dissertation grant program

Call for Dissertation Grant Proposals AERA Grants Program Seeks Proposals for Dissertation Grants

Deadline: May 30, 2024

With support from the National Science Foundation, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Grants Program seeks proposals for Dissertation Grants. The AERA Grants Program provides advanced graduate students with research funding and professional development and training. The program supports highly competitive dissertation research using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data. The aim of the program is to advance fundamental knowledge of relevance to STEM education policy, foster significant science using education data, promote equity in STEM, and build research capacity in education and learning. Since 1991, this AERA Program has been vital to both research and training at early career stages.   

The Grants Program encourages the use of major data sets from multiple and diverse sources. It emphasizes the advanced statistical analysis of data sets from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other federal agencies. The program also supports studies using large-scale international data systems (e.g., PISA, PIRLS, or TIMMS) that benefit from U.S. federal government support. In addition, statewide longitudinal administrative data systems (SLDS) enhanced through federal grants are also eligible for consideration. The inclusion of federal or state administrative information that further expands the analytic capacity of the research is permissible. The thrust of the analysis needs to be generalizable to a national, state, or population or a subgroup within the sample that the dataset represents.

The Grants Program is open to field-initiated research and welcomes proposals that:

• develop or benefit from advanced statistical or innovative quantitative methods or measures;
• analyze more than one large-scale national or international federally funded data set, or more than one statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) or incorporate other data enhancements;
• integrate, link, or blend multiple large-scale data sources; or
• undertake replication research of major findings or major studies using large-scale, federally supported or enhanced data.

The Grants Program encourages proposals across the life span and contexts of education and learning of relevance to STEM policy and practice. The research may focus on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to such issues as student achievement in STEM, analysis of STEM education policies, contextual factors in education, educational participation and persistence (pre-kindergarten through graduate school), early childhood education and development, postsecondary education, and the STEM workforce and transitions. Studies that examine issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across STEM topics and/or for specific racial and ethnic groups, social classes, genders, or persons with disabilities are encouraged.

Applicant Eligibility Dissertation Grants are available for advanced doctoral students and are intended to support the student while analyzing data and writing the doctoral dissertation. Proposals are encouraged from the full range of education research fields and other fields and disciplines engaged in education-related research, including economics, political science, psychology, sociology, demography, statistics, public policy, and psychometrics. Applicants for this one-year, non-renewable award should be advanced doctoral students at the dissertation writing stage, usually the last year of study. Applicants may be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents enrolled in a doctoral program. Non­U.S. citizens enrolled in a doctoral program at an U.S. institution are also eligible to apply. Underrepresented racial and ethnic minority researchers as well as women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Data Set Eligibility The dissertation research project must include the analysis of large-scale data. The data set can originate from one or multiple sources, including (1) federal data bases, (2) federally supported national studies, (3) international data sets supported by federal funds, or (4) statewide longitudinal administrative data systems (SLDS) enhanced through federal grants. Although the emphasis is on large-scale education data sets and systems, other social science and health-related databases that can advance knowledge about education and learning are eligible for consideration.

Many national data resources, including important longitudinal data sets, have been developed or funded by NCES, NSF, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Institutes of Health, or other federal agencies. International datasets such as PISA, PIAAC, TIMMS, and others are supported. If international data sets are used, the study must include U.S. education.

NCES has enhanced and improved SLDS through grants to nearly every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and America Samoa. This federal investment has produced state-level data from pre-K to grade 12, through higher education, and into the workforce. Many SLDS are available for analysis and can be used to address salient issues in education research or linked with other data sets.

Data Set Access The data set(s) of interest must be available for analysis at the time of application. Use of public or restricted-data files is permissible. Prior to receiving funding, students must provide documentation that they have permission to use the data for the research project. In many cases, graduate students will gain access to restricted files through a faculty member or senior scholar.

Data Sharing All data or data-related products produced under the AERA Grants Program must be shared and made available consonant with ethical standards for the conduct of research. Grantees are expected to place article-related data, [1] codebook or coding procedures, algorithms, code, and so forth in an accessible archive at the time of publication. Also, at a reasonable time after completion of the dissertation research, all data or data-related products must be archived at the AERA-ICPSR Data Sharing Repository supported by NSF and located at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan. AERA provides guidance to facilitate the data sharing and archiving process.

Dissertation Grant Award

Award Component 1, $27,500 Stipend . AERA will award each grantee up to a $27,500 stipend to study education, teaching, learning, or other education research topics using one or multiple large-scale databases. The funds can be used for research-related expenses such as tuition, living expenses, travel to secure data enclaves or scholarly conferences, books, computer equipment, and other expenses directly related to conducting this research. As part of the proposal, applicants provide a budget that outlines anticipated research-related expenses. AERA encourages cost sharing from universities in the form of tuition assistance, office space, university fees, and other expenses. In accordance with AERA's agreement with NSF, institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the grant funds. In addition to the funding, grantees will be paired with a Governing Board member who will serve as a resource and provide advice and feedback to grantees and monitor grantees’ progress.

Award Component 2, AERA Research Conference. Grantees will participate in an AERA research conference held in Washington, DC. During this 2-day conference grantees will participate in seminar-type sessions on substantive, methodological, and professional issues. Also, they will have the opportunity to network and interact with the Grants Program Governing Board, senior scholars and researchers, other graduate students who use large-scale datasets in their research, and representatives from key federal agencies such as the National Center for Educational Statistics, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. The award will cover all travel and lodging expenses for grantees to participate in the conference.

Award Component 3, AERA Annual Meeting Capstone Research Institute. Each spring AERA holds its Annual Meeting which brings together over 15,000 researchers, scholars, and policy leaders to present their research, share knowledge, and build research capacity through over 2,000 substantive sessions. Grantees will take a data analysis or appropriate methods course while attending the AERA Annual Meeting. The grantees will present their research in an invited poster session along with other graduate students who received dissertation support from AERA and other prestigious fellowship programs. Finally, grantees will participate in a Capstone conference directly after the Annual Meeting that will address issues such as building a research agenda, searching for a faculty appointment, and publishing research. Grantees must include travel and lodging expenses to the Annual Meeting in their budget.

Informational Webinar Applicants are encouraged to watch the informational webinar to learn more about the AERA Grants Program and discuss the application process..

Project Dates AERA is flexible on research project start dates, depending on what is best for the applicant. The earliest date a grant may start is approximately three months following the application deadline. Alternatively, an award start date several months or more after that may be requested.

Funding Restrictions Dissertation Grantees may not accept concurrent grant or fellowship awards from another agency, foundation, institution or the like for the same dissertation project that is funded by the AERA Grants Program. If the awardee is offered more than one major grant or fellowship for the same project for the same time period, in order to accept the AERA Grants Program Dissertation Grant, the other award(s) must be declined. Awardees may accept Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant appointments at their doctoral institutions and may have additional employment.

If the applicant is employed by a contractor of NCES, NSF, other federal agency, state agency, or other entity that provides the dataset proposed for the project, the dissertation research must not be considered part of the applicant's work responsibilities. An additional letter from the applicant's employer is required as part of the application submission, stating that the dissertation project is separate from the applicant's job duties. This letter must be sent electronically by the deadline to [email protected] .

Evaluation Criteria Evaluation criteria include the significance of the research question, the conceptual clarity and potential contribution of the proposal, the relevance to an important STEM education policy issue, the strength of the methodological model and proposed statistical analysis, and the applicant’s relevant research and academic experience. Additionally, the review criteria include the following: What is already known on the issue? How might this project inform STEM education policy? How does the methodology relate specifically to the research question? Does the applicant know the data set? Does the analytic plan fit the question and the data? How does this project promote equity in STEM education and learning? Is the applicant qualified to carry out the proposed study? Reviewers will be members of the AERA Grants Program Governing Board. Due to the large volume of applications received, the AERA Grants Program is unable to provide individual feedback on unfunded proposals.

Reporting Requirements Dissertation Grantees will be required to submit a brief (3-6 pages) progress report midway through the grant period. A final report will be submitted at the end of the grant period. The final report consists of an extended dissertation abstract (3-6 pages), a statement of research dissemination and communication activities and plans (1-3 pages), and the complete approved dissertation. It should be submitted electronically to [email protected] . All reporting requirements and deadlines are outlined in the award letter.

Funding Disbursement Funding will be linked to the approval of the progress report and final report. Grantees will receive one-half of the total award at the beginning of the grant period, one-quarter upon approval of the progress report, and one-quarter upon approval of the final report. Grants are awarded through the grantee’s institution. In accordance with AERA's agreement with NSF, institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the grant funds.

Considerations in the Development of the Proposal Applicants are strongly encouraged to read Estimating Causal Effects: Using Experimental and Observational Designs , by Barbara Schneider, Martin Carnoy, Jeremy Kilpatrick, William H. Schmidt, and Richard J. Shavelson prior to submitting a dissertation grant proposal. Selection bias is a recurring issue during the review process and should be addressed in the proposal.

Applicants should choose research topics that can be supported by the samples and variables contained in the proposed data set(s). Applicants should also be familiar with the User Guides and/or Manuals (e.g., use of design weights and design effects) of the specific data sets. Applicants should be familiar with statistical methods and available computer programs that allow for sophisticated analyses of the selected data.

Applicants should explicitly address the curricular content when it applies. Applicants are encouraged to capitalize on the capacity of large-scale data sets to examine diverse populations, including racial, ethnic, social class, and gender groups. Studies are encouraged that promote or inform diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented population as well as across STEM topics. The proposed topic must have education policy relevance, and the models to be tested must include predictor variables that are manipulable (e.g., course work in mathematics, instructional practices used by teachers, parental involvement). Studies focusing on STEM education policy are strongly encouraged. Studies that model achievement test data should clearly define the achievement construct and identify the kinds of items to be used to operationalize the topic of interest. Also, when planning to use existing sub-scales, the applicant should describe why these sub-scales are appropriate and how they will be applied. Existing sub-scales provided by NCES or other agencies may not be appropriate for the proposed construct.

Dissertation Grant Application Guidelines AERA Grants Program

Application Deadline All applications for the AERA Grants Program must be completed using the AERA online application portal by 11:59pm Pacific time on May 30, 2024 . An applicant may submit only one proposal to the AERA Grants Program for review at any one time. Due to the large volume of applications received, the AERA Program is unable to provide individual feedback on unfunded proposals.

Submission Information Please enter the background information requested in the proposal submission portal. This includes the applicant’s contact and background demographic information. Also, enter the proposal title, amount of funding requested, and the start and end dates of the project.

Dataset(s) used: Name data set(s) used (e.g., ECLS­K, ELS:2002, IPEDS, CCD, AddHealth, SLDS-State, PISA, and so forth). Proposals must include the analysis of at least one large-scale federal, international, or state administrative data system.

