The maximum value of any individual annual award, including stipend and tuition and associated fees is $71,000.
Stipend
Fellows receive a monthly stipend of no more than $3,000. Fellows will also receive an additional Dislocation Allowance of $800 per month (prorated) while on a practicum assignment.
The program sponsor attempts to provide adequate funding for Fellows to meet the costs of graduate school. No other student support that requires work or any other obligation such as teaching, or a research assistantship can be accepted without the direct consent of the South Carolina Universities Research and Education Foundation (SCUREF). Other awards, prizes, and similar type payments (including veteran’s benefits) that do not require a service may be accepted. Please contact the SCUREF if you have a question regarding accepting the NNIS Fellowship in conjunction with any other award, prize, or similar type payment. Payment received for such employment may result in an equivalent deduction from the Fellow’s stipend. SCUREF reserves the right to revoke the appointment if the Fellow receives compensation without notifying program administrators as to the nature and extent of any payment.
Tuition and Fees
SCUREF pays tuition and fees (up to $35,000/year) directly to the participating university upon receipt of invoice. Optional, refundable, and penalty fees (such as late registration and duplication fees) are not payable by SCUREF. All tuition and fees charges must be certified consistent with those made to regular graduate students and necessary for enrollment into the graduate program. In no case will the annual cost of tuition, fees, and stipend exceed $71,000 per Fellow.
In August of each year, SCUREF will notify the bursar’s office at each university regarding invoicing procedures for Fellowship students. Students will receive a copy of this correspondence and should retain this copy for use in discussing any billing errors with their university’s bursar office.
Travel
Travel expenses must be approved by the SCUREF program administrators and the sponsor prior to actual travel and must be U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) compliant. In general, travel reimbursements are considered for seminars, conferences, and workshops associated with this program or any meeting for which the sponsor requests attendance. Full or partial reimbursements may be authorized depending on the availability of funds. Fellows should submit a Travel Request Form to SCUREF at least 30 days before the anticipated travel dates.
Travel expenses will be reimbursed for the Fellow for travel to/from the practicum site providing that the distance is more than 50 miles one-way from the Fellow’s university. It is the Fellow’s responsibility to find the least expensive mode of travel. No expenses are paid for food or lodging at the practicum site. All travel must be authorized in advance by SCUREF and the sponsor and must be GSA compliant.
Full or partial travel reimbursement is also considered on occasions requiring the Fellow to consult with the university graduate committee and/or deliver a presentation of thesis/dissertation research.
Thesis Research
A Fellow may request to spend all or part of the time working on thesis/dissertation research at one of the participating DOE/NNSA-approved facilities listed at the end of this booklet. Off-campus research requires that the Fellow complete a request form and have it endorsed by the faculty advisor, laboratory coordinator, and laboratory advisor. Laboratory advisors must agree to mentor and supervise the Fellow and coordinate activities with the Fellow’s university personnel throughout the research assignment. Laboratory advisors should serve on the Fellow’s graduate thesis research committee, if approved by the university. See Participating Laboratories for contact information.