The goal of the Provost’s Dissertation Year Fellowship for Historically Underrepresented Doctoral Students is to support those who are considered Underrepresented Racial Minority (URM)* students in their field and whose racial/ethnic background contributes to the diversity of their program and field.
The fellowship provides dedicated time for doctoral students** to work full-time on finishing their dissertation during the last year of doctoral work. Students must have their dissertation proposal/overview approved by August 25, 2023.
The fellowship includes Full-Time Dissertation Study (FTDS) tuition and fees (except the student activity fee) and a stipend of $11,810 per term for two terms: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. Also, students will receive individual health insurance coverage for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms.
This fellowship cannot be used in combination with any other source of financial support (e.g., fellowship/scholarship, grant, graduate assistantship, job at another institution/employer) without prior approval.
Required Application Materials
- Access InfoReady (formerly Competition Space) Online Application Form
- CV
- Personal Statement (total = 1,000 words maximum):
– Description of dissertation research (focus, research design, and significance to your field and society)
– Work plan/timeline
– Prior and future contributions to scholarship and society
– Prior and future contributions toward greater diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion
- A letter of recommendation from the doctoral advisor that includes:
– The student's preparation and qualifications for carrying out this research
– The value of the research topic to the specific field and to society
– The student’s prior and future contributions to scholarship and society
– The student’s prior and future contributions toward greater diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion
– How long the student has been working on the degree
– Confirmation the student is on schedule to have an approved dissertation proposal by August 25, 2023
– A description of the student’s progress on their dissertation to date (such as data collected/analyzed, chapters completed/approved)
– The likelihood that the degree will be completed by April 2024
- A second letter of recommendation from another faculty member familiar with your research, such as a member of your dissertation committee or the director of your doctoral program. The second letter should address:
– The student's preparation and qualifications for carrying out this research
– The value of the research topic to the specific field and to society
– The student’s prior and future contributions to scholarship and society
– The student’s prior and future contributions toward greater diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion
All applications materials will be submitted through Access InfoReady (formerly Competition Space).
Review Criteria
- Significance of research to the applicant’s field and to society
- Quality of research approach/design and feasibility of work plan
- Likelihood that the student will complete the doctoral degree by April 2024
- Applicant’s future potential contributions to scholarship and society, including contributions toward greater diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion
Application Deadline
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 17, 2023
Please make sure your application contains complete information.
Incomplete applications or applications that do not adhere to the directions will not be reviewed.
Questions
For questions, please contact Dr. Amanda Godley, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies at VPGodley@pitt.edu.
Notes
* The University of Pittsburgh uses the term Underrepresented Racial Minority (URM) to refer to students who identify as Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or two or more of these races.
** Doctoral students from the following schools are eligible to apply: Arts and Sciences, Business, Computing and Information, Dental Medicine, Education, Engineering, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Public Health, Public and International Affairs, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work.