Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Each year, the School of Graduate Studies anticipates awarding up to three Dissertation Fellowships, with one award in each of the following areas:

• Engineering
• Natural & Health Sciences
• Professional, Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts

Award Amount: $21,500 per recipient, paid out as a graduate research assistantship

Award Period: August 16 through May 15 of the academic year

Frequency: Students may receive the fellowship only once

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a doctoral program during the semester when the application is submitted.
• Be scheduled to graduate within the calendar year that the fellowship ends. 
• Not hold a concurrent assistantship or campus employment during the award period.
• Be committed to dedicating full-time effort to their doctoral dissertation throughout the award period.
• Register for at least one dissertation or research credit during the award period. As tuition waivers are generally provided by the department, applicants are encouraged to confirm waiver availability with their advisors. 
• Have advanced to candidacy by May 15 the year the fellowship begins. Advancement to candidacy requires that the following forms have been received by the School of Graduate Studies:
  • Program of Study
  • Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Results
  • Topic Proposal

Applications are submitted through DocuSign using the Fellowship Application.

Applicants must submit the following materials.

Curriculum Vitae

A curriculum vitae highlighting research, grant, and teaching experience.

Application Letter

A maximum of one page, single-spaced, suing 12-point font. The letter should address:

• Current academic status and progression in the doctoral program (e.g., data collection or dissertation writing stage).
• Projected timeline for degree completion.
• How fellowship time will be used.
• Future career goals and how the fellowship opportunity aligns with those goals.

Research Statement

A maximum of three pages, single-spaced, using 12-point font. Statement exceeding three pages will not be reviewed.

The research statement must include:

• Working dissertation title
• Abstract (up to 100 words) written in accessible language for a non-specialist audience.
• Summary of the dissertation research, including the research problem, significance, methodology, and anticipated results.
• Discussion of how the research fits within the scholarly literature and the unique contributions it will make to the field, professional practices, and relevant communities. 
• Explanation of how the fellowship and dissertation research will support the applicant's professional goals.

Applicants may include an optional appendix of up to three additional pages containing references, tables, figures, or diagrams. Appendix pages do not count toward the three-page limit. 

Letters of Recommendation

At least two letters of recommendation are required:

• One from the student's advisor.
• One from the department chair or graduate program director.
• If the advisor and department chair/graduate program director are the same person, the second letter must come from a member of the dissertation committee. 

Applications are reviewed through a multi-stage process.

1. An interdepartmental review committee evaluates applications and identifies a shortlist. Committee members have experience advising doctoral students and established records of scholarly publication and external grant funding.
2. Shortlisted applications are reviewed by the Graduate Awards Committee, which consists of elected representatives from the graduate faculty and represent each of the colleges.
3. If multiple applications are submitted from a single department, the department chair may be asked to rank the applications.
4. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies makes the final funding decisions.

Applicants are evaluated based on the quality, clarity, and completeness of their applications, as well as their qualifications and ability to successfully complete the proposed research. Applicants are notified of the results via email.

Fellows are expected to participate in the following activities throughout the award period.

Monthly Mentoring Meetings

Meet monthly with dissertation advisors and research and career mentors identified by the School of Graduate Studies in consultation with the fellows. Meetings are hosted by the School of Graduate Studies and are intended to support research progress and provide guidance and mentorship.

Fall Research Presentation

Deliver a 10-minute verbal overview of anticipated dissertation work to the campus community at the Dissertation Fellows Colloquium.

Spring Research Presentation

Deliver a 10-minute presentation on dissertation work at the Graduate Research Achievement Day event in March. This presentation is separate from the final dissertation defense.