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| Photo Submitted. l-r: Autumn Lewis and Madeline Meier. |
Autumn Lewis, a
recent University of Arkansas honors graduate, and Madeline Meier, a
current honors senior, are both finalists for nationally competitive
fellowships to study in the United Kingdom. Lewis was named a finalist
for the Gates Cambridge Fellowship; Meier is a finalist for the National
Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Fellowship. Both awards fund
graduate study in the United Kingdom.
The National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program is an accelerated doctoral training program for outstanding science students committed to biomedical research careers. The program offers access to mentors and resources from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge. Matthais Bellaiche was the most recent NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholar from the University of Arkansas.
University of Arkansas students who are interested in applying for competitive scholarships like the Gates Cambridge or the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Programs should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu.
AUTUMN LEWIS
Lewis, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas in 2014, with degrees in political science and economics from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Her interest in education and politics at the state and federal levels has taken her across Arkansas and on to Washington, D.C. As an undergraduate, Lewis was named a Presidential Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. Her undergraduate honors included earning a Senior Honor Citation as the top female graduate of 2014, as well as the Henry Woods Student Leadership Award from the Division of Student Affairs and the Harry M. Alexander memorial award from the Political Science Department. She was an Honors College Fellow, a research assistant for professor Janine Parry, and served in the Associated Student Government as a senator and chief of staff.
After graduating, Lewis worked as director of advance and auxiliary relations for Mark Pryor’s Senate campaign in 2014, and then as a staff assistant in Pryor’s Washington, D.C., office. Later, she worked as a policy analyst and manager of aspiring teacher initiatives for the National Council on Teacher Quality, an education reform nonprofit.
Lewis hopes to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, then spend her career addressing the gap in educational achievement based on socioeconomic status.
“I want to return to Arkansas and work to expand access to quality education for all children, regardless of the neighborhood in which they are born,” she said. She also hopes to found an advocacy group focused specifically on the education issues and policies of Arkansas “to ensure schools have adequate funding, effective teachers, and a strong curriculum in order to give each child opportunities for success.”
MADELINE MEIER
Meier is an honors senior chemistry major in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Fulbright College. She worked with associate professor David Paul to investigate a process that could have important medical and environmental applications. Their work resulted in a recent publication in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society, with Meier as a second author. Meier has used her summers to pursue research abroad dealing with global issues.
In addition to her research, Meier has worked to improve sustainability across campus by helping Greek organizations to develop and implement a recycling program, leading several student recycling drives and creating a sustainability representative position to foster communication between the Office for Sustainability and Greek Organizations.
Meier plans to use her graduate studies to continue to investigate new methods and materials to detect indicators of disease and environmental concerns in real time.
“I hope to combine such new discoveries with current technology to develop point of care medical and environmental diagnostics to use in developing countries, where infectious diseases and environmental concerns are highly prevalent,” she said. Eventually, she hopes to complete a doctorate in analytical chemistry with an emphasis in biotechnology, and combine her passions for research and teaching as a professor.
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Want to see some more options? Take a look at these opportunities below for post-graduate fellowships overseas and check out this article from Diversity Abroad!
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
This program offers funding for U.S. citizens planning to pursue graduate study at Cambridge University, England. The program expects applicants to demonstrate high academic achievement and be able to get into the graduate program of their choice at Cambridge. You should be able to demonstrate potential for further academic development and use what you’ve learned in the program to benefit the common good after you complete the program.You must apply both to the Trust and to Cambridge University. You will need to submit both a CIGAS form A (the Cambridge University application form for graduate study) and a completed Gates Cambridge Scholarship form. Deadline: Mid-October
Marshall Scholarship
This award is for U.S. citizens who wish to pursue graduate study in the UK. The fellowship is often awarded to individuals who exhibit strong academic achievement, often with GPAs of 3.7 or higher. The Marshall Scholarship seeks "change agents," not just strong scholars. In addition to academic excellence, you should also have a substantial leadership background and demonstrated civic engagement. Each scholarship is held for two years.You can apply this scholarship to any institution of higher learning in the UK. Applications are encouraged for study at institutions other than those in London, Cambridge and Oxford. Deadline: Early October
Fulbright Fellowship
Check out this blog from Amy, a recent U of A grad and Fulbright teaching assistant in Thailand, at: https://sameamebutdifferent.wordpress.com/The Fulbright fellowships, contrary to popular belief, aren’t just for students looking to do research abroad. They have come to encompass a wider range of opportunities that include teaching abroad, studying abroad, and conducting research abroad. Though the primary focus is still to provide recent graduates the chance to do research outside of the U.S., there are additional opportunities worth exploring.
Applicants have the option to apply with the sponsorship of their alma mater or individually. The primary difference between the two processes is that those with university sponsorship go through an additional vetting stage where a committee of university faculty and staff evaluate the application to help the applicant strengthen his/her proposal. If you plan on applying independently, just keep in mind you should have someone who will be able to help you look over your proposal before you submit it. Deadline: Mid-October