Dissertation abstract Enter the abstract of your proposed research project (250 words maximum).

Contribution to the field Briefly describe the potential contributions this research will make to the field of education (250 words maximum). You may cut and paste or type into the text box.

• Statement of how this research advances the current state of knowledge in the field, substantively and/or methodologically
• Theoretical or conceptual framework for the research
• Brief review of relevant research/policy literature
• Research questions, hypotheses to be tested
• Description of methodology including the data set(s) and justification for selecting data file to address research question; any additional or supplemental data sample (e.g., groups used, exclusions to sample, and estimated sample sizes); rationale for variables used; and specification and clarification of variables and analytic techniques
• Data analysis plan and/or statistical model or formulas, appropriately defined
• Brief dissemination plan for this research including proposed conferences to present the findings and potential scholarly journals to publish the research  
• Variables list: A categorized list of the variables from the NCES, NSF, or other data set(s) that will be used in this research project. (2 single-spaced pages maximum)  
• References cited (not part of page limit)  
• Budget . Awards for Dissertation Grants are up to $27,500 for 1­year projects. The budget must include funds to attend the AERA Annual Meeting. The funds can be used for research-related expenses such as tuition, living expenses, travel to secure data enclaves or scholarly conferences, books, computer equipment, and other expenses directly related to conducting this research. AERA encourages cost sharing from universities in the form of tuition assistance, office space, university fees, and other expenses. In accordance with AERA's agreement with NSF, institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the grant funds. There is no specific template for the budget. It may be a simple 2­column format or a more complex spreadsheet. (no page limit)  
• Research and academic employment history
• Relevant graduate courses in statistics and methodology
• Relevant publications and presentations
• Relevant professional affiliations and/or memberships

Please combine items 1-5 as one PDF document and upload on online application.

Letter(s) of support: The letter(s) must be sent separately, by the faculty member. One substantive letter of support is required from the applicant's primary faculty dissertation advisor that includes an indication of the applicant's current progress toward the degree and expected date of completion, and of the student's potential for success in his or her anticipated career path.

If the applicant is from a discipline other than education, a second letter of support from a faculty advisor who has an education research background is also required if the primary faculty advisory does not specialize in education research. Although this second letter should focus mainly on the applicant's qualifications, research experience, and potential, it should also include a brief paragraph on the advisor's own education research experience.

Further Questions Contact George L. Wimberly, Co-Principal Investigator, AERA Grants Program ( [email protected]) or 202-238-3200 if you have questions regarding the application or submission process. NOTE: All awards are contingent upon AERA's receiving continued federal funding.

Visit the AERA Grants Program Website at http://www.aera.net/grantsprogram .

[1] Awardees with access to data under restricted access provisions are expected to archive a detailed specification of the data set so that others can request the same data under the same or similar restricted conditions. 

Dissertation Grant

Region: North America

A research grant for PhD students at universities in the United States and Canada, who are underrepresented in the field of computing and pursuing research aligned to the research areas carried out by researchers at Microsoft.

How to submit a proposal

Doctoral students enrolled in their fourth year or beyond of PhD studies and who are underrepresented in the field of computing must submit their proposal directly .

Direct any questions not answered in the FAQ to the Grant’s Program Chair, Bongshin Lee , and Program Manager, Mariah L. Christianson, at [email protected] .

Microsoft recognizes the value of diversity in computing. The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant aims to increase the pipeline of diverse talent receiving advanced degrees in computing-related fields by providing a research funding opportunity for doctoral students who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This includes those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQI+, and/or person with a disability.

• Proposals and letters of recommendation were accepted through Monday, March 22, 2021 at 12:00 PM (Noon) Pacific Daylight Time
• Recipients announced by June 30, 2021

Provisions of the 2021 award

• The 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant recipients will receive funding up to $25,000 USD for academic year 2021-22 to help them complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work.
• An invitation to the PhD Summit: a two-day workshop in the fall hosted by Microsoft Research where grant recipients will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research. We hope to offer both a virtual and in-person participation option; we will continue to monitor local and national health and safety guidance and may hold a completely virtual event if advisable.

Eligibility criteria

• Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Grant recipients should support this mission and embrace opportunities to foster diverse and inclusive cultures within their communities.
• PhD students must be enrolled at a university in the United States or Canada.
• Proposed research must be closely related to the general research areas carried out by researchers at Microsoft as noted in the Our research tab above.
• Students must be in their fourth year or beyond of a PhD program as of March 22, 2021, the proposal deadline. Students must have started their PhD in September 2017 or earlier to be considered in their fourth year of the program having taken into account transfers, approved leaves of absence, etc.
• PhD students submitting a proposal for this grant must self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQI+, and/or person with a disability.
• PhD students must continue to be enrolled at the university in the fall of 2021 or forfeit the award. Grants are not available for extension. If you require time away for family or medical leave, this will be accommodated. If you are unsure if a particular need for time away will affect the award, you can contact us at Microsoft Research Grants ( [email protected] ).
• Payment of the award, as described above, will be made directly to the university and dispersed according to the university’s policies. Microsoft will have discretion as to how any remaining funds will be used if the student is no longer qualified to receive funding (e.g., if the student unenrolls from the program, graduates, or transfers to a different university).
• Funding is for use only during the recipient’s time in the PhD program; it cannot be used for support in a role past graduation, such as a postdoc or faculty position. Those interested in receiving this grant will need to confirm their PhD program starting month and year, as well as their expected graduation month and year.
• A recipient of the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant subject to disciplinary proceedings for inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), or plagiarism will forfeit their funding.

If you do not meet the above criteria, you may be eligible for other Academic Programs .

Microsoft actively seeks to foster greater levels of diversity in our workforce and in our pipeline of future researchers. We are always looking for the best and brightest talent and celebrate individuality. We invite candidates to come as they are and do what they love.

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Dissertation Fieldwork Grant

• Doctoral Students

This grant program funds doctoral or thesis research that advances anthropological knowledge. Our goal is to support vibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of what it means to be human. There is no preference for any methodology, research location, topic, or subfield. The Foundation particularly welcomes proposals that integrate two or more subfields and pioneer new approaches and ideas.

Award Money

The maximum Dissertation Fieldwork Grant is $25,000. Grants are nonrenewable. There is no limit to the duration of the grant, and applicants may request funding to cover distinct research phases (for example, two summers) if this is part of the research design. Wenner-Gren awards do not include funds to cover institutional overhead or any fees related to the administration of our grants and fellowships.

Application Deadline

Application deadlines are May 1 (for project start dates between January 1 and June 30 of the following year) and November 1 (for project start dates between July 1 and December 31 of the following year). The application portal opens 2 months before the deadline. It takes us 6 months to complete the review process and arrive at a final decision.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program (or equivalent, if outside the U.S.). Qualified students of any nationality or institutional affiliation may apply. Applicants must designate a dissertation advisor or other scholar from the same institution who will take responsibility for supervising the project.

To receive an award, applicants must fulfill all of their program’s doctoral degree requirements, other than the dissertation/thesis, before the start date listed on their application form. Successful applicants must provide proof from their department that they have completed all the necessary coursework and exams.

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply. But as part of their resubmission, they must explain how they have addressed the reviewers’ concerns, along with any changes to their plans.

Our reviewers assess the quality of the proposed research, its potential contribution to anthropological knowledge, and its adherence to the principles articulated in our mission, including a commitment to fostering an inclusive vision of anthropology. We expect applicants to draw inspiration from a broad range of scholarship, including relevant work in English and other languages. Please refer to “ Motion of the 32nd RBA: Diversify Information and Education about the Global Anthropologies of Foreign Researchers and Anthropology Students .”

Successful proposals have the following features:

• A well-defined research question
• A detailed description of the evidence that will be sought
• A feasible plan for gathering and analyzing this evidence
• A discussion of the applicant’s qualifications to carry out the research
• A compelling account of the project’s potential to advance anthropological knowledge and transform debates in the field.

Applicants whose research is oriented toward primatology or primate conservation must demonstrate the broader anthropological relevance of their work. The Foundation supports work on language structure and endangered languages, but only when it is grounded in anthropological concerns.

To present your project in the best possible light, please follow all instructions for completing your application. Use all the available space to describe your project. If you have questions, contact us at [email protected] or (+1) 212.683.5000.

The application asks for the following:

General information about you and your project

• An abstract of your proposed project
• Answers to six questions about your project
• A resubmission statement if we declined a Dissertation Fieldwork Grant application you submitted previously
• A detailed Plan A budget (Best-case scenario)
• A detailed Plan B budget (Worst-case scenario)
• A bibliography relevant to your proposed project.

The application also asks you to list the permits and permissions required for the proposed project, with the estimated dates by which you expect to secure them. However, please do not submit these documents with your application. If your application is successful, we will request copies of all relevant materials when we notify you of your award.

Applications must be in English. Applicants must submit all forms and other required materials online. If you don’t have adequate internet access to use our system, please contact us at least 1 week before the deadline and we’ll help arrange an alternative method. The online portal opens for applications 2 months before the application deadline.

Before submitting your application, please refer to the U.S. tax information on our website . Non-U.S. applicants should read the information on visa requirements for non-U.S. citizens present or coming to the U.S. as part of their project.

The Foundation requires successful applicants to comply with all U.S. laws. These include but are not limited to regulations governed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which administers U.S. government sanctions programs and regulations relating to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). Please see the OFAC Guidelines page on our website and consult the U.S. Department of the Treasury for more information.

In compliance with OFAC regulations, the Foundation requires special documentation for projects located in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Crimea (including Sevastopol), the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, and Russia. The Foundation does not require this documentation at the application stage, but we must receive it before we can release funds.

Please do not send any other materials beyond what the application requests. Do not send transcripts, letters of reference, manuscripts, publications, photographs, or recordings. We will not use this material in the review process, and we cannot return it to you.

APA Dissertation Research Award

The purpose of the APA Science Directorate's Dissertation Research Award program is to assist science-oriented doctoral students of psychology with research costs.

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Sponsor: Science Directorate

• Description
• Eligibility
• How to Apply
• Past Recipients

The Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association sponsors an annual competition for dissertation research funding. The purpose of the Dissertation Research Award program is to assist science-oriented doctoral students of psychology with research costs. The current program offers three grants of $10,000 and seven grants of $5,000 to students whose dissertation research reflects excellence in scientific psychology.

Applicants must have psychology as the primary focus of their graduate studies (even if they are receiving training in other fields as well).

Applicants must be in good standing in their graduate programs.

Applicants must be enrolled full-time or working on their dissertation research for an equivalent of full-time enrollment regardless of actual registration status.

Applicants may be citizens or residents of any country and their institutions may be located and accredited/recognized in any country.

