UTRGV Dean’s Excellence Fellowship
Mission
The Dean’s Excellence Fellowship provides an exceptional undergraduate learning
experience for high-achieving students, emphasizing depth and breadth of research-based academic inquiry, strong and ongoing faculty/student mentorship, effective
communication of research achievement, and external recognition of academic
excellence.
The core of the Dean’s Excellence Fellowship is the opportunity to conduct research in
partnership with a faculty member, outside of the classroom. As fellows, students conduct
research for a maximum of 4 years. During this period, students work closely with their
research advisor which provides the opportunity for creating a mentoring relationship
where the student is provided with guidance towards their career goals. Because of this
unique, intense focus on research, the Dean’s Excellence Fellowship offers students an
unparalleled advantage for post-graduate work.
Description
Dean’s Excellence Fellows are involved in experiential activities conducting research
during the fall and spring semesters with faculty members in the areas of Chemistry,
Physics, or Statistics. This unique opportunity provides the fellow with an annual stipend
of $2,000 for each of four years for a total of $8,000. In the first Fall semester, students
will identify a faculty member they are interested in working with and begin research in
the Spring semester of their freshman year. Additionally, Fellows will work with faculty in
the Fall and Spring semesters of years 2, 3, and 4. All Fellows are given the opportunity
to present at the College of Science Annual Research Conference and are provided with
funding to present their work at two state and/or national research conferences.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Dean’s Excellence Fellowship, the following requirements must be
satisfied:
- 3.25/4.0 GPA
- Acceptance to the BSc. Chemistry, Physics, or Statistics programs
- Letter of nomination from applicant’s Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics high
school teacher or guidance counselor addressed to manar.shoshani@utrgv.edu - Completed application form
- Submit 300-word statement describing academic career plan
- Submit High School transcripts of record
Requirements to Maintain Eligibility for Subsequent Years
To be eligible for the Dean’s Excellence Fellowship, the following requirements must be
satisfied:
- Continued enrollment in the BSc. Chemistry, Physics, or Statistics programs
- Enrolled in 12 credit hours in each of fall and spring semesters
- Identify a faculty member in the Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics and Statistics
department to work with over the Fall and Spring semesters. Students must identify
a faculty mentor to work with no later than Feb 1st and submit corresponding form - Maintain a 3.25/4.0 GPA throughout the undergraduate tenure*
- Attend monthly meetings in the first Fall Semester
- Provide an informal research update to the other Fellows and Coordinator once a
semester - Present research results in conferences, such as the COS-annual research
conference or additional state or national conferences - Submit Annual Progress Report from research advisor no later than April 1st
- Complete lab safety training if applicable
Applications
Access the required forms for applying to the Dean's Excellence Fellowship below.