WSGI Graduate Traineeships

The WSGI Graduate Traineeships are intended to support Ph.D. students who are either working directly in the field of
Genomics, or those who study the Societal and Policy Impacts of Genomics research. An associated and equally
important goal of this funding mechanism is to foster the formation of high quality, diverse and multidisciplinary
research teams who will submit competitive federal research and training grant proposals. Researchers in the Social
Sciences are encouraged to apply for the WSGI Graduate Traineeships, and Researchers in the Life Sciences are
encouraged to include Social Science Researchers in their faculty research teams and/or student committees.
Applicants: Current or incoming Ph.D. students; Must be US citizens or Permanent Residents. Faculty mentor(s) should
be included as Co-applicant(s).
Application Deadline: June 30, 2013
Funding Period: Sept 1, 2013 Aug 31, 2014 (2013-2014 school year)
Funding Amount: Awards will be made as Graduate Research Assistantships at a maximum level of $24,500 including
matching contributions. Funds for tuition up to 9 cr fall and spring, 6 cr summer will also be covered in the award).
Number of Awards: Three or more awards will be made, with the final number being dependent on available matching
funds.
Required Criteria to be included in the Application:
1. Graduate Student Research Project: Must be within the broad scope and mission of the WSGI. The
Graduate Student Research Project does not have to directly use genomics technologies; however the
scope of the project should be connected to the outcomes of a project related to genomics
technologies. [Description of Research Project - 400 Words]
2. Career Development: Describe the students proposed career development strategy and future
professional goals. [Description of development plan - 400 Words]
3. Research Team: Briefly describe the research and mentorship team, including the applicants strengths
and qualification for genomics or genomics-related studies. Describe how this award will contribute to
the graduate students multidisciplinary education and training. [Description of Research Team - 400
Words]
4. Training Program: These awards should enhance future extramural graduate student funding, either
through individual student awards or institutional awards. Identify and describe an appropriate
extramural opportunities for graduate student funding, and how this award would support that
application. Describe the scope and focus of the proposed graduate training including unique aspects
that may complement and enhance other WSGI activities. The graduate student project does not have
to be the primary research focus of a future training grant submission; however it should be relevant to
strengthening future fellowship or training grant proposals. [Description of proposed training grant or
pre-doctoral fellowship program to be targeted - 400 Words]
Preferred Criteria for review:
1. Funding: 50% matching funds from other sources. [Description of amount and source of matching funds
- 100 Words]
2. Diversity: How does applicant contribute to a diverse graduate student population [Description of
Diversity efforts - 150 Words]
3. Interdisciplinary Nature and Social Sciences Component of Proposed Training Program: To include a
multi-disciplinary research approach and social sciences research or educational outreach component,
as well as investigators from different fields of research, departments and colleges. This section relates
to the broad research project and approach for pursuing future extramural funding, not necessarily the
individual graduate student research project. [Description of Interdisciplinary Approach, Social Sciences
Research or Educational Outreach Component - 250 Words]
Additional Documents:
1. If the graduate student has been previously supported on WSGI funds, describe the progress that has
been made toward submitting an extramural training grant proposal. [1 page]
2. 2 page CVs from the Graduate Student applicant and Co-PI mentor(s). [up to2 pages each]
3. Graduate student training history of mentors e.g. number of students, diversity, student publications,
and student grants. [1 page]
4. Budget request for graduate student support, identification of the total and source of any available
matching funds. [1 page]
5. Signature sheet for applicant(s) and administrators as appropriate to demonstrate approval of matching
funds. [1 Page]
Awardee Requirements:
Courses: Students must enroll in and earn a Satisfactory grade in GENE 681-602 or GENE 689 (Genomics and
Society) for the Spring 2014 semester.
Training: Report attendance at WSGI related training events/courses.
Publications: Report publications resulting from WSGI support and acknowledge support in manuscripts.
Grants: Report grants awarded as a result of WSGI support of preliminary research.
Awardees may also be asked to participate in or attend additional WSGI events and to present research findings.
Review Criteria:
25% - Graduate Student Research Project quality of proposed research project and fit to broad scope and
mission of the WSGI.
25% - Research Team quality of the proposed team and likely competitiveness for future extramural training
grant award.
25% - Training Program quality of the proposed training program and fit with the identified extramural
training grant or pre-doctoral fellowship opportunity.
25% - Preferred Criteria quality and fit of the proposal to the preferred criteria categories.
Review Process:
Internal reviewers with no conflicts of interest will be selected to review the submitted proposals (3 per
proposal) and will collectively rank the proposals based on the above review criteria.

Submit all documents as single .pdf file to dhouston@tamu.edu no later than 5pm, June 30, 2013.