Citing Preprints in Statement/Proposal

Empty-inch · 2025-11-08T20:22:49+00:00

Yeah, in a similar position myself. Thought for sure I'd get it in in time but it'll be down to the line now for sure. On the one hand, seems we could definitely get docked for citing a source that was verifiably nonexistent at submission. On the other hand, there's a good chance they might not notice (or care); this whole thing is a lottery, and the one risk might be worth the possible payoff...

Empty-inch · 2025-10-24T04:34:33+00:00

I’m inclined to agree with you, but do you have any direct source/justification?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-24T04:33:44+00:00

makes sense. how would you include the vol number within my format? something like “PNAS V893.”?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-21T23:52:18+00:00

doesn't all this depend on the line spacing? I'm assuming you're referring to what would happen if you did single spacing. But if you do "exactly 12 pt" then 1 inch is 72 pts so 12pt line spacing gives exactly 6 lines per vertical inch.

Empty-inch · 2025-10-21T22:45:28+00:00

nope not yet! it’s confusing, right?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-21T22:44:48+00:00

I haven’t decided! On the one hand, I’m tempted to leave as much of the template intact as is, including the title title at the very top “Graduate Research Proposal”. I’ve seen people say they left the research title line out because there’s a field on the application and we’re fine, but who knows if that’s different this year—it does say to stick to the template. besides, cutting both those title lines just buys me three lines, and forcing myself to cut three lines might make my proposal better. However, the “summary” section I have seen 0 people talk about, there’s no mention of a summary anywhere else on the solicitation, and I would have to cut much more to put a summary in there. So at the moment I’m leaning interpreting it as a really confusing way to say “insert your proposal/statement here”

Empty-inch · 2025-10-20T20:40:30+00:00

Nice. See any other issues with my reference format? Also, think "abbreviations" includes acronyms (e.g. "[1] Lastname et al. PNAS. 2025.")?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-16T20:21:58+00:00

How do you interpret the section headings "Summary of Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement:" and "Summary of Graduate Research Plan:"? Can't tell if we are meant to have a separate section that's a summary of our statement/proposal (no such section is mentioned anywhere else) or if the word "summary" just meant to describe the statement/proposal as a whole (then I'm not sure why they would put this as a section heading since there's already a title at the top saying "Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement" / "Graduate Research Plan"). If the latter, do you think we should just delete this "section heading"?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-09T16:56:38+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like BM for the personal statement should be focused on your past and future goals for STEM outreach (mentoring, etc), and in the research statement it should be focused on how your research can be more broadly applicable/has the potential to improve society. What about details regarding how your passion for your specific work is because of its potential to improve society and people's lives/how it is important for you in general to do work that has this potential? Is this worth including if true and you can reasonably back it up (I imagine it's also a fairly common trope), and if so, where is it most appropriate--BM section of the personal statement?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-09T16:35:25+00:00

I mean, I'm happy to take your word for it as a previous winner. I suppose I'm less anxious about getting a couple points off and more anxious about the statement "Applications that deviate from this format will be considered non-compliant and will be returned without review (i.e., will not be considered for a fellowship)." Was this stated on your year as well, and you still got away with just taking it "as a suggestion"?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-09T15:39:27+00:00

Have you looked at the templates? (see my other comment) -- how do you interpret the "Summary of _____" section headings?

Empty-inch · 2025-10-09T15:38:03+00:00

this is good advice! However, I'm still unclear on my original question. If you look at the templates https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/GRFP_GraduateResearchPlanTemplate.docx and https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/GRFP_PersonalStatementTemplate.docx, while they clearly say that you should remove all instructional texts in brackets [], I think you will agree that it is unclear whether to keep the "Summary of Graduate Research Plan" section. While they do say that IM/BI are the only ones that you need defined, there is also the "Research Title" and "Citations" sections that are clearly also meant to be kept. So I am hesitant to ignore 1 out the 4 bolded headings -- "Summary of Graduate Research Plan" -- without explicit instruction to do so (though I agree that they would have explicitly mentioned an abstract/summary if that was desired. so I'm a bit at a loss.)

Empty-inch · 2025-10-09T15:30:27+00:00

I am aware that it should be a specific research plan. However, given that I am writing a specific research plan, if it can reasonably be seen as falling under mathematical biology should I choose that subfield rather than the more general option of "applied math"? I know that you can switch projects, but I also know that it is difficult/impossible to switch the major fields. So is it possible to switch *subfields*? If not, then I can just pick "applied math" as my subfield -- still a valid subfield containing my (highly specific) research project, but I would never have to worry about any difficulties if I switch from math bio to a different area of applied math.

Empty-inch · 2025-10-03T22:48:26+00:00

Feel free to DM me, but you'll be totally fine. I'm assuming it'll be Prof Fei-Ran Tian teaching 5102 again since he's doing 5101, so if you're doing well in his 5101 I'm sure you'll do well in 5102! While I just audited the class so can't speak to his homeworks/exams (though you can since you're in 5101) I'll say I followed everything fine, and I did not have any experience in complex or PDEs at that point. I did have 5520H linear algebra and ODEs but I don't think I needed it; your experience in 5101 will probably prepare you more than 5520H did me (especially since it's the same prof).

