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| Technology Partnership Programs > U&GP > DDETFP > 2011 Grants for Research / Intern Fellowship Application |
This announcement is for the EISENHOWER GRANTS FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS (GRF) AND INTERN FELLOWSHIPS. The purpose of the GRF is to acquaint students with transportation research, development, and technology transfer activities and to provide opportunities to conduct research on important transportation projects at Federal and State Department Of Transportation facilities.
The purpose of the INTERN fellowship is to provide students with opportunities to perform transportation-related research, development, technology transfer, and other activities at both public and private sector organizations.
The Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships provide students an opportunity to enhance their pursuit of a degree in a field of study that is directly related to transportation. Recipients of the 2011 Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships must be enrolled full time at an accredited U.S. Institution of Higher Education.
The Department of Transportation encourages students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities to apply for the Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships.
Applicants of the Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships must:
Non-U.S. citizens must attach a certified copy of their I-20 or I-551 ID issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
GRF/Intern Fellowships are intended for:
Applicants must select one or more projects from the Approved List of Candidate Research Projects contained in this announcement. If selected for a project, the GRF/Intern recipient will conduct research at the designated facility (full-time) unless otherwise specified in the agency announcement.
Each recipient must have a Faculty Advisor assigned to provide academic supervision. Technical direction on the research project will be provided by a Project Technical Advisor. GRF/Intern recipients may receive academic credit from their university for their research project. The Faculty Advisor in consultation with the Project Technical Advisor will determine the amount of academic credit.
The Universities and Grants Programs (U&GP) will administer the fellowship on behalf of the sponsoring office/agency. U&GP will forward applications to the technical advisor upon receipt and eligibility verification. The sponsoring office/agency will be responsible for selecting the preferred candidate.
The duration of an Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships will range from three (3) – twelve (12) months
The Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowship will be awarded on the basis of merit. Merit includes:
Fellowship recipients should be advised that the stipend portion of the fellowship is subject to taxation in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations (Publication 520, revised June 2002).
The stipends for the Eisenhower GRF/ Intern Fellowships are as follows:
Actual Stipend level may vary based upon available funding.
The GRF/Intern Fellowship will cover a maximum of $10,000 in tuition annually that relates to the academic credits for the approved research project year. Recipients will be paid a travel allowance for a reasonable cost of travel to and from the Federal or State Department of Transportation facility where they will conduct the research.
Any major change in the project, project scope, or an extension in time to complete the project must be approved by the Program Manager, Universities and Grants Programs. GRF/Intern Fellowship recipients must conduct original research and prepare a paper or report suitable for publication on the topic for which they are selected.
Recipients must make the results of their research available to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department will retain an unlimited royalty-free privilege to use the results of the research.
Recipients are responsible for finding their own housing accommodations prior to arrival at their DOT approved facility. Some of the facilities may require use of an automobile for commuting purposes.
In addition, fellowship recipients will be allowed a one-time expenditure up to $1,500 for attendance at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in January.
Restrictions on the use of fellowship funds are as follows:
Once an award is made, the initial study plan and project topic may be changed only after consultation between the fellowship recipient's Faculty Advisor and the Universities & Grants Program Manager.
Award funding is contingent upon the recipient's satisfactory academic progress as determined by university policies.
Federal, State, and local government transportation employees may be eligible for the monthly stipend but will be required to take leave from their current employer. These recipients are expected to fulfill work-release terms with their current employers upon expiration of the fellowship.
Projects for Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships will remain open until filled.
Send the application to the address in the section entitled "How to Apply".
Selected fellowship recipients will be contacted through your faculty advisor by the Universities and Grants Programs to confirm acceptance of the award. Each fellowship will be awarded to the University on behalf of the student.
The Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowship application and supporting materials are to be sent to the following address:
Mr. Henry C. Murdaugh, Program Manager,
Universities & Grants Programs
Technology Partnership Programs, DTS-TP-20
1310 North Courthouse Road, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
TEL: (703) 235-0538
FAX: (703) 235-0593
Website: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpp/ugp.htm
General Instructions: Please read the Eisenhower GRF/Intern Fellowships Announcement and these instructions before preparing the application materials. Applicants must submit one original (with signatures) and three copies of all materials. APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THE REQUESTED NUMBER OF COPIES. All materials must be typed.
Applicants should:
Complete Application:
A completed application must be typed and consist of:
It is permissible to use copies of the application forms.
Application - Part 1: All requested information must be provided unless labeled "optional." If an item is not available, state "NA". Non-U.S. citizens must attach a copy of their I-20 ID or I-551 Permanent Resident Card issued by the Citizenship and Immigration Service. The application must have an original signature in ink.
