UCAR

In order to help you prepare your application for the Next Generation Fellowship, we provide the full list of questions included in the application. We strongly recommend reviewing and formulating answers to these questions before beginning your application. All questions asked in the application are detailed below, with explanations for what we're looking for or what we will do with your response accessed by clicking on the dropdown arrow associated with the corresponding question(s). 

Jump to questions about: 

Thank you for your interest in the Next Generation Fellowship program. You are NOT required to submit reference letters at this time. We also do not collect resumes or transcripts as part of your application. We will begin reviewing applications in June. If your application progresses to the short list, we will contact your references directly, and notify you that we are doing so. Final decisions will be made in August, and applicants will be notified accordingly.

You will not automatically receive a confirmation email. If you wish to receive a confirmation email, please check the "Send me a copy of my responses via email" box below then proceed to the next page to submit.

Apply Now

List of Application Questions and Explanations

AI Use Guidelines

With the rising popularity of AI tools, we provide guidelines for the use of AI tools when filling out this application.

Please initial each section below to acknowledge you have read and will comply with AI guidelines.

As the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, Google Gemini) becomes more common, we want to provide guidelines on how these tools should and should not be used when preparing your application. Our goal is to support integrity, fairness, and authentic self-representation in the application process. In many cases, it is more valuable to receive an imperfect but genuine application for a program than an overly polished but impersonal application, which is often the output of AI tools.

Why AI Use Matters

Using AI responsibly is part of developing ethical digital literacy. We want to understand who you are, not an AI model's interpretation of your background or interests. Your authentic voice helps us better understand your goals and how you might benefit from and contribute to the Next Generation Fellowship.

Additionally, the Next Generation Fellowship program receives over 100 applications each year, and all are reviewed by the program coordinator. Responses generated by AI tools tend to follow similar structures, tones, and content. As a result, when multiple applicants rely on AI to write their application answers, the responses become repetitive, making it clear to the coordinator that the applicant has relied heavily on AI tools to generate their answer.

In short, it is appropriate to use AI tools in a similar manner to discussing ideas with a colleague, or asking someone to proofread your responses. Using AI tools to generate your entire response is similar to asking someone else to write your response on your behalf. This is unethical and may be interpreted as a form of plagiarism. 
Initial here: 

Acceptable Uses of AI Tools when applying to the Next Generation Fellowship

You may use AI tools to support the writing process in the following ways:

  • Brainstorming ideas for your personal statement or essays.
  • Improving grammar, spelling, or clarity of your writing.
  • Getting feedback on structure or tone, similar to using a writing assistant or tutor.
  • Drafting outlines or suggested content to inspire your own thinking.

Note: You are expected to review and revise any Al-generated content to ensure it accurately reflects your voice, experiences, and intentions.

You are also expected to cite your references when using AI tools 
Initial here: 

Unacceptable Uses of AI Tools when applying to the Next Generation Fellowship

You should not use AI tools to:

  • Develop entirely Al-generated content with the intention of submitting it as your own without meaningful revision.
  • Include misleading information which can be generated by AI tools (e.g., false accomplishments, skills, or experiences)
  • Misrepresent your writing abilities by relying heavily on Al-generated content that does not reflect your own work.

Initial here: 

 

As part of our commitment to academic and professional integrity, our team may use AI detection tools to evaluate application materials. Submissions that appear to be predominantly or entirely generated by AI may be flagged for additional review and could impact an applicant's consideration for the program. 
Initial here: 

Contact Information


- Preferred First name
- Last name(s)
- Legal name if different from preferred
- Would you like to provide your pronouns?
- School email address
- Personal email address

Standard contact information so we can get in touch with you regarding your application. We ask for your personal email to stay in touch with you during and after your time in the Fellowship, if successful. Your details are not shared with anyone.

Academic Status


- Current College or University
- Which degree will you be pursuing as of this fall? Masters; PhD; Other (please specify)
- What graduate program are you currently enrolled in?
 

This information is used to determine your eligibility. If you are not enrolled in a named program, please list your department and area of research focus.

This two year fellowship requires enrollment as a graduate student between Fall 2025 and Spring 2027. Do you anticipate being enrolled as a graduate student during this period?

If you answer “No” to being enrolled as a graduate student from 2025 to 2027, you will be deemed ineligible for this program. If you cannot answer a straightforward “Yes”, please select “Other” and provide a detailed explanation why you should be considered eligible.


- When do you plan to graduate from your current program?
- Are you currently a full time or part time student?
- Please provide a list of higher education degrees you have earned, including The degree type (Bachelors, Associates, Masters etc); The topic of the degree; The year the degree was awarded; The institution where you graduated.
- Have you participated in any NSF NCAR, UCAR or UCP programs in the past? If so, please provide the name of the program and year of participation.

Questions on your academic experience are not used for eligibility, but are used to gather an understanding of your educational journey.