Applicants must be graduate student members of the American Psychological Association. Applicants who are not members must apply for APA Graduate Student membership when submitting materials for the Dissertation Research Award. If you are newly applying, please include a copy of the confirmation page receipt with your award application.

Applicants must have had their dissertation proposals approved by their dissertation committees prior to application.

• Applicants must have not yet successfully defended their dissertations at the time of the application deadline.
• Each psychology department (i.e., not individual programs within a department) may endorse no more than three (3) students per year for the APA Dissertation Research Award. If more than three students from a department wish to apply for these funds, the department must perform an initial screening and forward only three applications.

Students in graduate departments other than psychology are eligible to apply for the Dissertation Research Award only if they demonstrate that they are writing a psychological science dissertation and their graduate course of study has been primarily psychological in nature. These students must justify their eligibility for the award by providing APA Science Directorate staff with the following materials: (a) dissertation title and brief abstract; (b) transcript of graduate coursework (unofficial copies are sufficient); and, (c) a brief written explanation of how these materials show that the graduate course of study has been primarily psychological in nature.

The dissertation research may be in any area of psychological research.

Applicants must not have previously received an APA Dissertation Research Award.

• Science Directorate staff will examine all applications for eligibility.

Applicants must create a MyAPA account to apply online. Click the 'Apply' button on this page below to get started. You will need to have the following materials ready to submit: (a) Cover letter . One page maximum; describing your research interests and experience, as well as your career plans. (b) Dissertation research summary . Two-page maximum; including project background and rationale, an explanation of research design (methods, procedure, analysis plan, etc.) and other important aspects of the project. One additional page listing references may be included (citations should be included in the text). Please note: Figures and/or tables may be included only if they can be incorporated into the two-page research summary. The research summary must not exceed the two-page limit including any figures or tables. (c) Budget . One-page maximum; a brief explanation of proposed use of funds. The award must be used to support expenses that are directly related to the dissertation research (e.g., computer time, animal care, equipment, participant fees, and incentives). The award may not be used for indirect costs (e.g., tuition, travel, lab assistant salary, consultant fees, or personal expenses). Be sure to justify all expenses and detail any additional funds that will be used for the project. If the budget for the project exceeds the amount available from the award, you should describe the source of the additional funds. (d) Abbreviated curriculum vitae . Two-page maximum; including scientific publications, presentations, research, and teaching experience (the curriculum vitae may contain only highlights and does not need to be a complete version). (e) Copy of APA student affiliate membership confirmation , if you are not already a member. If you are a member, you will need to provide your APA membership number. (f) Letter of recommendation . One-page maximum. The letter of recommendation should come from your doctoral program dissertation advisor. In the application, you will be asked to provide the advisor’s full name and email address. They will be sent an automated email containing a link to electronically submit the letter. You will not be able to submit your application until your advisor submits the recommendation letter. Although the system will send automated reminders and confirmation notifications, it is your responsibility to ask your advisor to prepare the letter before starting the application. (g) Departmental endorsement  from the chair/head of your department. In the application, you will be asked to provide the chair’s full name and email address. They will be emailed a link to an online form where they must respond to a few questions concerning their eligibility for the award.

Decisions will be based on the quality of the submitted information. Panels of distinguished scientists representing the breadth of scientific psychology will make funding recommendations to the Science Directorate.

All applicants for the awards are notified of funding decisions via email.

Any changes to the budget details supplied in the proposed use of funds section of the grant application must be approved in advance (in writing) by the APA Science Directorate. Any budget change requests can be emailed to the Science Directorate .

A year from receipt of the award, each award recipient must submit a one-page final report letter specifying how the funds were used, which must be signed by the chair or head of the department or the student's faculty advisor. More details will be provided to each award recipient about this final documentation.

2023 APA Dissertation Research Award recipients

No awards were presented

The 2021 APA Dissertation Research Award recipients

The 2020 APA Dissertation Research Award recipients

Data Fluencies Data Fluencies Dissertation Grants

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) invites proposals from PhD candidates across the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, data sciences, and related fields to apply to the Data Fluencies Dissertation Grant competition. This competition is part of the Data Fluencies Project and consortium .

With generous support from the Mellon Foundation and in partnership with Simon Fraser University’s Digital Democracies Institute, the Data Fluencies Project works to counter the impacts of discriminatory technology and online mis- and disinformation and foster more just and equitable futures. The Data Fluencies Project is developing an expansive and interdisciplinary approach that combines the interpretative traditions of the arts and humanities with critical work in the social and data sciences to express, imagine, and create innovative engagements with (and resistances to) our data-filled world.

The application portal will open on November 1st, 2023. Applications will be accepted up to the deadline of 11:59 p.m. (US EST) on January 24, 2024 .

Five dissertation grants of up to US$15,000 each will be awarded.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Data Fluencies Dissertation Grants are open to PhD students actively enrolled in doctoral programs in the United States and Canada—regardless of citizenship. Eligible PhD students may apply for awards of up to $15,000 in support of dissertation research.

Applicants to the program should have completed all PhD coursework and demonstrate that they will have reached “all-but-dissertation” (ABD) status by the beginning of the grant term. 

Among the potential topics to be supported by the grants include projects applying humanist and humanistic social science methods to understand:

• mis- and disinformation
• information integrity
• public-interest technology
• digital culture
• privacy and surveillance 
• AI and algorithmic management
• labor in the era of data
• big data governance and accountability
• alternative epistemologies stemming from feminist, Indigenous, or Black theoretical perspectives

Please refer to our Call for Applications for the complete proposal request, including a detailed list of requirements and eligibility.

S ELECTION PROCESS

Proposals will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary and cross-regional review committee based on their relevance, quality and intellectual merit, innovation potential, the fit between their research question and research design, and feasibility. 

Proposals should display a thorough knowledge of the central concepts, theories, and methods in the applicant’s discipline and other related fields and a bibliography relevant to the research. Applicants should provide evidence of having attained an appropriate level of training to undertake the proposed research, including evidence of a degree of language fluency sufficient to complete the project.

For more information on the 2024 Data Fluencies Dissertation Grant, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions [PDF].  Please visit our application portal to apply. Applications will be accepted up to the deadline of 11:59 p.m. (US EST) on January 24, 2024 .

Related Work

The Data Fluencies Project seeks to develop an expansive and interdisciplinary approach that combines the interpretative traditions of the arts and humanities with critical work in the social and data sciences to support innovative engagements with (and resistances to) our data-filled world. 

The Just Tech program empowers an intersectional network of scholars and practitioners to imagine more equitable technological futures. Just Tech will foreground questions of justice and public impact to enrich discourse and inform policy on technological development.

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National Institute of Social Sciences Dissertation Grant

Open to doctoral students in the fields of Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, with interdisciplinary projects containing one or more of these fields as a major component also considered.

Eligibility:  Any accredited U.S. university that grants doctoral degrees in the appropriate social science field is eligible to nominate a graduate student to receive an NISS Dissertation Grant. Each university may nominate up to two (2) candidates per grant period. If a university nominates more than one candidate, they may come from one or more of the disciplines listed above.

Grant Period:  Grants are given as unrestricted funds which may be used to cover any necessary expenses related to completing a dissertation, including but not limited to travel to a library or archive, photography or photocopying, field research, and conference support.

Award Amount:  $2,500 - $5,000, with larger amounts on a case-by-case basis.

NYU Internal Process:  Students must be nominated by NYU to be eligible for this grant. All materials are sent to NYU to forward to NISS.

Application Open: TBA

Application deadline: monday, may 6, 2024, at 5:00 pm eastern time. winner(s) are expected to be announced in june 2024., program overview.

The National Institute of Social Sciences (NISS) invites nominations for its 2024 Dissertation Grants Program. NISS Dissertation Grants are designed to support outstanding Ph.D. students who need resources to complete doctoral work that promises to significantly advance their fields of study. Any accredited U.S. university that awards doctoral degrees in the social sciences is eligible to nominate a graduate student for an NISS Dissertation Grant.

Application Components:

Each nomination must include the following information, emailed as instructed below:

Completion of the NISS 2024 Dissertation Grant Application Cover Sheet (click to open fillable pdf for downloading and printing)

The nominee’s CV

The nominee’s personal statement of no more than 750 words describing the project and the planned uses for money requested

A one-page project budget

A letter of support from the nominee’s academic sponsor that addresses the nominee’s academic qualifications and the merits of the nominee’s research

Note: All documents must be submitted in pdf format, with numbered pages that include the nominee’s name and university name in the footer.

External Website Link: 

Https://www.socialsciencesinstitute.org/grants, contact info, emily hollenbach.

Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant Program

Microsoft recognizes the value of diversity in computing. The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant aims to increase the pipeline of diverse talent receiving advanced degrees in computing-related fields by providing a research funding opportunity for doctoral students who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This includes those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.

• Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Grant recipients should support this mission and embrace opportunities to foster diverse and inclusive cultures within their communities.
• Proposed research must be closely related to the general research areas carried out by researchers at Microsoft as noted in the Our research tab.

1 academic year

Upper  $25,000 USD

• The 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant recipients will receive funding up to $25,000 USD for academic year 2021-22 to help them complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work.
• An invitation to the PhD Summit: a two-day workshop in the fall hosted by Microsoft Research where grant recipients will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research. We hope to offer both a virtual and in-person participation option; we will continue to monitor local and national health and safety guidance and may hold a completely virtual event if advisable.
• PhD students must be enrolled at a university in the United States or Canada.
• Students must be in their fourth year or beyond of a PhD program as of March 22, 2021, the proposal deadline. Students must have started their PhD in September 2017 or earlier to be considered in their fourth year of the program having taken into account transfers, approved leaves of absence, etc.
• PhD students submitting a proposal for this grant must self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.
• PhD students must continue to be enrolled at the university in the fall of 2021 or forfeit the award. Grants are not available for extension. If you require time away for family or medical leave, this will be accommodated. If you are unsure if a particular need for time away will affect the award, you can contact us at Microsoft Research Grants
• Funding is for use only during the recipient’s time in the PhD program; it cannot be used for support in a role past graduation, such as a postdoc or faculty position. Those interested in receiving this grant will need to confirm their PhD program starting month and year, as well as their expected graduation month and year.

[email protected]

UMass Boston

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Graduate Research Funds

On this page:, doctoral dissertation research grant program, institute for asian american studies research fellows program at umass boston, funding opportunities available from the graduate student assembly at umass boston, apply for external funds to support work on a doctoral dissertation, nsf graduate research fellowship program, transdisciplinary dissertation proposal development program.

Eligibility: Doctoral Students in good academic standing whose dissertation proposals have been formally approved by their dissertation committees (please include a copy of the applicant’s Stage 3 form) or formal approval is imminent as indicated in letter of support from the chair of the dissertation committee. A UMass Boston doctoral student may receive only one doctoral dissertation grant at the university.

