Guu-Major Opportunity Fellowship in Geophysics
Application Requirements and Qualifications
To be considered for the Guu-Major Opportunity Fellowship in Geophysics, applicants must be either actively enrolled or intending to enroll in a geophysics graduate program (MS thesis or PhD) for the 2024-2025 academic year.
To apply, applicants must submit an updated one to two-page resume/CV, unofficial transcript from their current or most recent degree program, and complete the form below.
Fellowship Award Selection Process
Applicants will be announced on or before February 15.
Award Amount
The fellowship covers one-half of the full tuition, stipend and fees, and it is expected that funding will be secured from a sponsoring faculty member so the student is fully supported. The minimum stipend for a Geophysics Masters or Pre-comps PhD student is $32,000 for the calendar year.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2023
Applications must be submitted through the form below by 11:00 p.m. MDT on December 15, 2023, to be considered for fellowship support for academic year 2024-2025 (summer 2024, fall 2024, spring 2025).
About the Fellowship
Cindy-Kue-Ding Guu and Jeng-Yih Guu
The Guu-Major Opportunity Fellowship Endowment supports a renewable four-year award for a geophysics graduate student demonstrating both financial need and high academic achievement. Yvonne and Jason Guu established this fund in honor of their parents, both geophysics graduates, Cindy Kuei-Ding Guu, M.Sc. 1982, and Jeng-Yih Guu, Ph.D. 1975, and the transformative impact of Dr. Maurice Major, Professor Emeritus of Geophysics, who influenced their success at Mines.
Dr. Maurice Major
Dr. Maurice W. Major was on the geophysics faculty from 1963-1985 as an earthquake seismologist and Director of the Green Geophysical Observatory. Dr. Major was known for his “signature flattop haircut, white Oxford shirts, khaki pants, penny loafers, coffee consumption (often carrying a green metal thermos), wit, and humor.” He and his wife, Rita, often shared their home and hospitality with students, telling stories from his colorful past and the foibles inherent in trying new things. One favorite story was when he dropped a string of hydrophones down a well while attempting an early vintage VSP survey. Another was when his seismometer sank in rough seas on its way to the Aleutian Island of Semisopochnoi. Dr. Major plotted the “deep-sixed” location on a department map so he could proudly share how the department ended up with an ocean-bottom seismometer.
The fellowship aims to support innovative Ph.D. research in all branches of geophysics and is open to students who demonstrate both need and high academic achievement. We welcome applications from students with backgrounds in Geophysics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, and other related fields of geoscience. The fellowship is awarded competitively and can be renewed for up to four years.
We strongly encourage applicants from diverse academic backgrounds. The fellowship recipient will become part of a thriving and dynamic academic community at the Colorado School of Mines Department of Geophysics. With the Guu-Major Opportunity Fellowship, you can focus on your studies, conduct innovative research, and work closely with our renowned faculty members, advancing the field of geophysics and contributing to the broader scientific community.
Fellowship Rubric
| Excellent | Average | Low | No response | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement on candidacy | Well written statement explains candidate's strengths and interests including alignment with the mission of the fellowship. (20 pts) | Statement explains candidate's strengths and interests but alignment with the mission of the fellowship is underdeveloped. (12 pts) | Statement does not clearly identify candidate's strengths and interests and alignment with the mission of the fellowship is underdeveloped. (4 pts) | 0 pts |
| Impact on scientific community and society | Well-written statement explains how the candidate's research will improve scientific knowledge and how this knowledge will benefit society. (15 pts) | Statement explains how the candidate's research will improve scientific knowledge but ties to societal benefits are undeveloped. (10 pts) | Statement does not clearly identify how the candidate's research will improve scientific knowledge or to societal benefits. (5 pts) | 0 pts |
| Impact on graduate education | Well-written statement explicitly demonstrates how the fellowship will help the candidate achieve their scientific and personal goals. (15 pts) | Statement implicitly addresses how the fellowship will help the candidate achieve their scientific and personal goals. (10 pts) | Statement does not clearly address how the fellowship will help the candidate achieve their scientific and personal goals. (5 pts) | 0 pts |
| Scholarly record (Transcript and CV) | Excellent scholarly record in STEM and Geophysics (10 pts) | Average scholarly record in STEM and/or Geophysics (5 pts) | Insufficient or no schlolarly record in STEM or Geophysics (2 pts) | 0 pts |
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