Dissertation Fellowships

A small number of fellowships are available to current TAs who are about to enter their final term of the PhD degree program, i.e. in the quarter/semester in which they are writing up and defending their dissertation or who are about to finish their degree requirements prior to going out on clinical internship as in the case of students in Clinical Psychology. A stipend of up to $4,000 can be awarded that must be used to relieve the student of teaching responsibilities. Though the award may not match dollar-for-dollar the regular stipend that the fellow is expecting to receive, it is expected that the student’s department will be able to find an adjunct or otherwise qualified instructor to stand in for the awardee. Nominations should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies that must include:

• 2 letters of recommendation from mentors or advisors, with statements (and evidence such as draft chapters) validating the nearness to graduation of the nominee and the academic merit contained in the dissertation
• The nominee’s CV
• An appointment letter stating the former and present TA status of the nominee
• A 2-page statement from the nominee highlighting why the fellowship is particularly timely