The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) Dissertation Research Grant provides one year of support ($20,000) to a doctoral candidate for the purpose of completing dissertation research on a significant issue or topic related to urban areas in the upper Midwest region of the United States. Recipients must have passed the preliminary exam stage and have approved dissertation proposals by March 1, 2012. American Studies internal deadline: Monday, February 6 at 12:00pm NOON.
PURPOSE: The CURA Dissertation Research Grant is intended to support
dissertation research on significant issues or topics related to urban
areas.
PROGRAM: The program provides one year of support ($20,000) to a
doctoral candidate in good academic standing at the University of
Minnesota for the purpose of completing dissertation research on a
significant issue or topic related to urban areas in the upper Midwest
region of the United States. Recipients must have passed the
preliminary exam stage and have approved dissertation proposals by
March 1, 2012. Following completion of the research, recipients are
expected to produce a 3,500-word manuscript suitable for publication
in the CURA Reporter, and to acknowledge CURA support in any other
publications stemming from the dissertation research assisted through
this grant.
HOW TO APPLY: Submit the following application materials (ideally as a
PDF or Word attachment) to Melanie (stein196@umn.edu) by the American
Studies internal deadline of Monday, February 6 at 12:00pm NOON.
1. Research Abstract. The research abstract should provide a
succinct and understandable description of the dissertation research.
The abstract should be no longer than five (5) pages and should
contain the following elements:
Background and statement of the research problem;
Goals and objectives of the research, including main hypotheses;
Research design and methods;
Potential significance of the research;
Timeline for research
2. Letter of Support from the candidate's dissertation advisor. The
letters should specifically speak to the applicant's ability to
conduct the proposed research, the quality of the applicant's
performance to date in the graduate program, and the applicant's
record of progress through the graduate program.
3. Copy of graduate transcript. Unofficial copies are acceptable.
4. Summary of graduate financial support to date. List the source,
amount, and dates of financial assistance received to date while a
graduate student at the University of Minnesota.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Applications will be judged on the following
criteria, in order of importance:
-Quality of the research abstract
-The urban focus of the topic
-The significance of the topic, either for advancing knowledge in
the field or potential for policy/community impact
-Relevance of the topic and the research to urban areas in the
upper Midwest region of the United States
-The potential of the student to complete the dissertation within 18 months
-Student need
CURA Dissertation Research Grant call:
http://www.cura.umn.edu/Dissertation
