The Quality and Productivity Section of the American Statistical Association announces the 2014 Mary G. and Joseph Natrella Scholarship, which supports student participation in the Quality and Productivity Research Conference (QPRC). Winners will receive a $3,500 grant, a $500 stipend toward travel and housing expenses, complimentary registration for the conference, and complimentary registration for the pre-conference tutorial given in conjunction with the conference. In addition, winners will give a presentation on their research at the QPRC, which will be held in Seattle, Washington, June 23–26. The scholarship is funded by the Mary G. and Joseph Natrella Scholarship Fund and the Quality and Productivity Research Conference.

Purpose and History

The scholarship was initiated by a contribution to the ASA Quality and Productivity Section by Joseph Natrella at the time of Mary Natrella’s death to honor her many contributions to the advancement of statistical methodology and sound statistical practice in engineering and physical sciences. The Natrellas always maintained a strong mutual interest in quality applications of statistics. Mary was for many years a staff member of the Statistical Engineering Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Joe’s career was primarily with the Department of Defense and NASA as a mathematician in charge of data processing and computations.

Mary’s most important publication, NBS Handbook 91: Experimental Statistics, is one of the best-selling publications of NIST. Originally published in 1963 by the Government Printing Office, it was later reprinted by Wiley-InterScience and Dover Publications. The ASA Q&P Section established the scholarship in 2000 to honor Mary’s distinguished career as an author, teacher, and consulting statistician.

Eligibility

Application is open to students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree full-time at an accredited college or university. The student must have a demonstrated interest in quality applications as evidenced by coursework, research topic, prior work experience, etc. Applicants should be prepared to make a presentation of their research at the 2014 Quality and Productivity Research Conference. Applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of age, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, military status, race, or sexual orientation. Students who have previously received the Natrella Scholarship are not eligible to apply again.

Important Dates

The application deadline is March 21. Scholarship recipients will be selected by April 11, and scholarships will be awarded at the QPRC banquet on June 24.

More information and application materials can be found at the Q&P Community site. For further information, contact a member of the scholarship committee at natrella.scholarship.committee@gmail.com.