Apply to 2021 Structural Engineering Fellowship

1. Goal of the Fellowship

The $20,000 Structural Engineering Fellowship is awarded annually to a graduating student who specializes in structural engineering to conduct independent travel and research that contributes to the SOM Foundation’s current topic and has the potential to influence the practice and teaching of how structures can positively impact our built environment.

2. Topic: Examining Social Justice in Urban Contexts

The built environment is defined by human-made decisions that have long-lasting impacts on our society. Today, we are in the midst of a critical conversation about how structural racial injustices, discriminatory policies, and uneven access to resources have shaped our society and our built environment for decades. Challenges like the current global health crisis reveal and amplify conditions that have always been present. These injustices and policies are manifested in both subtle and explicit ways across many areas—from housing, education, economy, and safety to public transportation, public space, health, and the environment. Governments, civic institutions, private organizations, professionals, and citizens continuously define, respond, and contest these conditions. Exploring and identifying long-term policies, immediate actions, and comprehensive plans have the potential to shape a more equitable and sustainable future.

3. Eligibility

Applicant must be graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD in civil and environmental engineering or architectural engineering with a specialization in structural engineering from a professionally accredited degree program in the United States between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. US citizenship is not required.

Applicant must intend to enter the professional practice of structural engineering.

4. Overview of Application Process

Application materials, as outlined in Section 5, must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (CDT) Monday, March 15, 2021. Applications received later than 5:00 p.m. will not be considered.

An identification number will be assigned to each applicant upon receiving the application. This number is random and does not reflect the order in which the application will be judged. The identification number is to assure the anonymity of each applicant.

The jury will meet in April 2021. The winner will be notified no later than Friday, April 23, 2021.

5. Application Requirements

A completed Cover Sheet (download).

A Letter of Recommendation on the school letterhead by one faculty member or department chair familiar with the applicant's work. The letter should be no longer than two pages and should address the applicant’s specific strengths and how the award will further their growth. The letter should be sent directly to info@somfoundation.com. The email’s subject should follow the format “2021 Structural Engineering Fellowship - Name of Applicant.”

A Proposal using the following guidelines:

• Each applicant should briefly describe their interest in the role structural engineering has in our cities. Applicants are encouraged to select a group of structures that they believe examine social justice and explain why they have the potential to shape a more equitable and sustainable future. Emphasis should be placed on structures that enhance the quality of life, creatively use materials, include high-performance systems, are environmentally responsible, and carefully integrate with architecture and/or the surrounding landscape. In addition to identifying existing structures that contribute to examining social justice, the proposal should include research and concepts for new structural systems inspired by the selected structures.
• Proposal should range between 750 and 1,250 words.
• A short abstract (no more than 50 words) should be included before the proposal.
• Proposal should include additional images that support the thesis.
• Proposal must include a title as well as appropriate labeling and footnoting as necessary.
• Applicants are encouraged to work with an advisor to develop the proposal; however, work must be entirely the applicant’s own.
• Nothing that identifies the applicant’s name, sex, race, creed, advisor, or school may be included in any of the pages of the proposal.
  
  A Travel Itinerary using the following guidelines:

• Itinerary should include city(ies) and sites the applicant intends to document along with the estimated dates of travel. The travel itinerary should support the applicant’s proposal.
• Applicants are encouraged to work with an advisor to develop the itinerary; however, work must be entirely the applicant’s own.
  
  A Preliminary Budget outlining the use of the fellowship funds (e.g., travel, lodging, etc.).

6. Application Format

All proposals submitted should be:

• PDF format. Cover sheet should be sent as a separate PDF file.
• 8.5" x 11", portrait orientation.
• 10 pages maximum (not including cover sheet).
• 50 MB maximum.

7. Application Deadline

A link to the application should be emailed to info@somfoundation.com no later than 5:00 p.m. (CDT) Monday, March 15, 2021. The email’s subject should follow the format “2021 Structural Engineering Fellowship - Name of Applicant.”

8. Jury

A jury, chaired by Charles Besjak, will be responsible for selecting one winning application most suited to the SOM Foundation’s current topic. The intention is to award one Structural Engineering Fellowship, but the SOM Foundation reserves the right to choose not to award, to co-award, or to split the prize as the jury deems appropriate. The 2021 jury includes:

Charles Besjak Director of Structural Engineering, SOM, New York City (Chair)

Justin Davidson Architecture and Classical Music Critic, New York magazine; Author, Magnetic City: A Walking Companion to New York

David Farnsworth Principal and Americas Tall Buildings Business Leader, Arup, New York City

Sabrina Kanner Executive Vice President and Head of Design & Construction, Brookfield Properties, New York City

9. Notification of Award

The winner will be notified no later than Friday, April 23, 2021.

10. Recipient Responsibilities

By accepting an award, the recipient agrees to:

• complete their travel and research by December 31, 2022 or within 18 months of graduation, depending on circumstances.
• forfeit all fellowship money to the SOM Foundation in the event that travel and research is not completed within those 18 months, unless written approval is obtained from SOM Foundation Executive Director.
• provide progress reports via email to the SOM Foundation Executive Director.
• file a final report (see below) within four months after completing their travel and research.

Any changes to the proposal, including the itinerary and budget allocation, need to be submitted in writing and approved by the SOM Foundation.

Upon itinerary approval, the award recipient will receive 70% of funds; the remaining 30% is payable upon receipt and approval of final report. A minimum of four weeks is required to prepare and mail funds.The winner will be notified no later than Friday, April 23, 2021.

11. Final Report

Requirements:

• Original statement of intent, including travel and research.

• Final travel itinerary with city(ies) and sites visited.
• For each significant structure studied, visual record of three to six digital images properly labeled with a brief description of the structure’s important aspects.
• Personal viewpoint and analysis of travel and research.
• Final statement describing if and how the recipient’s original intentions were fulfilled by the travel and research.

Final report should be submitted in PDF format, 8.5" x 11" portrait orientation.

In addition to the final report, the recipient should provide a selection of high-resolution digital images to be posted on the fellow page of the SOM Foundation website. Images should be submitted as JPGs (minimum width of 3000 pixels) with appropriate captions.

Final 30% of funds will be forfeited to the SOM Foundation if a final report is not completed within four months after completing travel and research, unless written approval is obtained from SOM Foundation Executive Director.

12. Copyright

The winning submission will become part of the SOM Foundation’s archive. The SOM Foundation reserves the right to use the winning submission—and winner’s monthly progress reports and final report—or any portion of them in press releases, presentations, exhibits, history books, and similar publications, as well as for public access for student and educational purposes in all media, including online. Authors will retain the copyright of their work.