CAFNR Matching Assistantship Program (C-MAP)

CCAFNR Matching Assistantship Program (C-MAP)

The College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) desires to increase the number of PhD students and postdoctoral research scholars to strengthen these AAU metrics and to further strengthen the CAFNR research community. As an initial step, CAFNR Office of Research is pleased to announce the CAFNR Matching Assistantship Program (C-MAP) to support efforts of CAFNR faculty to attract highly competitive PhD students. CAFNR will release two calls annually for the competition for C-MAP.

Eligibility Requirements

C-MAP funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to CAFNR faculty members to support acceptance of excellent new PhD students into a CAFNR program. Faculty (tenure or non-tenure track) advisors submitting applications for C-MAP must be leading active research programs, have doctoral faculty status, document availability of at least half of the assistantship funding, and participate in a Multistate Hatch Project (or will join a Multistate Project by the time the funding is approved). The PhD student’s research must be conducted within the U.S. C-MAP funds can be used to support U.S. citizens as well as international students. MU students graduating with a BS/BA or MS/MA degree are eligible, but must be starting a PhD program. This program Is not for current students, but for recruiting new doctoral students.

Deadline for Submission of Application Documents

April 15 for Fall semester.

C-MAP Award Information

CAFNR will award C-MAP funds to complement funding from other sources which is required as a condition of the award:

• $12,500 for 12 months for up to four years for a new PhD student (subject to satisfactory progress toward the degree based on annual reviews).

CAFNR C-MAP funds CANNOT be used to cover, tuition, waiver of Educational Fees, Graduate Medical Insurance Subsidy or other incidental costs (e.g., student recreation center).

Funds cannot be used to cover research expenses.

Electronic Application Submission Procedure

The application needs to be submitted as a single PDF document with the items in the order listed below.

• Student
  • Transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of reference
  • Biosketch/CV
• Factuly Advisor
  • Letter addressing (i) the student’s potential for academic success in the classroom and in research, and (ii) how the matching assistantship funds will strengthen the faculty member’s own research program
  • Brief biosketch/CV (2 pages maximum)
  • Documentation of (i) availability of funds to cover at least 50% of the assistantship as well as tuition, graduate medical insurance contributions, and research costs; and (ii) evidence of participation in, or initiation of participation in, a multistate project
  • List of current funding (Source, Amount, Duration, Title, PI or Co-PI, Shared Credit) of AAU Phase I and Phase II indicators, and others
  • List of current PhD students

The complete application packet should be submitted by the faculty advisor to the office of the CAFNR Associate Dean for Research (Leutschafts@missouri.edu) by the application deadline.

Selection Criteria

Applications submitted for consideration will be evaluated by a selection committee, consisting of a subgroup of the CAFNR Research Council or other CAFNR faculty as needed. The Selection Committee will evaluate each application in terms of:

• Student
  • Undergraduate grades and MS/MA grades if applicable
  • Research experience as undergraduate or post-baccalaureate and MS/MA if applicable
  • Strength of the letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the students’ academic performance and potential for graduate study
  • Student’s commitment as shown in the personal statement and letters of recommendation
• Faculty advisor
  • Letter of support addressing the student’s potential for academic success in the classroom and in research
  • Extent to which the new student and their program will strengthen the faculty member’s own research program
  • Level of research activity and graduate training record (consideration for stage of career will be made)

Selection Procedure

The selection committee will be composed of a subgroup of the CAFNR Research Council. Ad-hoc reviews may be solicited from other faculty if necessary. The committee will evaluate and rank applications with respect to the student’s potential for success and the record of the faculty advisor, with greater weight given to the student’s credentials and potential. The Selection Committee will notify the Associate Dean for Research and Research Faculty Fellow of its rankings. The Associate Dean or Research Faculty Fellow will notify the faculty advisor of the final decision. Both an official acceptance of the matching funds by the faculty advisor and confirmation of their participation in a multi-state Hatch project are required before an award can be finalized. Up to five awards will be given each academic year provided sufficient funds are available. Awards are contingent upon acceptance of the student and availability of matching funds.

Annual Review and Decision for Continued Matching Funding

Every year, the faculty advisor will submit the following documentation as a single PDF document with the items in the order listed below by the end of the academic year, no later than June 1 to the CAFNR Office of Research (Leutschafts@missouri.edu).

1. Annual review letter of the student by the faculty advisor.
2. Student’s current transcript.
3. Confirmation that the student will continue full-time graduate study.
4. Confirmation of availability of matching funds and commitment to continue to support the student.

The Selection Committee reserves the right not to renew the C-MAP funds in the event of unacceptable academic progress, insufficient course enrollment, insufficient research engagement, external employment or external fellowship.