Application - Part 2: List only those universities where you are currently enrolled or a degree was obtained. List only those employers where a transportation function was performed. Each applicant must have no more than four recommendation and/or endorsement letters. If currently employed in a transportation function, it is imperative that your employer submits an endorsement letter. The recommendation and endorsement letters should contain length and nature of the person's relationship with the applicant, comments on the applicant's overall ability to perform the project and potential for major contributions in one or more areas of transportation.
Application - Part 3: The narrative should demonstrate an applicant's intent and desire to pursue a study of and/or a career in transportation. The applicant should discuss how their graduate study, research plans and career goal will impact transportation. Part 3 must be limited to two pages.
Application - Part 4: Applicants will use Part 4 to indicate their selected research projects. A total of three (3) projects may be selected, starting with the applicant's first preference. Number each selected project accordingly (1, 2 and 3).
Mailing the Application: Applicants are urged to submit their application, transcript copies and supporting documents in the same envelope. (Incomplete application packets will not be considered). Universities are permitted to send transcripts directly to the address shown in the "How To Apply" section. When submitting the application, please package them in sequential order (i.e., Application Form Part 1, Application Form Part 2, Proposed Plan of Study, Transcripts, Resume, 4 Letters of Recommendation and I-20 or I-551 if applicable).
For a copy of the application form click here.
RETURN OF MATERIAL: Applications and any supporting documents cannot be returned to applicants.
GRF Project #1
TITLE OF PROJECT: Tools and Techniques for Transportation Planners to Manage Transportation Assets Effectively and Efficiently
SPONSOR: Federal Highway Administration, Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty
LENGTH OF ASSIGNMENT: 9-12 Months
DISCIPLINES: Planning, Public Administration, Political Science
PREREQUISITES: Masters or Doctoral Degree Candidate
BACKGROUND:
The current financial and economic environment is wrought with an uncertainty that presents enormous challenges for transportation planners. As such, they are constantly searching for tools and techniques that would help them manage their transportation assets effectively and efficiently. Since the passing of the Transportation Equity Act or the 21st Century in 1998 and subsequent authorization bills, the role that transportation planners and officials play in the transportation decision making process has greatly increased.
Transportation planners are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that transportation networks are administered in a way that will meet both current needs and future demands; set performance measures for assets; serve as repositories for asset data; and educate both decision makers and the public. This is not a simple task since transportation agencies serve and support a host of target audiences that have differing objectives which could affect an agencies’ effectiveness in their role as stewards of transportation assets.
The use of Transportation Asset Management (TAM) systems as a way to help transportation planners address the enormous challenges they face in managing transportation assets has been suggested as a viable solution to the current challenges faced. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines transportation asset management as a planned and methodical process of operating, maintaining, improving and expanding physical assets effectively through their lifecycle. This process concentrates on both engineering and business practices for the use and allocation of resources, as a way to improve decision-making.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:
This effort will research the use of the Highway Economic Requirement System- State Version (HERS-ST) supported by the FHWA that provides an additional tool to help in the transportation planning process and to assess not only the current needs of the system but also determine future demands and the costs of such demands.
Additionally, this research will investigate and document how the use of HERS-ST and TAM practices of three State DOTs (Michigan, Pennsylvania and Washington State) has impacted their transportation planning programs and processes. The goal for this research is to develop an information pool that will help the FHWA, Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty identify the effectiveness of these tools as used in the planning process, evaluate how well they are being integrated in this process and to provide suggestions for better integration.
ACADEMIC CREDIT: To be determined.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES: This research is expected to yield significant insights and case study examples from selected State DOTs that will help access how HERS-ST and TAM practices is used in the transportation planning process, evaluate how the tool is being integrated into the process, and provide suggestions for better integration. These insights will be documented in interim and final reports.
Deliverables include:
TECHNICAL ADVISOR:
Kenneth Petty
Senior Transportation Specialist
Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty
Federal Highway Administration
Phone: 202-366-6654
Email: kenneth.petty@dot.gov
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2011 DDETFP Applicant Checklist(Keep This Page for Your Records) |
Dear Applicant:
This letter is provided in an effort to ensure that all information is submitted in a timely manner. Incomplete packages will be returned. Please pay attention to all deadlines and information.
Prior to sending your packet to Universities and Grants Programs, 1310 North Courthouse Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201, ensure that you have reviewed your application thoroughly and are confident that all materials are enclosed.
If you would like confirmation of delivery provide a Postage Paid Postcard with your return address.
| Application Items | |
| - Citizenship | _____ |
| - 3 Copies of Application Packet | _____ |
| - Contact Information | _____ |
| • Phone # | |
| • Alt. Phone # | |
| Faculty Advisor Signature | _____ |
| Signed Application | _____ |
| Official University Transcripts | _____ |
| Letters of Recommendations (4) | _____ |
| Resume/CV | _____ |
| Approved Project List | _____ |
Comments:
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Transportation-related disciplines can be found at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpp/ddetfp.htm#FellowshipsDiscip