Application deadline: The deadline for the Spring 2024 cycle is Monday, February 26, 2024 at 5 p.m. Awards will be announced by mid-March 2024.

Maximum Award: $2,000, although subject to slight variation dependent on number of proposals and such.

Doctoral dissertation research grant cover sheet

Applications should be sent as a single .pdf file and sent to [email protected] .

General Information

These grants provide support for dissertation research activities of doctoral students and are made possible from funds recovered from external grants. A committee of University faculty drawn from various disciplines and program areas reviews all applications and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost for Research and Strategic Initiatives & the Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Studies for the allocation of these grant funds. Allocations for grants are based on the significance of the research, the merits of the research design, and the trajectory of the PhD student.

Nature of the Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program

The total allocation for these awards is $30,000 for the Spring 2024 cycle of applications, and it is expected each award will equal to ~$2,000, depending on the number and quality of applications received this cycle. Funds can be spent on technical assistance and clerical support beyond that normally available through the student’s department or program, research supplies, travel expenses for data collection, transcription costs, acquisition of specialized datasets, and communications. The Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program will not fund student’s salaries and research equipment. Costs for presenting the research results or accepting awards at regional, national, and international conferences will also not be considered.

Who May Submit a Proposal?

Any UMass Boston graduate student enrolled in a doctoral program at the university and whose dissertation proposal has been formally approved by their dissertation committee (or approval is imminent as indicated in letter of support from the chair of the committee) is eligible to submit a proposal for consideration. A UMass Boston doctoral student may receive only one doctoral dissertation grant at the university.

What to Submit

In order to expedite review of proposals, students are required to submit proposals in the following format. Please note that only one copy of the proposal is required.

The Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Application includes:

• Student and dissertation information
• A 50 word lay (targeted for non-specialists) abstract
• Signatures of the dissertation committee chairperson and graduate program director or department chairperson.
• Aims & Significance of the proposed research
• Brief background
• Project goals and objectives with a timeline for accomplishment
• Research design, methodology, sample, procedure, and data analyses

Literature citations should be included on a separate page.

• Letter of recommendation from the chair of the doctoral dissertation committee. The letter should address the strengths/weaknesses of the applicant, the use of the funds from this award coupled to overall project support available to complete the study, and the degree to which the applicant independently developed the project.
• Additional letters of support can be included, but only if necessary, with examples including commitment from other organizations, departments, agencies or units that may be collaborating in the proposed project, as well as other potential secured funding sources.
• A copy of the applicant’s current CV.

All parts of the application need to be assembled in the following order: project narrative, letter(s), and CV and submitted to [email protected] as single pdf document.

For additional information, please contact [email protected] .

The   Institute for Asian American Studies (IAAS) established a Research Fellows Program in 1994 which provides small grants funding to faculty, graduate students, and other researchers who conduct a study on Asian American issues. Each Fellow is required to present his or her research at a public forum at UMass Boston, and to submit a manuscript for publishing as an Occasional Paper by the IAAS.

The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) provides the following funding opportunities for graduate students.

• Dr. Robert W. Spayne Research Grant (for work leading to a master's thesis or capstone project)
• Craig R. Bollinger Memorial Research Grant (for work leading to a doctoral dissertation)
• Professional Development Grants (to provide opportunities to attend academic conferences)
• Chancellor's Distinguished Dissertation and Thesis Awards

For information (including deadlines) on how to apply for these grants and awards, please visit the GSA's website.

Dozens of federal, state, and private sponsors provide varying levels of support to doctoral students in a wide variety of disciplines who are about to begin work on or are working on their dissertations. The application process as well as the terms and conditions you are required to meet often vary from sponsor to sponsor. In all cases, before you begin the application process contact and have a staff member in the UMass Boston Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) review the sponsor's request for proposals, usually referred to as the RFP, to ensure that you are indeed eligible to submit an application. Call 617.287.5370, provide your name, name of your doctoral program, and ask to speak with the ORSP preaward staff member assigned to assist your program's college or school.

One excellent resource for all grantseekers, new or experienced, for learning about and staying abreast of developments in the grantmaking world is the website Miner and Associates, Inc.: Proven Solutions for Successful Grantseekers . In addition to the wealth of free, useful information available on the site, Miner and Associates, Inc. provide a "free electronic newsletter that attempts to inform -- and motivate -- as you close the financial gap between your needs and your resources. Our topics are driven by whatever is current at the moment in the world of grants.  Funding programs and priorities change. Grantmaker expectations increase, particularly in terms of evaluation and accountability. New data sources for grant proposals appear and disappear. And when it comes to persuasive proposal writing strategies, one is always a lifetime learner."

In addition to those sponsors, or grantmakers, listed below, the ORSP also provides all UMass Boston faculty, staff, and students with free access to a many funding databases. For details, please visit the ORSP Funding Opportunities webpage .

AAUW American Fellowships

Supports women doctoral candidates completing dissertations and scholars seeking funds for postdoctoral research leave or for preparing completed research for publication. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. One-year postdoctoral research leave fellowships, dissertation fellowships, and summer/short-term research publication grants are offered.

American Anthropological Association AAA Minority Dissertation Fellowship

Applicants must be members of a historically underrepresented ethnic minority group, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians or Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latino/as, Chicano/as, and Pacific Islanders; have a record of outstanding academic achievement; be enrolled in a full-time academic program leading to a doctoral degree in anthropology at the time of application; be admitted to degree candidacy before the dissertation fellowship is awarded; be members of the AAA at least one month prior to submitting materials for the AAA Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program; and have had their dissertation proposals approved by their dissertation committees prior to application. The recipient of the fellowship must be in need of a fellowship to complete the dissertation.   Abstract : The American Anthropological Association offers the AAA Minority Dissertation Fellowship to minority doctoral candidates in anthropology who require financial assistance to complete the write-up phase of the dissertation. The dissertation research must be in an area of anthropological research. Dissertation topics in all areas of the discipline are welcome.

American Educational Research Association (AERA) Dissertation Grants Program

Proposals for Dissertation Grants will be reviewed three times a year, with funding decisions made within a month of the review date.   Eligibility : Applicants must be advanced doctoral students. Underrepresented minority researchers are strongly encouraged to apply.   Abstract : With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the Institute of Education Sciences, the American Educational Research Association Grants Program announces its Dissertation Grants Program. The program's goals are (1) to stimulate research on U.S. education policy- and practice-related issues using NSF and NCES data sets; (2) to improve the educational research community's first-hand knowledge of the range of data available at the two agencies and how to use them; and (3) to increase the number of educational researchers using the data sets. The AERA invites education policy- and practice-related dissertation proposals using NCES, NSF, and other national data bases. Dissertation Grants are intended to support advanced doctoral students while writing the doctoral dissertation. Applications are encouraged from a variety of disciplines, such as but not limited to, education, sociology, economics, psychology, demography, statistics, and psychometrics. Researchers must include the analysis of data from at least one NSF or NCES data set in the dissertation. Additional large-scale nationally representative data sets may be used in conjunction with the obligatory NSF or NCES data set. If international data sets are used, the study must include U.S. education.

American Jewish Archives: Jacob Rader Marcus Center Fellowship Program

Applicants must be conducting serious research in some area relating to the history of North American Jewry. Typically, Marcus Center Fellowships will be awarded to postdoctoral candidates, PhD candidates who are completing dissertations, and senior or independent scholars.   Abstract : The annual Fellowship Program of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) provides recipients with month-long fellowships for research and writing at the Center, located on the Cincinnati campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Marcus Center Fellows are teachers, students, scholars, and practitioners who, both individually and as a group, come to the AJA to study some aspect of the American Jewish past. The research proposal must detail the precise nature of the applicant's research interests. The proposal must demonstrate clearly how the resources and holdings of the AJA are vital to the applicant's research.

American Musicological Society Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship

Candidates normally should be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada who are members of historically underrepresented minority groups. Students are eligible who have completed at least one year of graduate work, intend to pursue a PhD, and are in good standing at their home institution. Applications may come directly from the student, or the student may be nominated by a faculty member of the institution at which the student is enrolled or from a member of the AMS at another institution.   Citizenship : Canada; United States.   Abstract : The American Musicological Society's Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship is intended to increase the presence of minority scholars and teachers in musicology. The fellowship will support one year of graduate work for a student at a North American university who is a member of a group historically underrepresented in the discipline of musicology. The fellowship is not restricted to dissertation work.

American Musicological Society Travel Grants for European Research

Applicants must be students attending North American universities who have completed all requirements except the dissertation for the PhD in any field of musical scholarship and who need to undertake research in Europe toward the dissertation.   Abstract : The American Musicological Society offers travel grants from the Eugene K. Wolf Travel Fund for European Research to encourage and assist PhD candidates in all fields of musical scholarship to travel to Europe to carry out the necessary work for their dissertation on a topic in European music.

American Philosophical Society Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research

Grants will be available to doctoral students; master's degree candidates are not eligible. Applicants who have received Lewis and Clark Fund grants may reapply after an interval of two years. The competition is open to U.S. residents wishing to carry out research anywhere in the world. Foreign applicants must either be based at a U.S. institution or plan to carry out their work in the United States. Student applicants should ask their academic advisor to write one of the two letters of recommendation, specifying the student's qualifications to carry out the proposed work and the educational content of the trip.   Abstrac t: The American Philosophical Society's (APS) Lewis and Clark Fund encourages exploratory field studies for the collection of specimens and data and to provide the imaginative stimulus that accompanies direct observation. Applications are invited from disciplines with a large dependence on field studies, such as archeology, anthropology, biology, ecology, geography, geology, linguistics, and paleontology, but grants will not be restricted to these fields. Each grantee will submit a brief report on his or her trip for archiving in the APS Library.

American Philosophical Society John Hope Franklin Dissertation Fellowship

Candidates must have completed all course work and examinations preliminary to the doctoral dissertation.   Abstract : The American Philosophical Society's (APS) John Hope Franklin Dissertation Fellowship is designed to support an outstanding doctoral student at an American university who is conducting dissertation research. The objective of the John Hope Franklin Dissertation Fellowship is to help remedy the serious shortage of faculty of color in core fields in the arts and sciences, by supporting the PhD projects of minority students of great promise (particularly African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans) as well as other talented students who have a demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities and enlarging minority representation in academia. The John Hope Franklin Fellow is expected to spend a minimum of three months in residence at the APS Library in Philadelphia, with full encouragement to conduct research at other libraries and archives in and around the city. Therefore, all applicants should be pursuing dissertation topics in which the holdings of the APS Library are especially strong, such as quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, computer development, the history of genetics and eugenics, the history of medicine, Early American political and cultural history, natural history in the 18th and 19th centuries, the development of cultural anthropology, or American Indian linguistics and culture.

