Forward Fellows
Forward Fellows is a funded, transition program designed to broaden participation in science and engineering. Eligible graduate students will have the opportunity to come to UW–Madison for the month prior to the official start of their graduate programs. The program provides students an opportunity to conduct research, acclimate to the university and campus, and build community with a group of diverse graduate students from across multiple STEM disciplines.
What 2024 Participants are Saying
“I think the relationships are the most important thing I took from Forward Fellows and have been able to utilize them to grow my network even after FF. The diversity of programs was absolutely the best aspect and being able to know one person from every program allows you to make connections much more quickly. Also, the first couple of meetings with the ice breakers may have seemed childish but I actually think they did a really good job of getting everyone talking and familiar with each other. Even after the first week, we were all hanging out outside of the meetings.”
“Because of the location of my lab, I was worried that I wouldn’t meet any other incoming students, especially in my building, and that was very worrisome for me. But then, doing this cohort, where everybody’s in a different field, I met a couple of people who are in the same building. And so, that was something I wouldn’t have gotten without support.”
“It is a huge asset to be able to come a month early and just get your research started. You know where your buildings are. You know where the meeting rooms are. You meet the people in your lab. You meet people like this, so it’s really, really useful to get embedded slightly earlier.”
“I have already begun applying lessons from the professional development lunches, such as maintaining effective mentoring relationships and managing finances wisely. Additionally, I have started using a citation manager, a tool I plan to rely on heavily when writing research papers. Beyond the academic and professional skills, the fellowship has also connected me with other fellows. I intend to maintain these connections, joining them in activities such as a planned trip to the lake after I finish my qualifying exams. It is important that I have friends outside of my discipline so that I don’t get burnt out so early in my career.”
“Especially if you’re an experimentalist, getting an extra month to get all the permits you need for maker-space, is really helpful. You have to get trained on all your machinery. It’s really nice to not have to do that during the school year.”
“By beginning research a month ahead of time (without courses or teaching responsibility) I was able to tackle some of the more challenging material in my research early on, setting a strong foundation and making a positive impression on my research advisor. This head start increases my chances of securing a Research Assistantship in the future, as well as allowing me to start an actual project in the fall instead of reading foundational material that takes a lot of time.”
“Starting research early allowed me to discover what I am looking for in my rotations. This allows me to successfully utilize my three rotation slots and to judge each experience to the best of my ability, thanks to the early start.”
“Starting research early was completely invaluable to my transition. I think the hardest part of starting grad school is developing a support network and a routine. Being able to accomplish both of those things before classes started saved me a lot of stress. I believe the positive effects from this opportunity have only just begun to show.”
Program Start Date:
July 27, 2025
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, January through April. Nominees are later asked to submit a brief form.
Nomination Form
Download Flyer
Download Flyer for
Incoming Graduate Students
Program Advantages
Provides one month of salary (plus health insurance) to do research in home department.
Participants network and build community with people from across campus.
Professional development activities foster early research skills.
Eligibility
Any faculty from MRSEC-participating departments (listed below) can nominate an incoming graduate student in a PhD or Research Masters program for Forward Fellows.
Departments include:
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Chemistry
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Engineering Engineering Physics
Pharmacy
Physics
Students must have financial support and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
First, complete the 2025 Nominator Form. Then, please send this link: 2025 Nominee Survey to your nominee so they can complete their portion of the application.