Sponsored by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, the purpose of these awards is to stimulate preliminary dissertation research for students who are at or near the dissertation proposal stage.
These grants (of up to $5000) fund research travel to archives, museums, collections, and/or field sites that will enable the student to determine the feasibility of prospective dissertation projects, survey available sources, clarify the research focus, and enhance opportunities to garner support from external funding agencies for the advanced stage of research and writing.
Awards will be announced by Friday, April 7. Students who plan to travel internationally will be required to demonstrate that their travel has been approved by the International Studies Office prior to the disbursement of funds. Please see here for more information.
Eligibility
Applicants must be Ph.D. students in an arts, humanities, or social sciences field who are no more than three years into their course of study.
Deadline
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Application Materials
- Project statement not to exceed two double-spaced pages that explains the following:
- significance of the proposed summer research within the overall dissertation project
- impact of this preliminary research on your plan for the subsequent academic year
- if relevant the proposal's, relationship to pursuing specific opportunities for future support
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
- A detailed budget that itemizes travel and research costs based on recent investigation into the actual prices of airline tickets, lodging and living support
- One-page letter of support from your primary dissertation advisor that speaks specifically to your preparation to undertake the proposed research and the impact this research will have on your overall dissertation project and progress to the degree. You should notify this individual to expect an email from the application system with instructions for providing the letter of support. You are responsible for ensuring this request is completed.
Note: While the University’s travel rate guide may be helpful for planning purposes, students are encouraged to investigate least expensive options for travel and living support.
Contact
For questions, please contact the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs at ogpafellowships@virginia.edu.