American Sociological Association Minority Fellowship Program

Applicants must be members of one of the following underrepresented minority groups in the U.S.: Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos/as, Asians or Pacific Islanders, or American Indians or Alaskan Natives. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals of the U.S., or have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence and have in their possession an Alien Registration Card. The fellowship program is primarily, but not solely, designed for minority students sufficiently advanced in their PhD program to demonstrate their commitment to a research career focusing on topics relevant to NIMH and NIDA research. Applicants for the MFP General Fellowship may be in earlier stages in their graduate careers, but must be accepted into a PhD program in sociology at the time the MFP Fellowship begins.   Citizenship : U.S. citizens are eligible.   Abstract : Through its Minority Fellowship Program, the American Sociological Association supports the development and training of sociologists of color in mental health and drug abuse research; this fellowship is open to graduate students pursuing a PhD in any area of sociology.

William Anderson Award

For the best doctoral dissertation in the field of state and local politics, federalism, or intergovernmental relations.

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation/ACLS Early Career Fellowships

The first part of this program, the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships, makes possible a year of supported research and writing, to help students complete their dissertation. The second part of the program, Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowships, provides support for a year following the completion of the doctorate for scholars to advance their research. A grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supports this program.

American Psychological Association Dissertation Research Awards

The Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association sponsors an annual competition for dissertation research funding. The purpose of the Dissertation Research Award program is to assist science-oriented doctoral students of psychology with research costs. In 2003, the Science Directorate will grant this $1,000 award to approximately 50 students whose dissertation research reflects excellence in scientific psychology.

APF/Todd E. Husted Memorial Award

This is a single award in the amount of $1,000 for the dissertation research that indicates the most potential to contribute toward the development and improvement of mental illness services for those with severe and persistent mental illness. Applicants for the Husted Award must meet the same eligibility requirements as the Dissertation Research Awards.

Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange Dissertation Fellowships for Republic of China Students Abroad

Doctoral candidates who are Republic of China (ROC) citizens and who are completing the last stage of their PhD research at an accredited university in the American Region (the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, or South America) may apply. Only students who have graduated from an accredited university or college in the ROC, and who do not have foreign permanent residence status or citizenship, are eligible to apply. Grants are available only to doctoral candidates who are neither employed nor receiving grants from other sources.   Citizenship : China.   Abstract : The Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange provides grants for ROC students abroad to help finance the completion of dissertations in the humanities and social sciences.

DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

Scientists who may reside in science, mathematics, engineering or computer science departments but share an interest in research using computing and mathematical methods may apply for this fellowship through the Department of Energy. Although their pursuits vary widely, the DOE CSGF helps these computational scientists develop a sense of community that’s often difficult to find in a single academic department.  It starts with practicum assignments at DOE laboratories, where interdisciplinary teams conduct research in ways far different than in academic departments.

Josephine De Karman Fellowship

Students in any discipline entering senior undergraduate year or graduate students entering the terminal year of a PhD program in the fall of 2010. Applicants should have manifested exceptional ability and serious purpose. Special consideration will be given to applicants in the Humanities and to those who have completed their qualifying examinations for the doctoral degree.

Educational Testing Service Summer Internship Program for Graduate Students

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) program is open to graduate students who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program and have completed a minimum of two years of full-time graduate study in a program emphasizing one of the areas specified.   Abstract : The goals of the Summer Internship Program for Graduate Students are to provide research opportunities to individuals enrolled in a doctoral program in the fields described below and to increase the number of women and underrepresented minority professionals conducting research in educational measurement and related fields. Interns in this two-month program participate in research under the guidance of a senior ETS staff member in one of these areas: 1. Measurement theory; 2. Validity; 3. Natural language processing and computational linguistics; 4. Cognitive psychology; 5. Learning theory; 6.Linguistics; 7. Speech recognition and processing; 8. Teaching and classroom research; 9. Statistics; and10. International large scale assessments. Interns also participate in seminars and workshops on a variety of topics.

Ford Foundation Diversity Dissertation Fellowships

To increase the presence of underrepresented minorities on the nation's college and university faculties, to enhance diversity on campuses, and to address the persisting effects of past discrimination, the Ford Foundation offers predoctoral fellowships to PhD and ScD students who are U.S. citizens from one of the following minority groups: Native American Indian, Alaskan Native (Eskimo or Aleut), Black/African American, Mexican American/Chicano, Native Pacific Islander (Polynesian or Micronesian), and Puerto Rican. Must have completed all degree requirements except the writing and defense of the dissertation, including coursework, examinations, language requirements, etc.

Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Dissertation Fellowships for Research on Aggression and Violence

Grants are made to PhD candidates who are in the writing stage of the dissertation. Usually, this means that fieldwork or other research is complete and writing has begun. Both the applicant and the applicant's advisor are asked to assure the foundation that the thesis will be complete within the grant year.   Abstract : Dissertation fellowships are awarded each year to individuals who will complete the writing of the dissertation within the award year. These fellowships are designed to contribute to the support of the doctoral candidate to enable him or her to complete the thesis in a timely manner. Applications are evaluated in comparison with each other and not in competition with the postdoctoral research proposals. Highest priority is given to research that can increase understanding and amelioration of urgent problems of violence, aggression, and dominance in the modern world. Particular questions that interest the foundation concern violence, aggression, and dominance in relation to social change, the socialization of children, intergroup conflict, drug trafficking and use, family relationships, and investigations of the control of aggression and violence. Priority will also be given to areas and methodologies not receiving adequate attention and support from other funding sources.

Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) Dissertation Year Grant

U.S. or Canadian citizens or legal immigrants.   Eligibility : Applicants must be in a school accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and must have completed all program requirements but their dissertation.   Abstract : The overall goal of the HTI is to help identify and support talented women and men in the development of intellectual and scholarly tools for teaching and research. In addition to monetary support to help the awardee devote as much time as possible to writing, the HTI will also provide the dissertation year awardee with skilled editorial support in order to facilitate a timely completion of the dissertation; a mid-year workshop to monitor and encourage the writing process to provide a time for discussion of dissertation; and to provide collegial support.

Robert D. Hodgson Memorial PhD Dissertation Fund

Provides financial assistance to candidates preparing doctoral dissertations in geography.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: The Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program

Annual program to encourage doctoral candidates to engage in policy-relevant community, housing, and urban development research; to assist doctoral candidates in the timely completion of their dissertation research; to focus research on policy-relevant housing and community development issues; and to provide a forum for new scholars to share their research findings

Harold D. Lasswell Award

For the best doctoral dissertation in the field of policy studies (supported by the Policy Studies Organization).

Mathematica Policy Research Summer Fellowships

Students enrolled in a master's or PhD program in public policy or a social science are eligible. Fellowships will be held in Princeton, New Jersey; Washington, District of Columbia; and Cambridge, Massachusetts.   Abstract : Mathematica launched its summer fellowship program to promote careers in social policy research, particularly for scholars who might otherwise be drawn to government or academe. The program supports independent, self-directed research on economic or social problems that affect minority groups.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration/ United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation: Harriet G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Program

Annual fellowship program to increase the number of women, minorities, and people with disabilities participating in math, science, engineering, and technology disciplines of interest to NASA. Fields of study include: Aeronautics/aerospace, astronomy, bioengineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, life sciences, materials sciences, mathematics, meteorology, physical sciences, physics, and science education.

National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

In an effort to improve the quality of dissertation research, many programs in the Division of Social and Economic Sciences and the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences accept doctoral dissertation improvement grant proposals. The following programs are most active in support of dissertation research: Archaeology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cultural Anthropology, Decision, Risk & Management Science, Geography and Regional Science, Law and Social Science, Linguistics, Physical Anthropology, Political Science, Science and Technology Studies, Sociology, and Societal Dimensions of Engineering, Science, and Technology. In addition, the following Programs also support doctoral dissertation research when especially appropriate: Economics and Human Cognition & Perception.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship   (Including Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science Awards)

Offers recognition and three years of support for advanced study to approximately 900 outstanding graduate students in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science and the philosophy of science, and to research-based PhD degrees in science education.

National Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) aims to provide opportunities to enrich the training of graduate students in the Mathematical Sciences through the provision of an NSF Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship Program. This program will provide an opportunity for mathematical sciences doctoral students to participate in internships at federal national laboratories, industry and other approved facilities. Participation in an internship will provide first-hand experience of the use of mathematics in a nonacademic setting. The internships are aimed at students who are interested in understanding the application of advanced mathematical and statistical techniques to "real world" problems, regardless of whether the student plans to pursue an academic or nonacademic career.

Helen Dwight Reid Award

Fellowship candidates must have completed the preliminary examinations for the doctorate no later than February 1 prior to the application deadline.   Abstract : RFF will award fellowships in support of doctoral dissertation research on issues related to the environment, natural resources, or energy. RFF's primary research disciplines are economics and other social sciences. Proposals originating in these fields will have the greatest likelihood of success. Proposals from the physical or biological sciences must have an immediate and obvious link to environmental policy matters to be considered. This fellowship is intended to be the principal source of support for graduate students in the final year of their dissertation research.

E. E. Schattschneider Award

For the best doctoral dissertation in the field of American government.

Leopold Schepp Foundation/Scholarships for Graduate Education

Annual awards are available to full-time enrolled college   Graduate   students to study at accredited colleges/universities. Primary considerations for awards are as follows:   Character   - references are required and school/college evaluations are taken into account,   Academic Ability , and   Financial Need . Applicant must be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident. Age limits for 1st time applicants are as follows: graduates - under 40 yrs old, post-doctorate work has no age limit. Graduates with only their dissertation left won't be considered. Applicant must attend an interview in New York City. Number of awards includes all undergraduate and graduate awards. Contact the enclosed address between June 1st and no later than November 30th for information/application guidelines, enclose a SASE. Leopold Schepp Foundation 551 Fifth Ave-Suite 2525 New York, NY 10176 (212) 986-3078

Smithsonian Institution Office of Research Training and Service Graduate Student Fellowships

Applicants must be formally enrolled in a graduate program of study, must have completed at least one semester, and must not yet have been advanced to candidacy in a doctoral program.   Abstract : Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution provide students and scholars with opportunities to pursue independent research projects in association with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff. Graduate fellowships allow students to conduct research for ten-week periods in association with Smithsonian research staff members. Applicants must propose research in a field pursued at the Smithsonian. A specific and detailed research proposal indicating why the Smithsonian is an appropriate place to conduct the studies proposed is required. Fellowships are only offered to support research within Smithsonian facilities or programs. Fellows are expected to spend most of their tenure in residence at the Smithsonian, except when arrangements are made for periods of field work or research travel. Fields of research at the Smithsonian include American history, American material and folk culture, and the history of music and musical instruments; history of science and technology, history of art, design, crafts, and the decorative arts; anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and ethnic studies; evolutionary, systematic, behavioral, environmental biology, and conservation; geological sciences and astrophysics; and materials characterization and conservation.

