Graduate Dissertation Fellows

Graduate Dissertation presentation

The Clayman Institute invites outstanding Stanford doctoral students whose research focuses on gender with an intersectional perspective to join the Institute's vibrant scholarly community through the Graduate Dissertation Fellows (GDF) program.

The fellows program provides financial support for outstanding gender scholars as they complete their dissertations, while also providing access to professional development opportunities. The program fosters interdisciplinary connections, enriching their research and academic growth.

Clayman GDFs will have shared office space at the Clayman Institute to allow them to actively participate in the intellectual life of the Institute. 

Financial support is awarded for three quarters (Autumn, Winter, Spring): two quarters of fellowship stipend and tuition to support their dissertation research and one quarter as a Graduate Teaching Affiliate (TF) or Teaching Assistant (TA).

We welcome applications for the Graduate Dissertation Fellows program from all currently enrolled Stanford doctoral candidates, in any discipline, who have reached Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) and are making satisfactory progress toward their degree.

One to three fellows will be selected for 2025-26.

Meet our current graduate dissertation fellows

Details

The dissertation research must focus on gender with an intersectional perspective.

GDFs will receive financial support of a stipend and TGR tuition for two quarters and for an additional quarter receive both salary and TGR tuition as a 50% Graduate Teaching Affiliate (TF) or Teaching Assistant (TA).

GDFs are eligible for 100% of the Cardinal Care Subsidy for the academic year (Autumn, Winter, Spring).

GDFs will receive $2,500 in research funding at the beginning of Autumn quarter.

GDFs will be expected to write a thank you letter to the donor(s) at the end of their fellowship.

GDFs are encouraged to engage in professional development opportunities throughout the academic year, such as:

  • Developing public facing writing skills to write short articles for the Institute's Gender News newsletter.
  • Attending the GDF Mentoring Program coordinated by the Institute’s Postdoctoral Research Fellows.
  • Mentorship, if desired, with the Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Alison Dahl Crossley during scheduled meetings.

Applicants submitting for a Clayman fellowship, prize, and/or award may only be offered funding in one category; applications in more than one category are allowed.

Eligibility

  1. Applicants must have advanced to doctoral candidacy.
  2. Applicants must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree, other than the dissertation (and its defense in departments where the University Oral Examination is such a defense).
  3. Applicants must have a strong likelihood of completing the degree within the tenure of the fellowship.
  4. Applicants must have reached TGR status by the beginning of Autumn Quarter 2025.

Requirements

  1. GDFs may hold a concurrent 25% assistantship (during fellowship quarters only) or 8 hours/week of hourly employment during the academic year.  
  2. GDFs are expected to be in residence at the Clayman Institute during the fellows program year.
  3. GDFs are expected to write a thank you letter to be shared with the Institute’s generous donors who support our GDF program.

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Application Details

The Clayman Graduate Dissertation Fellowship is an online application through Interfolio (no fee for applicants). Applications for 2025-26 fellowships are open on December 2, 2024 and close on February 3, 2025 at 8:59 pm PST/11:59 pm EST.

The application consists of the following materials:

  • Curriculum vitae of no more than 2 pages
  • A 4-5 page statement (single-spaced, including all notes and references).  The statement should address the following:
    • Summary of dissertation research, including its contribution to your field. 
    • How is your current work related to issues of women and/or gender?
    • Description of how your research crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries.
    • Overview of how you see your time spent as an Institute GDF, if selected.
    • Description of your future career aspirations.
    • Discussion of how the fellowship could benefit you overall, and how you will contribute to the Institute.
  • Timetable for completion of degree
  • A current transcript from Axess
  • Two letters of recommendation from Stanford faculty evaluating the quality of the research project and its successful and timely completion. One must be from the principal dissertation advisor. Confidential letters of recommendation are submitted via Interfolio. Applicants will enter email addresses of letter writers into Interfolio, which will then send a direct request for the letters to be uploaded by faculty.

Please direct any questions regarding the Clayman Institute Graduate Dissertation Fellowship process to lgottlie [at] stanford.edu (Lea Gottlieb,) Fellowship Manager.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How many fellows will be selected?
    1. One to three awards will be made for the academic year 2025-26.
  2. Is deferring permitted?
    1. No. We do not accept deferrals. Should you be unable to accept participation in the fellows program, the award will be offered to an alternate. You may apply again the next year provided you meet all other eligibility requirements.
  3. Am I eligible?
    1. All currently enrolled Stanford Doctoral candidates, in any discipline, who are in the writing phase of their doctorate are invited to apply for a Graduate Dissertation Fellows (GDF) program. The dissertation research must focus on issues of women and/or gender.
  4. Are non-Stanford students eligible?
    1. No. Only Doctoral candidates currently enrolled in one of Stanford's doctoral programs are eligible.
  5. Can I apply to more than one prize or award?
    1. Current applicants submitting for a fellowship, prize, and/or award may only be offered funding in one category; applications in more than one category are allowed.
  6. Can I hold concurrent fellowships?
    1. No other fellowship may be held concurrently. GDFs may hold a concurrent 25% assistantship (during fellowship quarters only) or 8 hours/week of hourly employment during the academic year.  
  7. Can I take a leave of absence?
    1. No. Applicants must be continuously enrolled for the duration of their fellowship and be on campus during the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters of the fellows program year. If a leave of absence is taken, then the fellow will forfeit their stipend.