Graduate School Newsletter

May 2024

Message from the Dean

Huge congratulations to our graduating graduate students! This is a tremendous accomplishment where you have demonstrated your knowledge, expertise, dedication, and commitment to working on some of the most challenging problems facing our communities. I also want to thank the extended village that has supported you along the way: your graduate peers, MSU faculty (especially those on your committee), staff, and your family and friends. Together, we all celebrate your graduation.

Your Graduate Dean,
Craig

Important Announcements

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT: ETD Formatting Deadline on May 3rd

If you are planning to graduate in the Spring 2024 semester and are completing a thesis or dissertation, approval of your final document and formatting is due by 5PM on Friday, May 3rd. See the ETD website for details.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

May 3 – Last day for approval of thesis or dissertation (ETD) formatting by 5PM. See ETD website for details.
May 9 – Last day of classes. Last day to withdraw graduation application and file for one credit extension.
May 10 – Spring Commencement.
May 13 – Summer semester classes begin.

May 27 – Memorial Day holiday (no classes; offices closed).
May 31 – One-credit extension deadline; 5PM formatting approval deadline.

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Funding & Fellowships

Graduate Leadership Academy (GLA) Applications Open

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the application period for the 2024-2025 Graduate Leadership Academy (GLA) is now open!

This is a professional leadership development program that prepares Montana State University graduate students for equitable, inclusive, and collaborative leadership across a variety of professional contexts. Based on the philosophy that complex challenges require diverse voices, knowledges, and life experiences for their solution, the GLA is centered on a transdisciplinary community of graduate students working together to grow their leadership abilities through workshops and collaborative projects.

For complete program information as well as application instructions, please visit the GLA webpage. The priority application deadline is May 15, 2024.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Fellowship Program (NGFP)

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) identifies and develops the next generation of exceptional national security leaders to achieve the NNSA mission: Strengthening our nation through nuclear security. There will be a virtual session to share information about the NNSA Fellowship Program (NGFP) with MSU Students on May 2, 2024 12:00 PM Mountain Time via Zoom.

Students can register in advance for the NGFP info session.

Fall 2024 Mindfulness Based Graduate Mentorship Program (MBGMP)

The next offering of Mindfulness Based Graduate Mentorship Program will occur during the Fall 2024 semester. The MBGMP is a program for graduate student mentees interested in learning how to mindfully cultivate and sustain functional mentoring relationships. In the program, graduate students gather weekly in peer community to inquire into questions around the qualities of effective mentorship, what functional relationships look like, and how to get support from mentors.

MBGMP Applications are open now through August 2024.

Montana SHPO Digital Antiquities Research Fellowship

The Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and MSU Graduate School is offering a paid fellowship with independent study credits to graduate students who effectively incorporate the use of Montana’s Cultural Resource Database into their research. An additional cash incentive is available to supervising faculty who co-author and submit a resultant scholarly research paper for publication.

SHPO Digital Antiquities Fellowship information here. Applications due Monday, July 15, 2024; awards announced Monday, August 12, 2024.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a competitive federal funding opportunity that supports future leaders in STEM, including $37,000 annual stipend for 3 years and $12,000 annually for tuition! Calling all rising 1st and 2nd year STEM graduate students - join MSU’s Office of Research Development for an 8-week NSF GRFP workshop series, starting August 21^st, to prepare you to successfully apply for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

For questions, contact Dr. Helaina Stergas at helaina.stergas@montana.edu and sign up to save your spot through InfoReady.

Identify Scholarships and Research Funding for Your Graduate Education!

The MSU Graduate School maintains a Funding & Fellowships webpage listing various ways you may find funding throughout your time at MSU.

The University of Illinois has an excellent Fellowship Finder featuring awards that are open to grad students from any university. It features several filters to aid your search.

The National Research Council postdoctoral program is used by federal agencies across the country to support postdoc searches. This is a great place to look when you are close to finishing your PhD and the salaries are quite good. Quarterly application deadlines.

For more funding opportunities, visit MSU's Research Funding Opportunities and the MSU Graduate School's Funding and Fellowships webpage.

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Workshops & Events

Effective Research Mentoring Workshop

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | 10AM-noon | 324 Library Teaching Space

Looking for some ideas on how to best mentor graduate and undergraduate students in research? This three-part series uses materials from the Center for Improved Mentoring Experiences in Research to explore many different subjects around mentoring. While it is helpful to attend all the session, it is not required. These sessions will be offered each spring semester.

Part 3 - Addressing Equity & Inclusion, Aligning expectations and Effective Communications: Research mentoring for mentors who work directly with undergraduates - Graduate students are welcome!

Wednesday, May 22 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | 324 Library Teaching Space | Register Now

Professional Development: GradCat 360

GradCat 360 is a comprehensive professional development program for graduate students at Montana State University. It is a series of programs and events designed by the Graduate School and departments across campus that center around nine focus areas. These areas are tailored to help students cultivate a unified set of skills and knowledge for educational success and professional preparation.

Check out our GradCat 360 Event Calendar, specifically curated for Graduate Students. We are constantly updating the GradCat 360 calendar with workshops and events that are uniquely useful for graduate students.

MSU Writing Center

The MSU Writing Center offers ongoing support to students working on graduate-level writing.