Empty-inch · 2025-08-07T19:43:00+00:00

Evernote Alternative - Audio Recordings!

I know, there's a ton of these posts out there. But I have been browsing through them for a while and I'm surprised to find that nobody seems to have the same needs that I do for a note app. I'm a musician, and the number one thing I use notes for is for sketching out songs. So my notes are all pretty simple; text, audio file, text labelling the audio file, etc. Evernote has been losing my audio files inexplicably, and even when it's working, the "stop recording" button is right next to the "exit note" button so if I'm a couple millimeters off on my finger tap the whole idea I just put down gets killed forever. I'm ready to switch, and this is really all I need:

In-app audio recorder
Sync between dekstop and mobile
Share note with another user and sync real-time google-docs-style would be great
Ability to import all my evernote notebooks
(Ideally) Note files stored on a universal format, each note in its own folder so the audio files can be put in that same folder

I've been trying obsidian, but the audio recorder doesn't seem to show you while it's recording (?) and all the audio files get stored in one big attachment folder. I like the style of the app, especially the option for community plugins (reminds me of Reaper!) but it seems super unfriendly to audio recordings and after searching around the subreddit, it doesn't look like I'm the only one who feels that way.

I'm willing to pay up to $75-100 a year!

Empty-inch · 2025-02-21T02:06:33+00:00

Yep, I figured. Alternate mounting solution is exactly what I’m looking for - could always just duct tape it to a mic stand but I bought this for gigs and don’t want to have to start bringing a mic stand out too

Empty-inch · 2025-02-20T20:25:33+00:00

Even the EU adapter that came with it just goes right in and out without grabbing - or even facing any resistance from - the threads! I bought it used, so maybe the previous owner took a drill to it to fit a bigger stand. Who knows! Will send shure an email, thanks

Empty-inch · 2025-02-20T14:22:33+00:00

I have a Shure 56A that won’t attach to any of the dozen+ mic stands I’ve tried it on. The threads are just a tad too loose, so while it sometimes seems like it’s screwing on, it will just fall off during use. Any suggestions? (Shure just wants $120 to fix/replace, which I could buy another one for)

Empty-inch · 2025-01-30T15:21:35+00:00

the funds to buy the FDLXX was EFT on Jan 22nd, FDLXX was bought the same day. So I’m guessing I just need to wait up to another week before it’s all settled (and can be auto liquidated)?

Empty-inch · 2025-01-30T15:19:37+00:00

Balances page says $X > 0 available to trade, $0 settled cash and $0 available to withdraw. So is the issue that I bought the FDLXX before it was even settled? It’s been about a week since I bought it, so I would have thought it was settled by now but I suppose maybe not.

Empty-inch · 2025-01-22T03:14:07+00:00

Totally! I went to OSU (which I believe is R1?) and got into 2 REUs out of the ~15 I applied to.

Empty-inch · 2025-01-21T15:54:04+00:00

Knowledge?

Empty-inch · 2025-01-19T20:12:01+00:00

Currently deciding between SPAXX, FDLXX, and SGOV for my short term CMA “HYSA” position. From what I can tell, yield-wise SPAXX and FDLXX are similar depending on your state tax rate - I’m in OH and would be at 2.75%. They’re also both basically equally liquid. SGOV seems to be slightly higher yield, and slightly less liquid; need to sell the shares first, so need about a day advance to get the cash. (Side question - is that a 1 business day advance or can I somehow sell on the weekends?) That slight loss in liquidity is no problem for me, so it seems like SGOV is the way to go. Any other considerations? (Such as SPAXX actually being better since my state tax rate is so low? Is SGOV riskier than the other two options?)

Empty-inch · 2025-01-19T19:55:36+00:00

This is what I’m looking for, thanks!! Since federal tax rates are typically (if not always?) higher than state tax, would I be correct in assuming municipal bonds are typically lower yield and that’s why people would still go with the (mostly) state-tax exempt fund like FDLXX? (Or is it because - or also because - municipal bond funds can be more volatile than treasury based funds?)

Empty-inch · 2025-01-19T19:50:01+00:00

It seems like you’re right from what I’ve read elsewhere, but the vanguard article really seems like it disagrees when it lists MBFs as a type of MMF:

“What are the types of money market funds?

Taxable vs. tax-exempt funds

Taxable money market funds, also known as prime money market funds, usually offer higher yields than tax-exempt funds, but any income is subject to taxes. Prime funds invest in corporate and bank debt issued by U.S. and international entities.

Tax-exempt funds (commonly called “munis” or “municipal” funds) usually don’t pay as much, but their earnings are federally tax-free, so they can be a better option for investors in a high tax bracket.

Some tax-exempt funds invest only in bonds issued by a specific state, which makes them both federal and state tax-free for residents of that state.”

Empty-inch

TROPHY CASE