FELLOWSHIPS

Service/Engineering Summer 2022 Fellowship Application

TBP is looking to sponsor students wishing to pursue a service engineering project this coming Summer. The purpose of this program is to support students who seek to apply their engineering and technological understanding to better society, both domestic and abroad. Successful fellows should be prepared to guide a student-led project that can leave behind lasting, sustainable benefits for a community. The work may be arranged with non-governmental or inter-governmental organizations and other community-conscious groups. Students of all disciplines are welcome.

Application Checklist

The TBP Fellowship application has several components. To be considered, please make sure that all of the following are complete. The application package is due on Thursday, March 10 at midnight EST.

• Complete the online form here (See Abstract and Safety Statement Guidelines below)
• Please submit the following to this Dropbox Link
• Project proposal: See Proposal Guidelines below.
• Proposed budget: See Budget Guidelines below.
• Resumes of all applicants (if applying as a group, otherwise just individual)
• Letter of recommendation from an MIT faculty member who is familiar with both the applicant or group’s character and project and can attest to his/her integrity and ability.
• Letter of interest from any organization concerned (if applicable).

Abstract Guidelines

Provide a clear and concise description of your project and objectives. Avoid jargon and include information such as the project location, community partner and team members, if applicable. (Maximum: 200 words)

Safety Statement Guidelines

Outline your safety considerations for the project. What are the main safety issues in the location you will be working in? What steps will you take to prioritize your safety and what resources have you identified to help you stay safe? Does your project have any safety implications for the community you are serving and how will you address these?

This may include but is not limited to: travel, transportation, disease, environment and surroundings, limited communication, safety implications of the project for the community or simply working in an unfamiliar location. Even if the area you are working in is not under a travel warning, please outline how you will take personal and/or team safety into account in your day-to-day work. (Maximum: 250 words)

Proposal Guidelines

A template for the TBP Fellowships Project Proposal is given below.

Cover Page

• Project Title
• Name(s) of Applicants
• Term (i.e. Summer 2022)

Project Abstract

Provide a clear and concise description of your project and objectives. Avoid jargon and include information such as the project location, community partner and team members, if applicable. This can be copied from the Google Form portion of the application.

Maximum: 200 words

Background and Motivation

Introduce the community that your project intends to help, existing issues and needs, and why they are important to the community. In a broad sense, explain what impact your project will have on the community and address its sustainability, i.e. what are the lasting benefits of the project on the community after you leave?

Project Plan

Outline the technical details of your project, with a focus on the goals you wish to achieve, the specific roles that you will play (experimentation, implementation, etc.), and how success will be evaluated. Include any figures and diagrams that may help us visualize your project. Also elaborate on additional safety precautions that will be taken in addition to those mentioned in your safety statement part of the Google Form, if necessary (especially if working in a region under travel warning).

Proposed Timeline

Please indicate, in as much detail as possible, a work plan for your project. Include any preparations done on campus, a breakdown of your time working on the project milestones (over the fall and IAP) and mention any continuation afterwards, if applicable.

Qualifications

Describe the qualifications (skills, courses taken, language fluency, etc.) that each applicant has to successfully complete this project. If working on a team, explain any previous teamwork experience related to the project.

Personal Statement

Describe any personal motivation behind your project (for each team member if applicable). What do you hope to learn, experience, and accomplish from this project?

Budget Guidelines

Please outline your proposed project budget. Be as specific as possible, including the following:

• Each item (i.e. plane tickets, housing, transportation, food) along with its unit and total cost
• Other confirmed funding sources (i.e. PSC, Baker Foundation, etc.)
• Other funding sources applied for (i.e. PSC, Baker Foundation, etc.)
• Total amount requested from TBP (Maximum: $3000 for IAP fellowships, $5000 for Summer fellowships)

Our fellowships are intended primarily for living and travel expenses, and please notify us as soon as possible if you receive additional funding from other sources.

Information for Awardees

Requirements

Should your application be successful and you are awarded a fellowship, you will be notified by email and set up with the Student Activities Office for travel and financial matters. The TBP Service & Engineering Fellowship Program also has the following requirements:

• All aspects of the project requiring funding must be completed by the end of Summer 2022.
• Each fellow must submit a slideshow that includes the major results of his/her work and multiple pictures of the project upon completion.
• Each fellow must be prepared to present his/her accomplishments at the Tau Beta Pi Fellowship Forum (at MIT, date to be announced).
• Relevant receipts/proofs of payment totaling the awarded sum must be submitted within 2 weeks of project completion.
• TBP reserves the right to reclaim all awarded funds if the above requirements are not fulfilled.

Financial FAQ

Can I get MIT to front my airfare/transportation costs?

Yes. The steps to doing so can be found at SOLE's website. First fill out the Student Travel Form and send it to me. We will then use that to get you in touch with a travel agent who will help you book your tickets. You then fill out a liability waiver, register the trip, have a quick 20 minute meeting with the SAO on safety, and you're good to go! Each step is pretty short so it's not as lengthy as it seems.

I've already bought my airfare/other travel expenses, how do I get it reimbursed?

MIT travel reimbursements are done through the website Concur. Once you've filled that out and before submitting, send me an email with your receipts. We will need to approve your request, and then you can submit your form on Concur.

I can't get receipts where I'm going.

Keep a travel log with your costs - when you got it, what it was, how much it cost and if possible, where you got it. When you get back, use Concur and itemize these expenses. E-mail the treasurer this itemized list before submitting so he/she can approve your request. Only do this if you are going somewhere that doesn't have receipts - otherwise you need receipts to have your expenses approved.

How do I get reimbursed for other purchases?

Things that are not travel related and have receipts can be reimbursed by RFPs. If you've never filled out an RFP before, you can just email the treasurer the receipts and he/she will fill out the form for you.

I will have a hard time fronting the money needed.

Let the treasurer know if you will have a hard time fronting the money and then waiting for a reimbursement. To have the transportation covered, see the first question. Aside from that, we can figure something out.

Past Winners

2014 Summer Service/Engineering Fellowship Winners

2014 IAP Service/Engineering Fellowship Winners

2013 Summer Service/Engineering Fellowship Winners

2013 Spring Philanthropic Fellowship Winners

2013 IAP Winners

2012 Summer Winners

2010 Summer Winners

2010 IAP Winners

2009 Winners

2008 Winners