The Graduate School will be again be awarding Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowships (IDF) for 2011-12. Please note: the application process has changed this year and a letter of support from the director of the research center/institute at which the student intends to study is required. Because of this, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) set an earlier deadline, which has significantly impacted our internal deadline. Internal department deadline: Tuesday, January 11.
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship
Please note: If you intend to apply and partner with a center/institute other than IAS, contact Melanie by December 8th, so she can review those center/institutes requirements.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Graduate School, on behalf of the Provost's Interdisciplinary Team, is pleased to announce that it will award a limited number (approximately 10) of one- and two-year Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowships for 2011-12 to outstanding Graduate School students with interdisciplinary dissertation topics who would benefit from interaction with faculty at one of the University's interdisciplinary research centers or institutes. The fellowship provides a unique study opportunity for our very best students with research and scholarly interests that complement those of the host center or institute and its faculty. Prospective fellows are asked to designate the host center or institute they believe is the best match with their dissertation topic, contingent upon a faculty member's willingness to work with the student during the fellowship year.
TERMS OF THE AWARD
Recipients of the 2011-12 fellowship will receive a stipend of $22,500 for the academic year beginning September 2011, plus full tuition. Eligible recipients are also covered by comprehensive health insurance, including subsidized dependent and dental care.
A select number of students will receive a two-year award. Award of fellowship funds for the second year will be contingent upon satisfactory degree progress and active participation in the host center or institute, as documented by the student's adviser, DGS and center/institute mentor. The stipend in 2012-13 will be determined by spring 2012.
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellows must register in the Graduate School as full-time students each semester. Fellows may hold supplemental support up to the value of a 25-percent graduate assistantship from any source in each semester. Awards may not be deferred beyond the original award period.
ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to Ph.D. students by application, with endorsement by the student's graduate program and college dean/associate dean. Successful applicants are likely to be students who will be in the second, third, or fourth year of their program in the 2011-12 academic year and who are making timely degree progress. Students who have passed the preliminary oral examination are eligible, as well as those who have not yet passed this exam. Students who have received a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship are not eligible.
INTERNAL DEADLINE
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 4:30pm
Please note: the application process has changed this year and a letter of support from the director of the research center/institute at which the student intends to study is required. Because of this, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) set an earlier deadline, which has significantly impacted our internal deadline. Internal department deadline: Tuesday, January 11.
Please submit the following information as an attachment via email to DGS Assistant, Melanie Steinman (stein196@umn.edu ):
1. The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship application form (available at http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/Instructions/IDF.html).
2. A three-page statement (double-spaced, 12 point type, margins not less than one inch), written by the student, that:
• describes the proposed interdisciplinary research or scholarly project,
• explains how the student's scholarship will benefit from residence at the IAS,
• if the application is for a two-year award, provides justification for two years of support.
3. The student's c.v. that includes documentation of the student's involvement in, or contributions to, research, scholarly or creative activities (e.g., publications, abstracts, presentations at professional conferences or university seminars, exhibits).
4. Letter(s) of support from the faculty member(s) at the IAS with whom the student plans to study.
Faculty who are eligible to serve as IAS mentors include current or former IAS faculty fellows; participants in current or former IAS research/creative collaboratives; IAS advisory board members; participants in Quadrant groups; and other faculty members who have been active in the IAS, subject to the approval of IAS Director Ann Waltner. For complete lists of faculty fellows see http://www.ias.umn.edu/fellows.php; for collaboratives, see http://www.ias.umn.edu/collaboratives.php; for board members, see http://www.ias.umn.edu/advisoryboard.php; for Quadrant, see http://www.ias.umn.edu/quadrant.php#QuadrantGroups. To request approval for a faculty mentor who does not fit into one of these categories, please contact Susannah Smith ( slsmith@umn.edu ). Please note that faculty fellows for 2011-12 will not be selected until after the deadline for IDF applications.
5. A letter of support from the student's academic adviser/co-advisers.
6. Transcripts from each college or university attended (photocopies are acceptable, including the University of Minnesota transcript, available online at http://www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html).
7. An up-to-date copy of the official degree program form, if the student has filed it.
Students will be notified of the outcome in March.
Please review the Graduate School call for proposals, found at: http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/Instructions/IDF.html
