Apply for a Nancy L. Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship - Due Feb. 8

 SUBJECT:    Nancy L. Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowships

We are pleased to announce a call for applications from doctoral candidates who are in the final phases of dissertation writing for the 2024-2025Nancy L. Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowships. Applications are due by Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 5:00pm.

 

Fellowship Information:

• Up to four applicants (as determined by a committee of faculty from different fields of study across campus) will be awarded the Nancy L. Mergler Dissertation Completion Fellowship, which will pay a stipend of $25,000 for two semesters of a 0.50 FTE GRA appointment. Tuition waivers and health insurance coverage will be provided. Completing the dissertation will be the sole duty associated with the GRA position.
• Additional awardees (determined by the same committee) will be awarded the Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship. This fellowship will pay a stipend of $12,500 for one semester of a 0.50 FTE GRA appointment or two semesters of a 0.25 FTE GRA appointment. Tuition waivers and health insurance coverage will be provided. Completing the dissertation will be the sole duty associated with the GRA position.

 

Terms and Eligibility:

• Students may apply directly. They do not need to be nominated by their academic unit.
• At time of application, applicants must have completed the general exam and must hold a 0.50 FTE GTA or GRA appointment in their academic unit.

 

Criteria:

• Scholarly significance and potential impact of the work, expressed in a way that conveys the importance of the work to a multidisciplinary faculty committee. (The committee favors projects that are innovative, high-impact and groundbreaking in nature. We welcome projects that address topics and perspectives historically underrepresented in the academy and/or that have potential impact in support of underserved communities.)
• Overall academic record and professional activity.
• Potential for completion of the dissertation during the award period.

 

 

To Apply:

 

Applications are due by Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 5:00pm and should include the following: 

 

• The electronic application form, which can be found on the Graduate College cost and aid web page.
• An application cover letter that highlights the academic and professional journey (this may also include information about alternate pathways in education/career, interdisciplinary endeavors, delays in completion, etc.).
• A one-page plan for completion which explains the structure of the dissertation, states which elements are complete, and offers a plan and schedule for completing the remaining elements.
• A letter of reference from the applicant’s major professor describing the scholarly significance and potential impact of the work. The letter should summarize the status of the project and offer a clear assessment of the applicant’s potential for completing the dissertation during the following academic year (e.g., the applicant is very likely to complete; the applicant has a reasonable prospect of completing; it is uncertain that the applicant will complete). The letter should also provide an estimate regarding the relative quality of the applicant’s project (e.g., is the project in the top 5%, 10%, or 15% of dissertations seen to date?). When the electronic application form is submitted, the major professor will receive an email requesting submission of the letter. 
• A current copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae including information about research, service, and outreach activities if applicable.
• A short abstract of the dissertation (maximum two single-spaced pages) that explains the significance and impact of the work in terms accessible to a lay person.
• A sample of the applicant’s writing (maximum 10,000 words) that allows evaluation of the project. Co-authored work is acceptable if it presents the student’s original research. Work that has already been published is welcome.
• The applicant’s academic transcript.

 

Direct questions about the Nancy L. Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowships to Will O’Donnell (willodonnell03@ou.edu)