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 graduate students from across multiple STEM disciplines.
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 & Biological Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Industrial & Systems 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 2026 Nominator Form. Then, please send this link: 2026 Nominee Survey to your nominee so they can complete their portion of the application.
Program Start Date:
July 27, 2026
MRSEC Supported
The Forward Fellows program is supported by the NSF-funded Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) DMR-2309000 and by the UW College of Engineering.
What Participants are Saying
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ideal candidate should demonstrate a strong desire to participate in this bridging program, which offers an opportunity to facilitate transition into graduate school by gaining early research skills and by building community with a group of graduate students from multiple disciplines.
The ideal candidate should provide specific examples of qualities, skills, and lived experiences that they will bring to the program. Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Examples of current studies and involvement in campus and community activities that have prepared the student to achieve their aspirations.
- Description of exemplary leadership, outreach, and service.
- Unique circumstances that might have impacted the student’s life (e.g., family or financial responsibilities, unique challenges or difficulties faced, obstacles overcome).
Yes, the nomination form required a mentor whose lab the student will work in during the program. Students are expected to do research for the duration of the Forward Fellows program.
Yes, absolutely. We encourage you to nominate students to multiple programs.
Yes, the MRSEC will fund the students as Research Interns in the Materials Science and Engineering Department from the start of the program until their home department picks up their appointment. The students will be paid at the same rate their home department pays so there will be no change in pay between the Forward Fellows program and their graduate program.
Yes, the students will have health insurance as part of their appointment.
The 2024 program will start on July, 28, 2024 and will consist of four weeks of programming for the students. However, the funding end date will be the date the student’s home department takes over their appointment. The program is designed so students have no gap in funding or health insurance between the Forward Fellows program and the start of their graduate program.
The selection committee is not limiting the number of students each department can nominate. However, the MRSEC currently has funding in hand for approximately 12 students.
The Forward Fellows selection committee will accept nominations on a rolling basis January through April.
The selection committee will send out program acceptance information on a rolling basis with the goal of having the first round of acceptances sent out by April 1.
Students will need to accept a position in the program by mid May, 2024.
No, as long as the student is from one of the qualifying departments, they can do research with any faculty member in that department.
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Computer and Electrical Engineering
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial & Systems Engineering
No, the program does not currently have funding for housing. Forward Fellows administration may be able to assist students in finding short-term housing for the program.
No, the program does not currently have funding for moving expenses.
Contact Information
For questions about the nomination process or selection criteria contact:
Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel
agillian@wisc.edu