NSF Undergraduate Student Fellowship Opportunity

2006-07 GK-12 Fellows in Mathematics and Science Education

Overview

This UC Davis NSF grant provides seven Fellowships for mathematics and science undergraduate students to work in K-12 schools. Undergraduate fellows will participate as active members of research teams with K-12 teacher mentors and UCD graduate Fellows; research will focus on issues related to K-12 mathematics and science curriculum and instruction. This Fellowship provides undergraduates with the opportunity to gain knowledge about student learning and effective teaching practices in their disciplines through the application of educational research methods and classroom interactions.

Commitment

1. The time commitment for this 9-month fellowship (fall quarter 2006, winter and spring quarters, 2007) is fifteen hours per week: Approximately 10 hours of working with K-12 teacher researchers and up to 5 hours per week for meeting with other undergraduate and graduate NSF fellow teams, participation in a weekly two-hour seminar on campus, and/or other work in support of a teacher research group.

2. The K-12 sites are located throughout the greater Sacramento area including Natomas, Rancho Cordova, Vacaville, and Dixon. Fellows are expected to provide their own transportation to school sites. (Mileage reimbursement will be provided.)  

3. Undergraduate Fellows begin shortly after the start of the 2006-07 public school calendar, sometime in mid-September, and will conclude NSF Fellow K-12-based work by the end of Spring Quarter 2007.

4. Attendance and active participation in a two-hour weekly seminar is expected. Units and/or transcript notation are available for some of this work.

5. Continuation of Fellowship is on a quarter-by-quarter basis, contingent upon satisfactory performance

Stipend

The NSF grant provides each Fellow with an annual stipend of $5,000.

Who May Apply

Any undergraduate student in the biological sciences, chemistry, geology, mathematics, engineering, or physics, who has attained a grade point average of at least 3.0 and holds sophomore, junior or senior year standing by Fall Quarter 2006 is eligible to apply.Applicants forthis NSF fellowship opportunity must be enrolled as a full time student, and be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States.

Application Procedure - An application packet should include the following

1. A personal statement (limited to 3 double-spaced pages) that describes your interest in the fellowship, and indicates why you are well qualified to hold such a fellowship.

2. A letter of recommendation from someone who is in a position to comment on your commitment to K-12 or college teaching.

3. The most current transcript (SISWEB transcript is acceptable).

4. OPTIONAL : You may wish to include additional information about work you have done related to teaching/education, such as tutoring or internship experiences in the public schools.

Completed packets should be submitted to the appropriate discipline faculty contact listed below:

Applicant Screening and Award Announcements

Application Due Date: January 8, 2007

Contact: Michelle R. McCombs, mrmccombs@ucdavis.edu