Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IPEM Fellowships
1) What is IPEM?
IPEM (IGERT Program in Evolutionary Modeling) is an interdisciplinary doctoral fellowship program at Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Washington (UW). The program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) initiative. The fellowship provides support for selected students earning a doctorate in one of the three participating departments (School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Anthropology at WSU, and the Department of Anthropology at UW). Students are also eligible to spend part of their time at one of the IPEM-affiliated institutions (principally, the Santa Fe Institute, and the Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity at University College London and/or at field sites that include locations in Dominica and the Central African Republic).
2) Who directs the program?
IPEM is directed by Prof. Tim Kohler (Anthropology, WSU); the UW branch is directed by Prof. Eric A. Smith (Anthropology, UW). Faculty include biologists and anthropologists at WSU and anthropologists at UW. Staff at both institutions handle routine inquiries and graduate application matters (see Contacts, this web site).
3) What are the requirements?
By NSF regulations, IPEM fellows must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. They must also be enrolled in a participating doctoral program, as noted in 1). Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, via a specified application process in addition to admission to a participating program. Once admitted, IPEM fellows must have a PhD committee chaired by an IPEM faculty member, and meet various course and research requirements as well as the regular requirements of their PhD program. In addition, IPEM fellows must be willing to spend 4-5 months during their first year (WSU students) or second year (UW students) in residence at the sister institution (see 10), below).
4) What is the application process?
First, apply to the IPEM-linked doctoral program you are interested in (see 1), above). Second, submit the
application for an IPEM fellowship, including a statement of purpose distinct from the one submitted with your regular graduate application, to the email address for WSU or UW (depending on which graduate program you are applying to), as listed on the form. Do not submit separate transcripts, letters of reference, or other application materials you have already submitted to the department; IPEM faculty will already have access to those in making fellowship decisions. See the application procedures for full instructions.
5) I am already a doctoral student in one of the three participating departments. Can I apply for an IPEM fellowship?
Although our goal is to allocate most fellowships to recruit new PhD students, we are willing to consider exceptional candidates who are already enrolled in one of the participating departments. To explore this possibility, send an email message to one of the Program Directors (Kohler or Smith), who will let you now whether or not you are invited to submit a formal application.
6) When is the application deadline?
Applications for IPEM fellowships are accepted during the period of normal graduate application (Fall and early Winter of the academic year preceding the one in which you would first enroll). The IPEM application deadline is January 10th. Applicants will not be offered IPEM fellowships until they have been accepted by one of the participating departments.
7) How many fellowships are awarded?
The program awards approximately 6 fellowships per year, more or less equally divided between the three participating departments.
8) Who determines the awards?
An admissions committee composed of representative faculty from each participating department reviews all IPEM applications and determines the number of awards.
9) What does the fellowship provide?
The IPEM fellowships includes: a generous stipend ($30,000/year) and tuition (up to $10,500/year) for 2 years, with possibility for a third year of support in exceptional cases; research and travel funding (up to $8,000/year) awarded on a competitive basis; access to specialized computing hardware and software for simulation modeling and other IPEM-related research; office space; and funding for an orientation retreat (with IPEM faculty) and a week-long “math camp” (at the UW Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences).
10) How does the residential exchange requirement work?
Because IPEM involves collaboration between two institutions (WSU and UW) that are several hundred miles apart, a period of relocation to enroll in the sister institution is required of all IPEM fellows. WSU fellows will enroll at UW for Winter and Spring Quarters (January to early June) in year 1 of their funding; UW fellows will enroll at WSU for Autumn Semester (late August to mid December) in year 2 of their funding. Thus, each cohort of IPEM fellows will interact closely during this period of nine months. In addition, IPEM fellows are encouraged to take advantage of our ties with affiliated institutions (see 1) above) by spending periods of a month, a summer, or more in residence there. Supplementary research funding can be awarded for travel to affiliated institutions or research sites, but the WSU-UW travel costs are borne by each fellow. IPEM staff will assist with making travel and residential arrangements for both kinds of exchanges; however, each fellow is ultimately responsible for making his or her own housing arrangements and for housing and living expenses.
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