This article is published in the October 2018 issue.

CRA-E Graduate Fellows Program Accepting Nominations


The Computing Research Association Education Committee (CRA-E) is now accepting applications for the CRA-E Graduate Fellows Program. The program opportunities for Ph.D. candidates in a computing field to contribute to CRA-E projects, to network with computer science education advocates on the committee, and to engage in advocacy for mentoring undergraduate students and promote computer science research and undergraduate education at the national level.

CRA-E typically has two fellows and appoints one new graduate fellow per year with each fellow serving for two years in staggered appointments. Fellows serve as part of the committee, providing a graduate student voice. They attend the annual CRA-E meeting, serve on a CRA-E subcommittee related to their interests and expertise, manage the research highlights series, and contribute to the CRA-E Conquer site that provides resources for undergraduate research and graduate school.

CRA-E’s two graduate Fellows for 2018 are Booma Sowkarthiga Balasubramani, a Ph.D. student in computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Robert (“Rob”) Bowden, a Ph.D. student in computer science at Harvard University.

Faculty members are invited to nominate one graduate student from their institution (but multiple nominations are permitted by distinct faculty members from the same institution) by collecting and submitting a nomination package that includes:

  1. One faculty recommendation letter describing the student’s interpersonal skills and evidence of interest in mentoring undergraduates. The letter should also state that the student is at least in the third year of a Ph.D. program and making satisfactory progress towards the degree.
  2. The student’s C.V. including research interests and accomplishments.
  3. A one-page statement written by the student. The statement should describe the nominee’s interest in the CRA-E Fellow position, experience mentoring undergraduates, and long-term aspirations.

More information for students and nominators is available at http://cra.org/crae/activities/fellows/. Nominations are due Monday, January 28, 2019 at 5 PM EST.

Please nominate a graduate student and encourage your colleagues to do so, too!

Photo of CRA-E Fellows