The Carnegie Foundation initiative on doctoral education uses the label “steward” to convey a role for scholars that transcends accomplishments and skills: it has an ethical and political dimension. “Self-identifying as a steward,” Chris Golde of Stanford says, “implies adopting a sense of purpose that is larger than oneself” or one’s own discipline.  Students and faculty at the Graduate Center have a rich history of conducting interdisciplinary work that seeks to enrich public knowledge and public discourse.

In the spirit of this history, the Early Research Initiative and the PublicsLab invite applications for new research fellowships for Summer 2019. These $4,000 fellowships will be offered to Graduate Center Ph.D. students from any program conducting research with a distinctive interdisciplinary turn whose main question is driven by public needs and priorities. The primary responsibilities of the award winners will be to produce a dissertation proposal or a dissertation chapter by September 2019 that will be showcased on the Provost’s website, as part of a new initiative in support of this theme.

Successful proposals will incorporate the following in a proposal no longer than 1000 words:

  • Clear articulation of who the project’s public or publics are, what your connection to the public(s) is, how the research will reach them, and how it will be used
  • Thoughtful discussion of the theory, method, and ethics of research behind the project
  • Brief account of how this project relates to your progress in your program

Please note if the grant will be used to acquire a new skill or new area of knowledge that will advance your research. Priority will be given to projects with clearly identified community partners.

Fellowship recipients will be required to do a brief public presentation on their work and write a short essay (2-3 pages) for public posting about the value of interdisciplinarity in the service of public knowledge.  Additional opportunities for social media contributions are possible.  Recipients will also be invited to participate in a working group advising the Provost on these topics in 2019-20.

To apply please send a detailed letter of interest describing your project that addresses the above points, a c.v., a current Graduate Center transcript (students may submit the unofficial student copy that can be printed from Banner), and a letter of support from your primary advisor.

Instructions for submitting your application:

  • Please combine the above materials (except for the letter of recommendation) into a SINGLE file (either as a pdf document or a word document).

Use the following format when naming your document: Last Name, First Name, Program

Please use your graduate center email address when sending the file.

Instructions for Faculty Recommenders

1)     Prepare your reference letter as a regular word or pdf document.

2)     Please use the following format when naming your document:

Student Last Name, First Name

3)     Email your file directly to fellowshipapps@gc.cuny.edu

Application Deadline: Monday, January 28th, 2019 3pm