Faculty & Advisor Resources

In collaboration with the deans of the College of Natural Science, College of Engineering, and Honors College, the DSAO seeks a faculty member or academic specialist in the continuing system to serve as the STEM faculty fellow for the academic year. The fellow will support STEM students applying for prestigious awards, such as the Goldwater and Churchill scholarships.

Position Summary 

Responsibilities include supporting Assistant Dean Kristin Janka with recruiting STEM students for prestigious awards, providing feedback on application materials and endorsement letters, preparing finalists for national interviews, and attending relevant DSAO/Honors College special programming when possible.  

Commitment and Compensation 

The time commitment for this position is approximately 5-10 hours per week each semester from August 16, 2026 through May 15, 2027 and varies with the award cycle. Compensation is $8,000-10,000 per semester as overload pay. Applicants must have approval of their chair/supervisor prior to applying. 

Qualification Requirements 

• Ph.D. in a STEM field or interdisciplinary STEM field 
• Faculty or academic staff member in the continuing system
• Experience mentoring students (e.g., conference proposals, graduate school applications, awards)
• Demonstrated scholarly record (publications, grants, research, awards)
• Approval of chair/supervisor prior to applying 

Qualifying members from the College of Engineering, College of Natural Science, and Lyman Briggs College are especially encouraged to apply. 

Application Materials 

Applicants should submit the following materials to Assistant Dean Kristin Janka at studentawards@msu.edu by May 29, 2026: 

1. Cover letter describing how the applicant’s experience and expertise align with the position. The cover letter should also include a statement assuring prior approval of chair or supervisor.
2. CV 

Key Dates 

The deadline to apply is May 29, 2026. Final candidates will be notified by mid-June. 

If you have an exceptional student that would be competitive and well-suited to any of these awards, consider referring them to the DSAO. Referring students is easy! You can send an e-mail to studentawards@msu.edu with the student’s name, email, and as much information as you have and we will reach out to the student. You can also refer students to our office and have them contact us at studentawards@msu.edu or stop in to our office in Bessey Hall, room 186.

One of the most crucial ways faculty and advisors can support applicants is through mentorship before the application process even begins. The most successful applicants have had a faculty mentor with whom they have worked and have supported their development. Mentors help students refine research interests, understand their field and think about career goals, identify graduate programs, and provide feedback on application drafts.

Faculty also play an important role in the nomination process. We are always interested in faculty who are willing to serve on mock interview committees and nomination committees for awards that require an institutional nomination. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please contact the DSAO at studentawards@msu.edu and we will follow up with you.

Most prestigious awards require at least four letters of recommendation, or reference letters, from faculty who have supervised a student’s research and/or have had a student in a course. Letters of reference for prestigious awards have some unique features that set them apart from other types of letters of recommendation. It is important that letters of recommendation are tailored for each award. Below are some resources for writing a strong letter of recommendation. (Selecting these links will open a new window)

• General Advice
• Churchill Scholarship
• Goldwater Scholarship
• Marshall Scholarship
• Mitchell Scholarship
• Rhodes Scholarship
• Truman Scholarship
• Udall Scholarship