Smithsonian Institution Office of Research Training and Service Predoctoral Fellowships

Students enrolled in a university as candidates for the PhD or equivalent are eligible for predoctoral fellowships. By the time the appointment begins, the university must approve the undertaking of dissertation research at the Smithsonian Institution and certify that requirements for the doctorate, other than the dissertation, have been met.   Abstract : Predoctoral fellowships allow students to conduct research for periods of three to twelve months. Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution provide students and scholars with opportunities to pursue independent research projects in association with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff. Persons interested in conducting research at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory should apply to that bureau directly.

Smithsonian Institution Office of Research Training and Services Minority Internships

Applicants must be minority beginning graduate students.   Abstract : The Office of Fellowships and Grants offers a number of opportunities to increase minority participation in Smithsonian Institution scholarly programs. Stipend awards are available for interns to participate in supervised ongoing research or museum-related activities for periods of 10 weeks.

Social Science Research Council

Sponsors fellowship and grant programs on a wide range of topics, and across many different career stages. Most support goes to predissertation, dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowships, offered through annual competitions. Some programs support summer institutes and advanced research grants. Although most programs target the social sciences, many are also open to applicants from the humanities, the natural sciences, and relevant professional and practitioner communities.

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

Dissertation and other awards available.

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Dalmas A. Taylor Summer Minority Policy Fellowship

To be eligible, an applicant must be a graduate student in good standing who is a member of an ethnic minority group (including, but not limited to, African American, Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander) and who has demonstrated a commitment to a career in psychology or a related field with a focus on ethnic minority issues.   Citizenship : Unspecified.   Abstract : The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues established this award to honor the memory of Dr. Dalmas Taylor, who was instrumental in establishing the Minority Fellowships at the American Psychological Association (APA) and in increasing the profession's attention to inclusion of people of color. The fellowship will be administered in conjunction with the APA's Minority Fellowship Office and will provide an opportunity for a graduate student to work on public policy issues in Washington, DC.

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Grants-in-Aid Program

The applicant must be a member of SPSSI.   Abstract : The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Committee on Grants-in-Aid wishes to support scientific research in social problem areas related to the basic interests and goals of SPSSI and particularly those that are not likely to receive support from traditional sources. The Committee especially encourages proposals involving unique and timely research opportunities, underrepresented institutions, new investigators, volunteer research teams, and actual (not pilot) projects. Funds are not normally provided for travel to conventions, travel or living expenses while conducting research, stipends of principal investigators, costs associated with manuscript preparation, or the indirect costs of institutions.

Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Scholars and Dissertation Scholars Programs (SREB) Dissertation Year Fellowships

For doctoral scholars who have reached the dissertation stage, a limited number of single-year fellowships are available. These fellowships are available only to minority scholars who plan to become full-time faculty members upon completion of their doctoral program. Applicants must meet the same eligibility requirements as Doctoral Scholars Program applicants and must have completed all program requirements, including successful defense of the dissertation proposal. Applicants also must be able to devote full time to completing the dissertation. Each Dissertation Year Fellowship recipient receives a one-year stipend of $12,000; a waiver of tuition and fees; a small stipend for research expenses; and expenses associated with the Doctoral Scholars Program annual meeting.

Stanford University Center on Adolescence Youth Purpose Research Awards

U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply.   Eligibility : Doctoral candidates whose dissertation proposals have been approved. Applicants may be from any field that may inform youth purpose scholarship, including psychology, sociology, history, human development or education.   Abstract : The Stanford Center on Adolescence supports young scholars pursuing research related to youth purpose, defined as a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at once meaningful to the self and of intended consequence beyond the self.

Otis Paul Starkey Fund

Supports doctoral dissertations or research papers devoted to regional study or significant problem areas in the U.S. or its possessions.

Leo Strauss Award

For the best doctoral dissertation in the field of political philosophy.

Morris K. Udall Foundation

Citizenship : U.S. citizens, permanent residents or nationals are eligible.   Eligibility : Each applicant must:  have completed all PhD coursework and passed all preliminary exams; have approval for the dissertation research proposal by February 21, 2010; and be entering the final year of writing the dissertation. The primary focus of dissertation research should be U.S. environmental policy or environmental conflict resolution. PhD candidates who hold a fellowship for the purpose of writing the dissertation during the year preceding or coinciding with the Udall Fellowship are not eligible.   Abstract : The Udall Foundation awards fellowships to doctoral candidates whose research concerns U.S. environmental public policy or environmental conflict resolution and who are entering their final year of writing the dissertation. Dissertation fellowships are open to scholars in all fields of study whose dissertation topic has significant relevance to U.S. environmental public policy or environmental conflict resolution. It is the foundation's intent that work conducted during the fellowship year be done in the United States.

Leonard D. White Award

For the best doctoral dissertation in the field of public administration.

Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Grants in Women's Studies

Encourages original and significant research about women that crosses disciplinary, regional, or cultural boundaries.

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $32,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.

The fellowship is competitive, and those planning to apply should devote a sincere effort to their application. See the  NSF GRFP website  for more information on applying. The GRFP application is available at  www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, you must:
• be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
• be in a research-focused master's or PhD program in an NSF-supported field
• be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution
• have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent)
• meet all other eligibility requirements as set forth in the current Program Solicitation

The "no more than twelve months" limit applies to your entire post-baccalaureate career, not just your current program. If you have completed less than twelve months of your PhD but have previously completed a master's degree, you would not be eligible for the GRFP.

NSF-Supported Fields

NSF supports a broad range of fields: chemistry, computer and information science, engineering, geosciences, life sciences, materials research, mathematical sciences, physics and astronomy, social sciences and STEM education and learning research.  View a complete list of NSF-supported fields.

The following programs and areas of study are  not eligible :

• Practice-oriented, professional degree programs (MBA, MSW, MPH, ED, etc.)
• Joint science-professional programs (MD/PhD, JD/PhD, etc.)
• Business administration or management
• Social work
• Education (except research-focused STEM education programs)
• History (except for history of science)
• Public health programs
• Medical programs
• Dental programs

Research with disease-related goals, including the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction.

Questions About Eligibility

The official GRFP eligibility guidelines are published in the  program solicitation . All applicants should read these guidelines carefully.

Please call the GRF Operations Center at 866.673.4737 or email  [email protected]  if you have questions about the eligibility guidelines.

Additional Resources

A sample NSF GRFO application submitted Nov. 2011, courtesy of fellow Amy Herberle (Developmental Psychology):

• Sample Personal Statement
• Sample Past Research Experience
• Sample Proposed Research Plan

A sample NSF GRFP application submitted Nov. 2011, courtesy of fellow Daniel Peterson (Organismic and Evolutionary Biology):

A sample NSF GRFP application submitted Nov. 2011, courtesy of fellow Justin Helepololei (Anthropology):

Internet resources:

" Advice for Applicants to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship " by Keith Jacks Gamble, UC Berkeley. Written 9/23/04, updated 1/23/06.

NSF Graduate Fellowship Advice , collected by Jennifer Wang, University of Wisconsin.

Sample NSF GRFP proposals: environmental sciences, policy and management . Compiled by Rachel C. Smith, UC Berkeley.

The UMass Boston Transdisciplinary Dissertation Proposal Development Program is designed for students who are ready to develop their dissertation proposals. Through participation in dissertation development seminars/workshops and summer research, students will develop cogent and fundable dissertation research proposals that draw on inter- or transdisciplinary theories, methods, or approaches. The 2022 Institute will be geared towards students planning to defend dissertation proposals in the 2022-2023 academic year.

• Information sheet
• Application form
• Recommendation form

What is the Transdisciplinary Dissertation Proposal Development Program?

An opportunity for 12-15 doctoral students to participate in dissertation proposal development training. Students receive up to $3,000 to fund summer exploratory pre-dissertation research. The goal of the institute is to help clarify a student’s research questions and scope, to help them learn how to develop dissertation research proposals for funding applications, and to offer ideas about ways other disciplines or methods might contribute to their research project. The institute is also designed to build a support network of peers and faculty beyond the student’s program.

Who Is Eligible?

Matriculated UMB Ph.D. students in the proposal development stage who can commit to attending two workshops:

• June 7 - 11
• September 9 – 11

Application Deadline:   April 4th 

For any additional information, please contact  [email protected]

Dissertation Grant Program

Microsoft recognizes the value of diversity in computing. The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant aims to increase the pipeline of diverse talent receiving advanced degrees in computing-related fields by providing a research funding opportunity for doctoral students from groups under-represented in computing (women, African-Americans/Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and/or people with disabilities).

Deadline:  March 22, 2021

• Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Grant recipients should support this mission and embrace opportunities to foster diverse and inclusive cultures within their communities.
• PhD students must be enrolled at a university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
• Proposed research must be closely related to the general research areas carried out by Microsoft Research as noted in the  Research areas  tab above.
• PhD students submitting a proposal for this grant must self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.
• Students must be in their fourth year or beyond in a PhD program when they submit their grant proposal. Students must have started their PhD in September 2016 or earlier to be considered in their fourth year of the program.
• PhD students must continue to be enrolled at the university in the fall of 2020.
• The 2020 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant recipients will receive funding up to $25,000 USD for academic year 2020-21 to help them complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work.
• An invitation to the PhD Summit: a two-day workshop in the fall held at one of Microsoft Research’s labs where fellows will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research.

Law and Science Dissertation Grant

The Law and Science Dissertation Grant (LSDG) program provides financial support for graduate students in diverse law-and-science disciplines to conduct their doctoral dissertation research. The program is funded by an award from the Law & Science program at the National Science Foundation (SBE #2016661) to Arizona State University (ASU). 

Although the LSDG program is administered by ASU, doctoral students in law and science at any U.S. institution are eligible to apply  (for additional information, click on the ‘Eligibility’ tab). All proposals are evaluated the same, regardless of the applicant’s institution (see the ‘Merit Review Process’ tab).

The LSDG team at ASU receives guidance from an Advisory Council (AC), which was put together in consultation with the professional societies that comprise the Law and Science research community. The AC is a diverse group of highly accomplished scholars who hold faculty appointments in anthropology, criminology/criminal justice, law/legal studies, political science, psychology, and sociology, as well as interdisciplinary programs ( see the ‘Our People’ tab ).

The next submission deadline is May 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. MST . For application instructions, see the ‘Apply’ tab. LSDG conducts two review/award cycles per year. Unless otherwise noted on this page, annual deadlines will be on May 15 and November 15 (or the first business day thereafter if the date falls on a weekend or federal holiday).

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Other Training-Related Programs

Dissertation award, program purpose.

Although not technically fellowships, these grants support dissertation research costs of students in accredited research doctoral programs in the United States (including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories or possessions).

