CGS Releases International Graduate Admissions Survey
This week, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) published data on international graduate application, admission, and enrollment trends. The survey shows that international graduate applications increased by 3%, and the first-time enrollment of international graduate students increased by 4%. This is the first increase for both since Fall 2016, and is primarily driven by increases in applications and first-time enrollment to master's and certificate programs.
China and India continue to hold the largest shares of international graduate applications and enrollments, with first-time enrollments for Chinese students increasing by 3%. Sub-Saharan African students had a second year of strong growth, increasing their graduate applications by 11% and their first-time enrollments by 22%.
International graduate applications increased in arts and humanities (6%), health sciences (7%), mathematics and computer sciences (7%), and biological and agricultural sciences (14%). However, applications fell for engineering (-2%) and business (-3%).
The full report can be found here, with figures and tables available here.
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SCGSR Program Now Accepting Applications
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Fermi Award Now Open for Nominations
The Department of Energy's Office of Science is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Enrico Fermi Award. The award recognizes individuals for their distinguished leadership, accomplishments, and service related to science and research supported by the Energy Department.
Fermi Award winners will receive a citation signed by the President of the United States and the Secretary of Energy, a gold-plated medal, and an honorarium of $100,000.
Applications are due by April 9, 2020. More information can be found here.
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Legislative Activities
The House and Senate are in recess next week.
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Highlighting U-M Faculty Serving on Federal Advisory Committees:
We are proud to feature U-M faculty and staff who are serving on a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) in our weekly newsletter. Through FACs, faculty and staff live out U-M’s mission to serve the state, nation, and world by applying their knowledge and expertise to help shape and inform national policy. If you are currently serving on a FAC, or have recently been selected to serve, please let Kristina or David know. 
This month, we are featuring Dr. Julie Biteen, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biophysics.
Dr. Biteen serves on the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee (BERAC). The committee advises the Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy, on issues related to the development and implementation of the biological and environmental research program. This program seeks to discover the underlying biology of plants and microbes as they respond to and modify their environments.
Dr. Biteen's research focuses on single-molecule imaging and plasmon-enhanced fluorescence in live bacteria cells and cellular communities. Biteen's research background on resolving molecular-scale interactions, motions, and positioning in these multifaceted systems shapes the work she has done with BERAC, where one focus area is on achieving a predictive understanding of dynamic and complex biological systems.
To learn more about Dr. Biteen's background and research areas, please click here.
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Nomination Announcements
Federal Advisory Committees:
FDA Various Advisory Committees
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking nominations for appointments of voting and non-voting members to a variety of advisory committees for the FDA. The committees available are:
- Allergenic Products Advisory Committee
- Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee
- Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee
- Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee
- Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee
- Certain Panels of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee.
Members for all committees will be invited to serve terms up to 4 years.
Nominations are due on February 20, 2020. Further information is available here.
*DEADLINE EXTENDED* HHS Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). According to HHS, the IACC Committee will, among other things, monitor autism spectrum disorder research, and to the extent practicable, services and support activities, across all relevant Federal departments and agencies and develop a summary of advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out a diagnosis; interventions, including school and community-based interventions, and access to services and supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Nominations are due February 21, 2020. Further information is available here.
NOAA Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking nominations for appointment to the new Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). MAFAC advises NOAA on the generation, delivery, and use of electronically reported data from private recreational anglers to assist NOAA Fisheries in fulfilling mission activities. Applicants should have experience in sampling statistics, survey methodologies, citizen science, fishery stock assessment science, electronic monitoring or reporting, fisheries management, database development and/or management, mobile technology applications (apps), or marine recreational fishing. Members will serve a term of up to two years.
Nominations are due on February 21, 2020. Further information is available here.
HHS Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations for appointment to the Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality (ACIM). The ACIM advises the Secretary of HHS on programs and activities aimed at reducing infant mortality and improving the health status of pregnant women and infants. Applicants should include medical, technical, or scientific professionals with expertise in the field of maternal and child health, in particular infant mortality and related health disparities. The Secretary will appoint up to 21 members for terms up to 4 years
Nominations are due on February 24, 2020. Further information is available here.
NIH Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee
The National Health Institute (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking nominations for membership on the Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee. The committee serves to coordinate the activities across the National Institutes and with other Federal health programs and activities relating to the various forms of muscular dystrophy. The committee encourages applications from leaders or representatives of muscular dystrophy research, advocacy, or service organizations. Membership terms will last 3 years.
Nominations are due February 28, 2020. Further information is available here.
GAO Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is seeking nominations for membership on the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). PTAC provides comments and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on physician payment models.
Nominations are due February 28, 2020. Further information is available here.
CDC Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations of membership on the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC). CLIAC provides scientific and technical advice to the Department of Health and Human Services, and is made up of members with diverse backgrounds of laboratory specialties, professional roles (laboratory management, technical, physicians, nurses) and practice settings (academic, clinical, public health). Nominees will be selected based on expertise in microbiology, immunology, chemistry, hematology, pathology, or genetic testing.
