The McNair Scholars Program at Southern Miss has been helping students interested in research pursue their dreams of attaining a doctoral degree. The applications for the program are now open and close on Oct. 26.
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 151 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. The program was designed to help first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds interested in pursuing a Ph. D. after their bachelor’s degree. The goal of the program is to increase the number of graduate degrees for students from underrepresented communities.
The program was started to honor Dr. Ronald E. McNair, a NASA astronaut. McNair, a specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger, passed away in 1986 in the shuttle explosion. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, and the McNair Scholar Program was started in his honor.
To be eligible to apply for the award, the student must have at least 60 credit hours, have a desire to get a Ph.D., be enrolled in their first bachelor’s program, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, come from an income-eligible background, and be a first-generation college student.
The required application documents consist of the online application submission, one letter of recommendation, one essay sample, a statement of purpose, a PDF of the most recent tax return, and a PDF of FAFSA. If selected, the student is expected to obtain their Ph. D. within 10 years after getting their undergraduate degree and is encouraged to apply to graduate schools in their senior year of college.
After being selected in the program, the scholars receive $2,800 stipend, free GRE prep, graduate school application fee waivers, traveling opportunities, professional and career development workshops, one-on-one research experiences, graduate school preparation, and individualized tutoring and mentorship.
Dr. Jari Minnett, the Director of the McNair Scholars Program at Southern Miss, shares some tips to make applications stand out.
“We love students who are enthusiastic about research and you do not even need previous experience,” Minnett said. "Even if you do not think that you will win, just apply; you can always reach out to the staff at McNair Scholar Program if you have any questions.”
Lilah Pittman, a McNair Scholar recipient mentored by Dr. Amy Chasteen, shares her experience with the program.
“It was my first time actually researching something,” Pittman said. “I knew I wanted to do something about black maternal healthcare in Mississippi, but I was not entirely sure about it. My passion for it has been cemented after I was a part of the McNair Scholars Program.”
The program is open to students from all majors who are considering pursuing a Ph. D. and are interested in research. Every student who is eligible for the program and is considering pursuing a doctoral degree is encouraged to apply. The application and all the supporting materials will be submitted online. Any questions regarding the program or eligibility can be directed to Dr. Minnet at [email protected].