Eligibility

Career level.

U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled in a research doctoral degree program.

Graduate/Clinical Doctorate

INSTITUTION

U.S. domestic institutions

Currently Supported Investigators

Stipend levels & info.

• NIH Policies for NRSA Stipends, Compensation and Other Income
• NRSA Stipends (FY 2024)
• NRSA Stipends (FY 2023)
• Stipend/Salary FAQs

Policy Notices

• NOT-OD-24-129: Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications for Due Dates on or After January 25, 2025
• NOT-OD-24-116: Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows and Institutional Research Training Awards
• NOT-OD-24-107: Implementation of Revisions to the NIH and AHRQ Fellowship Application and Review Process
• NOT-OD-24-084: Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025
• NOT-OD-23-111: Reminder – NIH Policies for NRSA Stipends, Compensation and Other Income
• NOT-OD-23-076: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2023

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Dissertation Fieldwork Grants

These grants of up to $5,000 provide support for fieldwork expenses. For the purpose of this grant, fieldwork is defined as data collection that takes place for an extended period of time (e.g. weeks or months) outside the western Massachusetts geographical area. These grants are not designed to fund data analysis, only expenses related to data collection. In rare instances applicants may request up to $8,000 to help support work that will take place over an extended period of time and therefore incur significant expense. Applicants will need to submit a statement as part of the application to explain why additional funds are being requested. 

Who Is Eligible?

UMass Amherst doctoral students enrolled in a campus-based degree program (i.e. no online programs) and in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Students may receive this grant only once. Applicants who were not awarded a grant in a previous application cycle are eligible to reapply. Students may accept only one research grant from the Graduate School in an academic year. 

Application deadlines are October 15 and February 15 each year. Applicants should plan the timing of their application based on the funding period outlined below: 

• Applications submitted for the October 15, 2023 deadline should include research expenses that begin on January 1, 2024 or later. Awardees must secure all necessary research permission (IRB approval, IACUC approval, travel registry approval)  and complete relevant online CITI training in Responsible Conduct of Research no later than May 24, 2024 or the Fieldwork Grant will be forfeited. 
• Applications submitted for the February 15, 2024 deadline should include research expenses that begin July 1, 2024 or later. Awardees must secure all necessary research permission (IRB approval, IACUC approval, travel registry approval) and complete relevant online CITI training in Responsible Conduct of Research no later than May 24, 2024 or the Fieldwork Grant will be forfeited. 

The application deadline is 11:59 PM on the posted due date. All required materials (including the advisor’s Letter of Recommendation) must be received by this time. Award notifications will be made by the end of the semester in which the application was submitted. 

How to Apply

To allow sufficient planning time, we recommend students submit a Dissertation Fieldwork Grant application at least six months before funds are needed. A completed application includes:

• A  Fieldwork Grant Application . You will login to the application using your UMass email. You may may revise the text entry portions of your application by logging back in; PDFs cannot be edited once they are uploaded. 
• What do you seek to accomplish with your dissertation research? (i.e., what are your research questions/aims/objectives?)
• How will you accomplish this? (i.e., what research methods will you use?)
• What contribution(s) will this research make?
• How would a Fieldwork Grant contribute to your ability to successfully complete your dissertation?
• A Budget Table (use  this template ; upload your completed Budget Table as a PDF in the Fieldwork Grant Application. See tips below for preparing your Budget Table and Budget Justification.)
• A Budget Justification , which provides details on how you arrived at the amounts listed in the Budget Table (upload the Budget Justification as a PDF in the Fieldwork Grant Application; use the tips below and review this  sample Budget Table and Budget Justification  to understand how these documents should be prepared.)
• A letter of recommendation submitted by your advisor (see instructions below). 

Include your first and last name in the file name for every document you upload to the Fieldwork Grant Application. 

Tips for preparing your Budget Table and Budget Justification

• Review the list of eligible and ineligible expenses below. 
• Include enough detail in your Budget Justification for a reviewer to understand how the amounts in your Budget Table connect with the research activities outlined in your Project Description.
• Consult the  UMass Controller's Office website  for standard mileage amounts and other travel expense guidelines. 
• For travel outside the United States estimate your living expenses using your prior experience in that country or the  Fulbright-Hays Maintenance Allowance  guide (use the Monthly Stipend column).

Instructions for Faculty Advisor

The faculty advisor reviews the completed Budget Table and Budget Justification, writes a letter of recommendation, and  submits it online . Note: Faculty do not receive a prompt to submit a letter; use the link provided here. Faculty must login using their UMass email to access the submission portal; non-UMass faculty should contact  researchgrant [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Heidi Bauer-Clapp)  for submission instructions. 

Please include the student's first and last name in the file name. The letter of recommendation should address the following:

• The student’s ability to carry out the activities proposed in the Fieldwork Grant application.
• The student’s progress in degree program and general academic qualifications.
• The merit of the intended dissertation research and how activities proposed in the Fieldwork Grant application will help the student complete their dissertation.

Review Criteria

The following information will be considered by reviewers: 

• Clarity and quality of the Project Description--applications will be reviewed by faculty outside your field who need to understand what you plan to do, how you will do this work, and the potential impact your work will have. Avoid jargon and technical language! 
• Feasibility of the proposed project: Does it seem likely that you can complete the research plan as outlined? 
• Whether the budget is realistic and cost-efficient
• Quality of the letter of recommendation

Eligible expenses  include (but are not limited to):

• Research-related travel to research site(s) or local travel at the research site(s)
• Living expenses at research site(s) (e.g. lodging, food)
• Fees to use libraries, archives, or databases while at your research site(s)
• Duplication or distribution of research materials (e.g. photocopies of surveys)
• Purchase of research supplies or equipment, which will remain the property of the University

Ineligible expenses  include:

• Salary for the graduate student applicant
• Expenses related to student training, including language or methodology training
• Transcription
• Online research (e.g. costs to conduct an online survey)
• Standard office or laboratory supplies (these include items considered standard for your department/laboratory, i.e. things routinely in stock)
• Purchase of computers or tablets (unless the student can demonstrate that such equipment is integral to data collection)
• Food (with the exception of meals while in the field)
• Costs to attend or present at conferences or meetings
• Purchasing data sets
• Purchase of books
• Fees or other costs associated with publication
• Fees or other costs associated with membership in professional associations
• Costs incurred at home while the researcher is in the field (e.g. rent)

In most cases, award funds will be disbursed as reimbursements, although some expenses such as equipment purchases must be paid directly by the University. Awarded funds are managed by the student’s department; awardees must communicate with their department’s business manager prior to spending any grant funds. Grant recipients will be required to submit a brief report at the end of the grant period to account for how grant funds were spent.

Supplements for Public Engagement or Travel with Children

Applicants for Graduate School Grants are eligible to apply for supplements to cover costs associated with Public Engagement projects or childcare/travel with children during research. Please review the criteria and application information in the Public Engagement and Travel with Children pages.

Questions on the Graduate School Fieldwork Grant should be addressed to  researchgrant [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu ( Heidi Bauer-Clapp ) .

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Government and Nonprofit Section Doctoral Activities

Dissertation grant program, gnp travel grants, outstanding dissertation award, government and nonprofit section doctoral dissertation grants.

The GNP Section sponsors a competitive dissertation grant program to help defray certain costs (up to $1,500) for individuals conducting dissertation research on governmental and nonprofit topics. An applicant must be a doctoral candidate with a major or emphasis in accounting from any doctoral granting institution in the United States of America or foreign country. Applications must be received by April 15. The grant application should include:

• An application letter explaining the nature of the project, current stage of the project, estimated completion date, how the award of a dissertation grant would contribute to the project, the nature of other grants received for the dissertation, and contact information (address, phone and e-mail).
• A budget detailing the items and amounts for which funding is requested;
• A copy of the dissertation proposal;
• A letter from the dissertation chairperson stating the proposal has been defended and accepted, or if not yet defended, that a firm commitment exists to permit the applicant to proceed with the proposed dissertation.

Requested funds may be used to defray or reimburse costs directly related to and necessary for completion of the dissertation. Included among the authorized purposes for grant funding is travel to collect data, purchase of data, and preparation and mailing of questionnaires. With adequate justification other costs essential to completion of the dissertation, such as coding of data and data entry, may also be considered for funding. Funds will not be provided for such costs as tuition and fees, computer use charges, word processing, and printing and binding the dissertation. In addition, grant funds will not be provided for purchase of computer hardware or software.

Email the application letter and attachments to:

Doctoral Program Liaison Amanda W. Beck [email protected]

Email submissions are preferred. If you have further questions you can contact Amanda at [email protected] .

President's Letter

Message from Nancy Chun Feng, Suffolk University AAA GNP Section President

Greetings, GNP Colleagues!

I am truly honored to serve as your GNP President. Thank you for entrusting me with this opportunity! I am excited about collaborating with you and advancing the section for another year. It is a privilege to serve a distinguished community of government and not-for-profit accounting scholars, and I take pride in being part of the most collegial section within the AAA.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Brian McAllister for his many years of service to our section and for serving as President of the section this past year. Brian has been deeply involved and served our section very well. He did an excellent job organizing the 2023 Midyear Meeting (MYM) in Denver, Colorado. He has been a great mentor to me over the past year in grasping the responsibilities of the GNP President role. Thank you, Brian!

CONTINUE READING...

2025 GNP Section Midyear Meeting

Check back for updates on our 2025 Midyear Meeting!

GASB Gil Crain Grant

Gasb gil crain memorial research grant    .

Since its formation in 1984, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has encouraged academics and other researchers to conduct studies that would be relevant to the GASB’s standards-setting activities. Over the past 30 years, such research efforts have resulted in publishing their research in research briefs, journal articles, and occasionally in GASB research reports.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) seeks research proposals for the 2023 Gil Crain Grant Award . Proposals should address topics of interest to the GASB’s standard setting efforts. Proposals must be received by May 31, 2023 via email submission to [email protected] . Decisions on proposals will be made by the end of June 2023. Any questions about topics or the proposal process may be directed to Tammy Waymire, GASB Senior Research Manager, via email [email protected] or phone (203) 956-5376.

Fellowship and Grant Writing Support

The Graduate School Center for Writing and Oral Communication provides support for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars seeking funding from both external sources (grants and fellowships) and those applying for University of Maryland based fellowships and funding opportunities. 

Writing Fellows receive specific training to support those applying for funding opportunities across disciplines, and Fellows have successfully applied for a wide variety of fellowships (including the NSF GRFP, the AAUW Dissertation Fellowship, and the Wylie Dissertation Fellowship) and grants from agencies including Maryland Sea Grant, US AID, and the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory.  

To schedule a consultation with a Writing Fellow to discuss a funding proposal, see the directions to  Request a Consultation , and be sure to provide information about your applications. 

