Preferred (but not required) qualifications include:
    • Commitment by the candidate’s advisor (in writing) to provide the 50% RA support (to match the fellowship).
    • Underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM) are encouraged to apply to the program.
    • US Citizenship or Permanent Residency are not mandatory but will be considered a preferred qualification.

Nomination Process

To apply for the UTC-IASE Endowed Graduate Fellowship, please provide:
(1) Your name, department and thesis advisor name.
(2) Title and brief description (500 words max) of your current research.
(3) A summary of the relevance of your currently-funded or proposed research to areas of interest to the UTC-IASE (limit 200 words).
(4) If applicable, source of the 50% RA match and award period for this support (dates from/to).
(5) Your resume (limit 2 pages) including graduate and undergraduate GPA and key publications or conference proceedings.
(6) Recommendation and commitment letter from your advisor.

Key Dates and Selection Process

  • Submit your application as one single PDF file by 5:00pm, August 18, 2017 to Michelle Morse at michelle.morse@uconn.edu.
  • Up to 10 fellowships will be awarded depending on applications quality and matching funds.
  • Applications will be reviewed by the UTC-IASE Governing Committee, on the basis of the aforementioned selection criteria.
  • Awardees and their advisors will be notified by August 25, 2017.
  • Fellowship funds will be made available with the start of the 2017 fall semester.

Fellowship Requirements

  • Individuals accepting this award may not concurrently receive other fellowships or traineeships.
  • All UTC-IASE Fellowship awardees will be expected to first notify and then acknowledge the UTC-IASE in their publications, conference presentations, and final theses.
  • For research executed in collaboration with UTC, fellows are expected to conform with export control and confidentiality agreements between UConn and UTC.
  • Awardees will be expected to give a short presentation at a UTC-UConn networking event.
  • Awardees are expected to provide brief bios and research abstracts for promotion to the UTC-IASE webpage, LinkedIn account and social media.
  • Awardees will be expected to participate in the outreach activities of the UTC-IASE.
  • Awardees will be expected to attend the UTC-IASE seminar and distinguished lecture series.