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29 May 1999 - 6 August 1999 A total of 23 students were selected to participate in the 1999 session of the Research Training Program including 2 international students representing Brazil and Ecuador. Schedule
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Summary A total of 329 applicants are being considered for a position in the 1999 Research Training Program. The applicant pool included:
There are 106 male applicants (33%) and 218 female applicants (67%). Most applicants, 197, are US citizens (72%); however, 75 are non-US citizens (28%) representing 32 different countries, and 52 applicants (16%) did not identify their citizenship. The majority of the applicant pool, 73 (23%) identified Anthropology as their preferred research topic followed by Entomology with 31 (11%), Mammalogy 32 (10%), Botany 31 (10%), Paleobiology 27 (8%), Herpetology 16 (5%) Invertebrate Zoology 15 (5%), Geology/Mineral Sciences 14 (4%), general Vertebrate Zoology 11 (3%), Ichthyology 10 (3%), Ornithology 5 (2%), and molecular systematics 2. A total of 53 (16%) applicants did not identify a specific natural history discipline. All applications were first pre-screened by a committee composed of two research scientists. The goal of pre-screening was to eliminate at least one-third of the applicant pool by identifying incomplete applications, applicants ineligible for participation in the RTP, and those applications less competitive. Factors considered included reference selections, quality of recommendations, career goals, academic ratings and eligibility (academic status, degree anticipated, availability to participate, and ability to communicate in English). Pre-screening was completed 4 February 1999. The Pre-screening Committee eliminated 107 applicants (33%) and nominated 217 semi-finalists (67%) for forwarding to the Scoring Committee. The 1999 Scoring Committee was composed of sixteen members from the NMNH scientific staff. There were eight review teams with two reviewers per team. Application folders were divided randomly into eight review set of 27 folders per set. To help ensure that each application received a fair review, each semi-finalist was scored by two different reviewers. Scoring Committee members completed a 100 point score sheet for all application folders in their set. Applications were evaluated on their own merit; not in relation to the project advisor selected, chosen discipline, applicants academic status, or any other element. The application process required a one-page cover letter, RTP application form, and two letters of recommendation. Reviewers were asked to disregard all additional materials provided by the applicant. Scoring was conducted 5 - 12 February 1999. As a result of their review and scoring, the Scoring Committee nominated 39 applicants as "finalists." To ensure representation across divisions and disciplines, an evaluation was conducted of the finalist set 13 February 1999 to establish the distribution of finalists. All 119 potential research advisors (mentors) were given the opportunity to review applications and evaluate the finalist set. Folders were available for comment 14 - 18 February 1999. A few adjustments were made, adding four additional applications to the finalist set. The 1999 Final Selection Committee is composed of seven (7) members from the NMNH scientific community representing each of the seven natural history research departments (Anthropology, Botany, Entomology, Invertebrate Zoology, Geology/Mineral Sciences, Paleobiology, and Vertebrate Zoology). Each Committee member will review and score all finalists. A 100 point score sheet will be used. To equalize scoring reviewer scores will be computer normalized to achieve an average score of 75 and standard deviation of 10. The Committee will nominate 23 student/mentor teams for placement in the 1999 RTP and identify at least 6 alternates. There are 43 finalists. The finalist set includes 1 Freshman (2%), 8 Sophomores (19%), 17 Juniors (40%), 10 non-graduating Seniors (23%), 6 graduating Seniors (14%) and 1 graduated student (2%). There are 10 male finalists (23%) and 33 female finalists (77%). Most, 37 (86%) finalists are US citizens; however 6 (14%) are non-US citizens representing 5 different countries. The majority of finalists, 8 (19%), identified Entomology as their preferred research topic followed by Anthropology with 7 (16%), Paleobiology 6 (14%), Botany 4 (9%), Ichthyology 4 (9%), Geology/Mineral Sciences 4 (9%), Herpetology 3 (7%), Mammalogy 3 (7%), general Vertebrate Zoology 2 (5%), and Invertebrate Zoology 2 (5%). IMPORTANT: This posting of "finalist" status is not definitive. Due to regular adjustments in review sets, circumstances often provide for a change in status. No applicant should consider themselves completely eliminated from consideration for a position in the RTP until the final status is released and award notices are mailed - 8 March 1999. Following is the list of 1999 Research Training Program finalists: APPLICANT NAME (Last, first)
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