The Graduate School will again be awarding Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowships (IDF) for 2012-13, which includes $22,500 and full tuition. Successful applicants are likely to be students in the second, third, or fourth year in 2012-13. Students who've passed prelims are eligible, as well as those who have not yet passed this exam. Students who have received a DDF or an IDF are not eligible. We recommend that all who plan to apply schedule an appointment to consult with DGS Kevin Murphy. Please note: The following deadlines and instructions pertain to the Institute of Advanced Study (IAS). If you intend to apply and partner with a center/institute other than IAS, contact Melanie by November 23, so she can review those center/institute requirements. Internal department deadline: Thursday, January 5th.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Graduate School, on behalf of the Provost's Interdisciplinary
Team, announces it will award a limited number (approximately 10) of
one-year Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowships for 2012-13 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 2012-13 fellowship will receive a stipend of $22,500
for the academic year beginning September 2012, plus full tuition.
Eligible recipients are also covered by comprehensive health
insurance, including subsidized dependent and dental care. 2012-13
recipients will be eligible to apply for an extension during the
2013-14 competition.
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 2012-13 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 or an
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship are not eligible.
INTERNAL DEADLINE
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 4:30pm
Please note: 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: Thursday, January 5.
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
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 selected
research center or institute 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; 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. To request approval for a
faculty mentor who does not fit into one of these categories, please
contact Susannah Smith. Please note that faculty fellows for 2012-13
may 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.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with
prospective mentors and host center/institute directors early in the
application process to ensure that the student and research project
are a good match for the host site.
REVIEW AND SELECTION
The review will be conducted by a committee of the Graduate School
Fellowship Office.
Selection of recipients will be based on the following criteria:
• the importance of the research and the clarity with which it
is conveyed to the non-specialist
• the potential for the student to make an unusually
significant contribution to the field
• the degree to which the proposed or current research
manifests the student's independence, originality, and resourcefulness
• the potential for the research project to incorporate
methodologies from more than one discipline
• the synergy that can be created by the student and faculty
member working together around the interdisciplinary topic or problem
• the comparative strength of the student's academic record
• the clarity, coherence and strength of the letters supporting
the student's application
Special attention will be given to the interdisciplinary nature of the
current or proposed dissertation research and the willingness of the
particular center or institute and its faculty to host the student
during the fellowship year.
The DGS and dean of the student's program will be notified of the
outcome of the student's application in April.
Questions? Please contact the Graduate School Fellowship Office at
612-625-7579 or gsfellow@umn.edu.
For further information see
http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/InterdisciplinaryFellowship.html.
