The University of Oregon Graduate School is pleased to announce the 2015-16 Public Impact Fellowship. This purpose of this award is to recognize and support the work of up to two doctoral students and one master’s student whose research has the potential to have a significant impact on society. Examples of relevant research include that which makes a contribution to improving economic opportunity and well-being, social justice, political participation, cultural engagement, and scientific and technical solutions to pressing social issues.

This fellowship will provide up to two doctoral-level recipients and one master’s-level recipient with a stipend of $6,000 for the 2015-16 academic year and the opportunity to participate in research advocacy opportunities. The award will be made in June 2015 with funding to commence in fall term, 2015.

Doctoral Student Eligibility

Recipients of this award will be doctoral students enrolled full-time in 2015-16 who will have advanced to candidacy by fall 2015 and who are in the process of conducting research that has substantial public value and will benefit local, national and/or global communities. To be eligible for this award, applicants must possess a strong academic record and be willing to participate and/or have their research featured in the Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation and Graduate Education and/or Graduate School public and donor relations efforts.

Master’s Student Eligibility

The recipient of this award will be a master’s student enrolled full-time in 2015-16 who plans to graduate in spring or summer 2016 and who is in the process of conducting research that has substantial public value and will benefit local, national and/or global communities. To be eligible for this award, applicants must possess a strong academic record and be willing to participate and/or have their research featured in the Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation and Graduate Education and/or Graduate School public and donor relations efforts.

Application Deadline and Process

All parts of the application/nomination must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2015.

NOMINATION. Applicants must be nominated by their departments. A department may nominate no more than one master’s student and one doctoral student. Click here to view the online nomination/approval form to be completed by the graduate program director or the department head (depending on the department’s practice or preference).

(Note: Only authenticated UO faculty and staff can access the nomination form. If you cannot access the nomination form please contact Graduate School atgradsch@uoregon.edu)

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. This award requires one letter of recommendation from the student’s faculty advisor addressing the public impact of the research and describing the student’s academic progress (with attention to the student’s intent to be advanced to candidacy by fall term in the case of the doctoral nominees and anticipated completion date in the case of master’s nominees). The letter of recommendation must be provided to the nominating department by the recommender and then submitted by the nominating department through the nomination form above.

APPLICATION & SUPPORTING MATERIALS. Applicants must complete an Applicant Informaton Form. The following application materials must be merged into a single PDF and attached to the form under “Additional Documents”:

• A current curriculum vita (CV) or résumé.
• A statement by the applicant (not to exceed 1,000 words) describing his/her research project, written for an audience of non-specialists in the field. The statement should summarize the project’s current status and plans for its completion, and should also describe the impact the research will have on local, national, and/or global communities.
• A brief student profile (not to exceed 150 words) that includes previous institutions and degrees, research interests, current projects, awards and honors, work experience and career objectives, and any other noteworthy outside interests or activities.

Selection Process

Initial review of applications will take into account each student’s ability to convey his/her research to an audience of non-specialists; the clarity of the direct impact of the research on a specific community as well as the potential regional, national, and global impact; and the strength of the student’s academics. Attention will be paid to discipline to ensure broad representation of UO graduate programs each year.

Top candidates will be interviewed for 30 minutes by members of the selection committee during spring term.

Contact

Questions about this award or the application process can be addressed to the Graduate School at 541-346-2489 or bota@uoregon.edu).

Note for Graduate Students with Financial Aid or Loans
Receiving this award may reduce your financial aid award. Please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to applying for this (and any other type of) support.