Nominations are due March 1, 2020. Further information is available here.
HHS U.S. Preventative Services Task Force
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to serve as members of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF). The task force is looking for members with expertise in the following areas: public health, health equity and the reduction of health disparities, application of science to health policy, dissemination and implementation, behavioral medicine and clinical health psychology, and communications of scientific findings to healthcare professionals, policy makers, and the general public.
Nominations are due March 15, 2020. Further information is available here.
HHS Technical Electronic Product Radiation Safety Standards Committee
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting nominations for members to serve on the Technical Electronic Product Radiation Safety Standards Committee (TEPRSSC). The committee provides advice and consultation on the technical feasibility, reasonableness, and practicability of performance standards for electronic products to control the emission of radiation from such products, and may recommend electronic product radiation safety standards to the FDA Commissioner for consideration. Applicants will be selected based on knowledge in the fields of science and engineering, and will serve overlapping terms up to four years.
Nominations are due March 17, 2020. Further information is available here.
FDA Patient Engagement Advisory Committee
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting nominations for voting members to serve on the Patient Engagement Advisory Committee in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. The committee provides skills and perspectives in order to improve communication of benefits, risks, and clinical outcomes, and increase integration of patient perspectives into the regulatory process for medical devices. Applicants will be selected based on knowledge in the fields of clinical research, patient experience, healthcare needs of patient groups, and scientific methodology, and will serve overlapping terms up to four years.
Nominations are due March 30, 2020. Further information is available here.
HRSA Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of qualified candidates for appointment as members of the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation (ACOT). The ACOT provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (Secretary) on matters concerning policy, program development, and other matters of significance concerning organ transplantation.
Nominations will be accepted on a continuous basis. Further information is available here.
HRSA Advisory Committee on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (ACBSCT). The ACBSCT provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on matters concerning policy, program development, scientific advances, and other matters of significance concerning blood stem cell transplantation.
Nominations will be accepted on a continuous basis. Further information is available here.
HRSA Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of qualified candidates for appointment as members of the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD). The ACTPCMD provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (Secretary), the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on matters concerning policy, program development, and other matters of significance concerning the medicine and dentistry activities.
Nominations will be accepted on a continuous basis. Further information is available here.
HRSA Council on Graduate Medical Education
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of qualified candidates for appointment as members of the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME). COGME provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS; the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on matters concerning the supply and distribution of physicians in the United States, physician workforce trends, training issues, financing policies, and other matters of significance related to physician workforce and graduate medical education.
Nominations will be accepted on a continuous basis. Further information is available here.
HRSA National Advisory Council on Migrant Health
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting nominations to fill vacancies on the National Council on Migrant Health (NACMH). The NACMH consults with and makes recommendations to the HHS Secretary and the HRSA Administrator concerning the organization, operation, selection, and funding of migrant health centers.
The agency will receive nominations on a continuous basis. Further information is available here.
NSF Advisory Committee Openings
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting nominations for positions available on its scientific and technical federal advisory committees. There are 13 advisory committees accepting nominations, including:
- Advisory Committee for Biological Sciences
- Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
- Advisory Committee for Cyberinfrastructure
- Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources
- Advisory Committee for Engineering
- Advisory Committee for Geosciences
- Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering
- Advisory Committee for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- Advisory Committee for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
- Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering
- Advisory Committee for Business and Operations
- Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education
- Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee
The federal register notice, with details on how to submit names, is available here. Nominations for membership are maintained for one year.
National Institute of Standards and Technology Federal Advisory Committees
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is accepting nominations for appointment to eight existing Federal Advisory Committees:
- Board of Overseers of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award;
- Judges Panel of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award;
- Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board;
- Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board;
- National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee;
- Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction;
- NIST Smart Grid Advisory Committee;
- Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology.
Nominations will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Further information is available here.
Council on Graduate Medical Education
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting nominations to fill vacancies on the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME). The COGME provides advice and recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services and members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on matters related to: supply of physicians in the U.S., physician workforce trends, training issues, and financing policies.
The agency will receive nominations on a continuous basis. Further information is available here.
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Funding Available: National Service Engagement Faculty Travel Support
 The Office of the President now funds awards to support faculty travel for public engagement activities.
According to the Office of the President, this funding is intended for any faculty member who has been specifically invited to attend and offer contributions because of their expertise at the national level and where travel funding is not otherwise provided. Such activities might include expert testimony to Congress, national leadership service, or involvement in national advisory positions. This initiative aligns with the president's emphasis on the importance of public engagement by members of the entire U-M community.
For more information on the travel awards or to apply, please visit the National Service Engagement Faculty Travel Support page.
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Fellowship Resources for Faculty and Students
The Office of Federal Relations for Research maintains a listing of available S&T policy fellowships for members of the Michigan community at all levels, including undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty.
For more information about these opportunities and to see the listings, please visit the Federal Relations for Research website here.
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News Articles
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