- Are you currently participating in other professional or educational programs or fellowships? If yes, please describe the opportunity and detail the scope of your commitment for each program and what will the Next Gen program add beyond your existing engagements.
- Anything you'd like to add about your academic history or current standing?
 

The Next Gen Fellowship offers a broad range of professional opportunities for Fellows. Understanding the scope of an applicants’ other commitments will help us to recruit a cohort of students who will be able to fully participate in the activities offered by the program. While the answer to this question will not be reviewed as part of the formal application process, the information provided may be used in assessing an applicants’ suitability for the program. Therefore, if you have many other commitments, please make sure to explain how you will still have the capacity to engage in Next Gen activities.

Essay Questions

Please describe what it means to you to be a NextGen student. For example, are you a first-generation college student whose parents did not complete a four-year bachelor’s degree? Are you the first in your family to attend college? What aspects of your personal journey have prepared you for the future be they your individual experiences, exposure to programs emphasizing career readiness, mentorship, or holistic development? 
Please keep your answer to less than 500 words.

Explanation

Provide a detailed explanation of how participation in the Next Generation Fellowship program will directly support your educational and career objectives. Include how access to tools, resources, mentoring relationships and experiences you will benefit from might impact your graduate studies, and what you plan to accomplish during the Fellowship. 
Responses should focus on the track you are applying to, be specific and example-driven; generic statements will be evaluated less favorably. 
Please keep your answer to less than 500 words.

Explanation

Track Choice


The Next Generation Fellowship offers three tracks, each reviewed by people expert in that track. Applying to multiple tracks requires separate, complete applications, as reviewers won’t necessarily see answers from other track submissions. While responses may be reused, tailoring them to each track is recommended.
Which fellowship track are you applying for?
- Science Policy
- Earth System Science Research
- Applied Science

You must select one track per application. If you wish to apply to more than one track, you must submit a new, complete application for each track. While it is ok to reuse content for multiple tracks, it is advisable to tailor your answers to respond to the track you are applying to. Also, do not assume that answers from one track application will be read by the reviewers of a different track application.

Earth System Science Track Questions


- If selected, is there a particular scientist or group you would like to work with at NSF NCAR, UCAR and/or UCP? Please include names and emails and/or research groups you are interested in collaborating with.
- Have you contacted the mentors you have listed above? Yes/No/Other

NSF NCAR and UCP have hundreds of scientists and research groups that might be of interest to you. It is important that you do your due diligence to identify where in the UCAR, NSF NCAR, UCP ecosystem your research interests lie. 
While it is not required that you contact the research groups in advance of your application, it may be beneficial to do so as their availability to collaborate will have an impact on the success of your application. I.e. If you select a research group that does not have the capacity to collaborate with you, your application will then be deemed unsuccessful. Two alternatives to consider are a) communicating with potential collaborators at UCAR, NSF NCAR or UCP about their interest in collaborating or b) identify more than one potential collaborator in your application. 
Visit the Science Track webpage for advice on how to identify a track mentor.

Discuss how this collaboration will support your research interests and academic endeavors. Please keep your answer to less than 200 words.

explanation

Applied Science Track Questions

- Which group or person(s) do you propose to work with? 
- Have you contacted the mentors you have listed above? Yes/No/Maybe 
- Discuss how this collaboration will support your research interests and academic endeavors. Please keep your answer to less than 200 words.

NSF NCAR and UCP have hundreds of scientists and research groups that might be of interest to you. It is important that you do your due diligence to identify where in the UCAR, NSF NCAR, UCP ecosystem your research interests lie. 
While it is not required that you contact the research groups in advance of your application, it may be beneficial to do so as their availability to collaborate will have an impact on the success of your application. I.e. If you select a research group that does not have the capacity to collaborate with you, your application will then be deemed unsuccessful. Two alternatives to consider are a) communicating with potential collaborators at UCAR, NSF NCAR or UCP about their interest in collaborating or b) identify more than one potential collaborator in your application. 
Visit the Applied Science Track webpage for advice on how to identify a track mentor.

Discuss how this collaboration will support your research interests and academic endeavors. Please keep your answer to less than 200 words.

explanation

Science Policy Track Questions

What aspects of science policy interest you, and how did this interest develop?

Please discuss your overall interest in science policy. Consider discussing how your interest evolved, what aspects of science policy you are intrigued by, and what you hope to learn from this fellowship.

You must hold US Citizenship to apply for this track. Are you a US Citizen?

Answering “No” will disqualify you from applying from this track. If you are unable to respond “Yes” but have a justification, please select “other” and provide a detailed explanation for why you should be considered eligible.

References

Please provide the names and emails of two references. You are not required to provide a letter of reference at the time of application. If your application progresses through the first round of review, we will contact your references directly.

You will be asked to provide Name, Position or title, Relationship to you and Email address for each of two references.