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Graduate Dissertation Fellowships

Graduate Dissertation Fellowships

Application opens December 1, 2020

Deadline for Submissions is February 4, 2021

The Clayman Institute’s Graduate Dissertation Fellowships (GDF) are awarded to outstanding Stanford doctoral students who are engaged in research on women and/or gender.

The fellowships will provide financial support for top gender scholars as they complete their dissertations, while encouraging interdisciplinary connections for their research.

Clayman GDFs will have offices at the Clayman Institute (when Stanford allows), where they will participate in the intellectual life of the Clayman Institute as well as take part in professional development workshops during the academic year.  GDFs will be contributing to the writing and research efforts of the Clayman Institute. 

Fellowship funding is for three quarters: two quarters of research assistantship and one quarter teaching assistantship.

We welcome applications for the Graduate Dissertation Fellowship from all currently enrolled Stanford Ph.D. candidates , in any discipline, who have reached Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR).

One to three fellowships will be awarded for 2021-22.  

Meet our current graduate dissertation fellows!

Expectations

  • The dissertation research must focus on issues of women and/or gender.
  • Applicants are expected to be Graduate Affiliates of the Clayman Institute.
  • GDFs are required to submit a brief report (no more than one page) at the end of their fellowship.

Funding Details

GDFs will receive financial support of approximately $35,000. The amount will be finalized by August 30, 2021. 

In addition, GDFs will receive $2500 in research funding. 

The fellowships include TGR fees and 50% of health coverage (and qualify students for the healthcare subsidy) for the academic year (Autumn, Winter, Spring).

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.

Apply: Graduate Dissertation Fellowship

Application Details

Eligibility

 1.     Applicants must have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy.

 2.     Applicants must have completed all requirements for the Ph.D., other than the dissertation (and its defense in departments where the University Oral Examination is such a defense.)  This includes handling any incompletes.

 3.     Applicants must have a formally composed dissertation committee.

 4.     Applicants must have a dissertation proposal approved by their committee.

 5.     Applicants must have a strong likelihood of completing the degree within the tenure of the fellowship.

 6.     Applicants must have reached TGR status by the beginning of Autumn Quarter, 2021.

 7.     Applicants must have completed supervised teaching, if required by their department, before the tenure of the fellowship.

Requirements

 1.     No other employment, assistantship, or fellowship (unless specifically intended for travel or research expense) may be held concurrently.  Exceptions to this restriction must be approved by the Clayman Institute.

 2.     GDFs must be in residence at the Clayman Institute during the fellowship year.

 3.     GDFs are required to submit a brief report (no more than one page) at the end of their fellowship.

Application

 A printer friendly version of the Graduate Dissertation Fellowship overview (pdf) is available.

The Clayman Graduate Dissertation Fellowship is an online application through Interfolio (no fee for applicants).  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 current work is 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.

 Guidelines for GDF Letter of Recommendation Writers

Applicants will also be expected to confirm, on the application itself, whether they have successfully defended their dissertation proposal by the date of application. 

Please direct any questions regarding the Clayman Institute Graduate Dissertation Fellowship process to Wendy Skidmore, Fellowship Manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fellowship amount?

One to three awards will be made for academic year 2021-22. The stipend amount will be finalized by August 30, 2021.

Are there citizenship requirements?

Anyone from any country may apply provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Is deferring permitted?

No. We do not accept deferrals. Should you be unable to accept a fellowship, the award will be offered to an alternate. You may apply again the next year provided you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Am I eligible?

All currently enrolled Stanford Ph.D. candidates, in any discipline, who are in the writing phase of their doctorate are invited to apply for a Graduate Dissertation Fellowship (GDF). The dissertation research must focus on issues of women and/or gender.

Are non-Stanford students eligible?

No. Only Ph.D. candidates currently enrolled in one of Stanford's Ph.D. programs are eligible.

Can I apply to more than one prize or award?

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.

Can I hold concurrent fellowships?

No other employment, assistantship, or fellowship (unless specifically intended for travel or research expense) may be held concurrently. Exceptions to this restriction must be approved by the Clayman Institute.

Can I take a leave of absence?

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 fellowship year. If a leave of absence is taken, then the fellow will forfeit their stipend.

Can I defer my fellowship?

No. We do not accept deferrals. Should you be unable to accept a fellowship, the award will be offered to an alternate. You may apply again the next year provided you meet all other eligibility requirements.