We also offer a range of workshops about applying to both internal and external funding opportunities; look for details on our  Workshops page. 

If students in your department or program typically apply for specific funding opportunities, we can support your students by designing a workshop tailored to applying for those opportunities. To find out more, please contact  Dr. Linda Macri .

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Archaeology Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Arch-DDRIG)

View guidelines, important information for proposers.

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Supports doctoral laboratory and field research on archaeologically relevant topics, with the goal of increasing anthropologically focused understanding of the past.

The Archaeology Program supports anthropologically relevant archaeological research. This means that the value of the proposed research can be justified within an anthropological context. The program sets no priorities by either geographic region or time period. It also has no priorities in regard to theoretical orientation or question and it is the responsibility of the investigator to explain convincingly why the focus of their research  is significant and has the potential to contribute to anthropological knowledge. While the program, in order to encourage innovative research, neither limits nor defines specific categories of research, most applications either request funds for field research or the analysis of archaeological material through multiple approaches. The program also supports methodological projects which develop analytic techniques of potential archaeological value.

Program contacts

Awards made through this program

Related programs.

• Archaeology Program Senior Research Awards (Arch-SR)
• Archaeometry (AMTRY)
• High-Risk Research in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology (HRRBAA)

Organization(s)

• Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)
• Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (SBE/BCS)

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="dissertation grant program"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Graduate funding and enrollment, enrollment and student status.

Enrollment is the official recognition of a student’s relationship with the university.  Enrolling is the basic authorization for a student’s access to campus resources including campus labs, assistantships, fellowships, travel grants, etc. each semester.

Doctoral students must be enrolled until they finish their degree unless requesting a non-student status. Further details on enrollment can be found on the Enrollment in Your Program page .

Graduate Funding

Graduate funding is a source of financial aid for enrolled doctoral students. To receive graduate funding, including assistantships, fellowships, stipends, and travel grants, a student must be enrolled for the semester in which they will receive the funds.    

Ph.D. students are fully funded to pursue their degrees through a combination of competitive internal and external fellowships and research and teaching assistantships. Funding packages include tuition, health insurance/health fee, and a living allowance or stipend.

Cornell offers limited financial assistance for research master’s and professional degree programs. The terms of these awards can vary by program. For further details, please reach out to the specific program.

Funding and Non-Enrollment (M or B Exams, Graduation, Leave of Absence, or Withdrawal)

During periods of non-enrollment, such as a leave of absence, withdrawal, an individual does not retain student status; student access is deactivated, and graduate funding is ended. Without enrollment, students are ineligible to receive fellowships, assistantships, travel grants, or other forms of financial aid.

Students are not allowed to enroll or receive funding (such as assistantships, fellowships, travel grants, etc.) for any term following the date they pass their M or B exam. When a student and their committee determine the M or B exam date, it is important to notify all relevant members, including the graduate field administrator and the staff member administering the student’s appointment, so that the student may be well informed for the end day of their current appointment. Funding and enrollment are prohibited in future terms after a passed M or B exam.

Students are not allowed to enroll or receive funding for any term or period following the date of a leave of absence or withdrawal from the program.  

Enrollment and Employment Limitations

All enrolled students are limited to 20 hours of combined assistantship, hourly student appointments, and/or outside employment per week. Further limitations may apply to students based on their funding source. Full employment limits can be found on the Employment policy page .

Funding and Satisfactory Academic Progress

All funding is conditional upon a student remaining in good academic standing, making satisfactory academic progress toward the degree, and performing satisfactorily in all assistantship responsibilities. Advanced doctoral students who require more than the allowed seven years to complete their degree shall not be funded as a TA after the 14 th semester. Academic progress requirements can be found on the Requirements page .

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Faculty and Staff Grants From May 2024

University of denver, congratulations to the university of denver faculty and staff members who received grants and awards in may 2024 for the following projects..

CAREER: The Genes and Gene Networks Underlying Fertilization Barriers in a Hybrid Zone

• Erica Larson , College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 
• Grant from the National Science Foundation
• Abstract: Some of the most intricate intergenomic interactions occur after mating. Post-mating coevolutionary dynamics can play out differently in isolated populations, leading to post-mating prezygotic (PMPZ) barriers. The rapid divergence of post-mating traits and genes suggests that PMPZ barriers may play a central role in speciation. This project will investigate the evolution of PMPZ barriers and will evaluate the effects of selection on recombinant gene regulatory networks using natural variation in a hybrid zone.

Targeting Human-Gut Pathobionts Using Native Siderophores

• Allegra Aron , College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Grant from the Boettcher Foundation
• Abstract: The microbial community in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays a critical role in potentiating disease, with altered microbiota composition observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, autism and even cancer, compared to healthy microbiomes. The long-term objective of this proposal will be to use the knowledge of how pathobionts use siderophores to acquire iron to develop siderophore-antibiotic conjugates that are effective in vivo. Successful completion of this proposal will identify novel strategies to specifically perturb pathobionts of the human GI microbiota, which can be leveraged to target microbiome-related diseases that currently lack effective treatments. This is a novel approach to personalized medicine.

First@DU Graduate Student

• Angie VanDijk , Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence 
• Grant from the Allison and Robert Price Family Foundation
• Abstract: First@DU seeks to promote equitable outcomes for first generation students at DU. Parental/family support plays a pivotal role in student success. DU would like funding to establish a graduate student assistant role that will focus on programming and communication with First@DU families.

Co-Designing [LT]2 Math Activities With Families

• Daniela Alvarez-Vargas , Morgridge College of Education
• Grant from the National Academy of Education
• Abstract: The Learning and Teaching with Learning Trajectories [LT]2 website is an open-access tool developed for caregivers and educators to support children’s math learning. This project aims to understand how families engage with the website and capture their design conjectures about how to better align the activities to their daily routines, as well as collaboratively design activities, resources and other forms of supports with families to build a tool that is by them and for them.

A Low-Cost, Networkable Fluorescence Spectrometer for Automatic Identification of Pollen and Other Coarse Mode Aerosols Found in Urban Environments

• Alex Huffman , College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Grant from CloudSci LLC (subaward U.S. Department of Energy)
• Abstract: This project will utilize a sensor system which leverages a previously developed and DU-patented method for measuring the fluorescence spectra of individual aerosols. It will be used to characterize particles using their fluorescence “fingerprint” and aid in identification and classification of pollen and pollen fragments, as well as the health and climate impacts of pollen when coupled with other pollutants.

Linking Racial Disparities in School Discipline to Black Youth Suicidality

• Kamilah Legette , College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Grant from University of Maryland (subaward National Institutes of Health)
• Abstract: The scope of work conducted by Co-PI Legette at the University of Denver will include consulting with PI Dunbar and Co-PI Sheftall to provide expertise on the scientific direction of the research and the implications of racialized discipline on Black youth outcomes. Additionally, Legette will be coding and analyzing quantitative data, preparing academic papers for conference presentations and reports, and preparing and submitting study findings to peer-reviewed journals.

Theory of Change Development for Select WIGs

• Kristin Klopfenstein and Courtney Everson , Colorado Lab
• Grant from the State of Colorado
• Abstract: The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab) shall provide support to the Governor’s Office of Operations and a selection of three state agencies for the purpose of operational excellence in the State of Colorado. During this performance period, the Colorado Lab would be charged with providing coaching and consultation support around Wildly Important Goal (WIG) Theory of Change development.

Reducing Online Victimization Among Youth With Child Welfare Involvement

• Heather Taussig , Graduate School of Social Work
• Grant from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• Abstract: This project will analyze Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) data and tailor prevention programming.

TGYS Fostering Healthy Futures Evaluation

• Grant from Kempe Children's Foundation (subaward the Colorado Department of Human Services)
• Abstract: This project will evaluate the Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) TGYS contract to the Kempe Foundation.

Training and Guidance for OSPB/Department Staff on HB24-1428

• Abstract: The Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) is providing funding to the University of Denver’s Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab to develop training materials and deliver training to OSPB staff and appropriate department staff regarding the use of evidence in the budget process. Training will include a live webinar session that will be recorded and available to staff.

Health Policy Research Scholars Dissertation

• Shana McClain , Graduate School of Social Work
• Grant from Health Policy Research Scholars (a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
• Abstract: Shana McClain has been awarded the Health Policy Research Scholars Dissertation Award. The goal of the award is to support dissertation research activities.

Fostering Opportunities RCT Follow-Up

• Elysia Versen , Colorado Lab
• Grant from the Colorado Department of Human Services
• Abstract: Fostering Opportunities is a student engagement intervention that was developed in Jefferson County (Jeffco) Public Schools with the goal of improving educational outcomes for youth in foster care. This scope of work examines child welfare outcomes potentially impacted by the program.

(Dis)Honorable Discharge

• Kaitlyn Sims , Josef Korbel School of International Studies
• Grant from the Institute for Human Studies
• Abstract: IHS Funding to support publication of this academic article in an open-access venue, Health Affairs Scholar. The manuscript has been paid for and published, and the grant will reimburse expenses to the Scrivner Institute and PI Sims' professional development funds.

English 4U Weekly Conversation Hour

• Ethel Swartley , ARC-CAHSS
• Grant from the Denver Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs
• Abstract: Building on the volunteer program initiated by students in 2022-2023, this project will offer a series of weekly ESL conversation hours on the DU campus during the university’s spring (April‒June) and fall (September‒November) terms. DU students and/or community volunteers will host table conversations each week with adult English learners from the Denver refugee and immigrant community.

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Faculty and staff grants from march 2024, faculty and staff grants from april 2024.

• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

Sylvester Zhang awarded Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (6/28/2024) – School of Mathematics PhD student Sylvester Zhang was recently awarded the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship from the University of Minnesota. The Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (DDF) gives the University's most accomplished Ph.D. candidates an opportunity to devote full-time effort to an outstanding research project by providing time to finalize and write their dissertation during the fellowship year.

Sylvester Zhang started the University of Minnesota Mathematics PhD program in Fall 2020, after completion of his undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Economics here at UMN. Zhang is interested in algebraic combinatorics. In particular he aims to explore topics like total positivity, cluster algebras, symmetric functions, and the flag manifold. Advised by Pavlo Pylyavskyy, Zhang is currently primarily focused on two distinct research topics: 1) an approach to Schubert polynomials using methods from mathematical physics, and 2) affine symmetric group and combinatorics of the affine flag variety. He says he is looking forward to continuing a career in academia and research after graduation.

The University of Minnesota DDF program aims to give the most accomplished Ph.D. candidates – those who have passed the written and oral preliminary examinations and their program coursework – an opportunity to devote full-time effort to an outstanding research project by providing time to finalize and write their dissertation during the fellowship year. The fellowship grants awardees a $25,000 stipend, academic year tuition, subsidized health insurance through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan for up to one calendar year, and a $1,000 conference grant. 

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