Wisconsin Biotechnology Fellows Program

Partial Tuition Waiver for Employees of Start-Up Companies in Wisconsin

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Biotechnology is pleased to announce the Wisconsin Biotechnology Fellows Program (WBFP). This program will fund approximately 50% of the tuition for the M.S. in Biotechnology Program at UW-Madison for selected applicants employed at start-up companies in Wisconsin. The goal of this program is to assist in developing the next generation of leaders for the segment of Wisconsin's economy represented by small, technology-based start-up companies.

Eligibility

The program is limited to two recipients per year. The first recipients will start the M.S. in Biotechnology Program in fall 2010. To be eligible, the following guidelines must be met:

• The applicant must be employed by an emerging company; i.e. a start-up or early stage company with operations in the State of Wisconsin.
  
  
• The business must be engaged in, or be committed to engage in, one of the following:
  
  
  1. Developing a new product or business process
     
     
  2. Manufacturing, processing or assembling products and conducting research and development
     
     
• An eligible company is defined as an emerging company if at least 51% of the ownership is by individual, venture and/or institutional investors, and it is operated as a stand-alone entity. Employees of companies that are majority owned or operated as a subsidiary of a parent company are not eligible. For example, a company 51% owned by a venture fund may be considered eligible, but a company 51% owned by a corporation with related business interests is not eligible. Only employees of those companies operating in the biotechnology, information technology or healthcare-related industries are eligible.
  
  
• The company must be less than ten years old, and have fewer than 25 employees.
  
  
• Final decisions regarding eligibility will be made by the Director of the M.S. in Biotechnology program.

To Be Considered

• The application deadline for the WBFP is December 18, 2009. All materials must be submitted on or before that date.
  
  
• Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of the M.S. in Biotechnology Program.
  
  
• A completed, eligible application will consist of a statement of purpose, reflecting on professional goals and how the M.S. in Biotechnology Program will help meet those goals; a resume, highlighting full work and academic experiences; full academic transcripts; and three letters of recommendation, including at least one from the employer reflecting their support of the student's enrollment, and describing any additional support they intend to offer the student.

Criteria

• The student's professional and academic record, as well as perceived potential for long-term success.
  
  
• Thorough review of the completed application materials.
  
  
• A personal interview with a selection committee.
  
  
• Students must commit to remaining employed in Wisconsin for at least two years following graduation from the M.S. in Biotechnology Program.

Funding Details

• The WBFP will provide funding to cover approximately 50% of the selected students' tuition for the second year of the M.S. in Biotechnology Program (see table below).
  
  
• Tuition coverage is dependent on the student maintaining an acceptable academic status within the program, which includes a comprehensive GPA of 3.0 or greater; no grade lower than a "B" in any course, and adherence to program policies and procedures.
  
  
• For students entering the program in fall 2010, the payment schedule will look as follows:

Information

For more information about the Wisconsin Biotechnology Fellows Program, please contact: