PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP 2016 Purpose of the Psychology Dissertation Fellowship (PDF): To provide support to talented FIU doctoral students during the data analysis and writing phase of their dissertation. It is intended to facilitate the timely completion of high-quality manuscripts and dissertations. Students who are conducting outstanding research in their discipline and have established a notable record of publications/proposal submissions during their doctoral studies (in comparison to others in their discipline) are favored in the application process. Dissertation Fellows are expected to graduate within 1 year after receiving the award. Support: $16,600 or $8,300 per Semester. For 2 semesters (Fall & Spring or Spring & Summer in one academic year). Tuition waivers provided by CAS. The Psychology Department awards the PDF once per year. The present application is for funding that begins in Summer Term 2016 (though it may be deferred to Fall 2016 & Spring 2017). PDFs provide a stipend of $16,600 for two terms, or $8,300 per term (inclusive of the term in which the dissertation is submitted to the University Graduate School). After a student has advanced to candidacy, he/she is considered to be full-time if enrolled for a minimum of three term hours of dissertation credit per term (this applies to both domestic and international students). Therefore, fellowship recipients must enroll in, and CAS will provide a tuition waiver for, three dissertation credit hours per term (international students may waive this requirement to enroll in more than 3 credits). Any additional credits beyond the three that are required will be the financial responsibility of the student. Note: Department of Psychology seed fund grants and Dissertation Awards can be awarded consecutively but not simultaneously. Additionally, students will hold no other funding nor work for pay while on this fellowship. Deadline: April 22, 2016 Description: The Psychology Dissertation Fellowship (PDF) provides support to highly-qualified PSY doctoral students during the data collection, analysis, and writing phase of their dissertation. It is intended to facilitate the timely completion of high-quality manuscripts and dissertations. Dissertation Fellows are expected to graduate within one year after receiving the award. Failure to meet this expectation will result in the student having to pay back the award. Evaluation Criteria: Primary consideration is given to students who are conducting outstanding research in their field and have established a notable record of scholarship during their doctoral studies (in comparison to others in their field). It is expected that publications resulting from research supported in part through a PDF should acknowledge the financial support of a Florida International University Department of Psychology Dissertation Fellowship. A
copy of any such publication should be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies in the department. Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration for a DYF, applicants must: 1) be in good academic standing with a 3.0 or better, 2) be enrolled full-time (a minimum of 3 dissertation credits) and provide documentation of enrollment status as well as a graduate transcript, 3) have an approved D-3 form on file in the UGS prior to applying for this fellowship. If applicant has an approved D-5 on file, they are ineligible to receive the PDF. It is expected that full-time applicants will not have been in the program for more than 5 years. Students must submit : IRB approval indicating the student as lead investigator Proposal articulating specific aims and potential impact of research Clear and detailed timeline that indicates the student will finish dissertation in two terms Evidence of an outstanding level of publication and presentation of research Evidence of history of student s applications for external funding Applicant-reviewer form and letter of support from major professor articulating the need for the award Note: Letters of support and applicant-reviewer form should be emailed to the Director of Graduate Studies prior to the application deadline. Evaluation: Prospective fellowship applicants proposals will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Graduate Education Committee, the Associate Chairperson, the Director of Graduate Studies, and several ad hoc reviewers appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies. Instructions: Applicants must submit the application package in a pdf file. Download the application from the PSY graduate fellowships webpage. In Microsoft Word fill out the Application form and attach the Application Proposal. Save this file as a pdf file with the following label: LastnamePDF.pdf. Fill out the Applicant Reviewer form add an electronic signature (save in pdf; see below), save in pdf and email to your Major Professor. Your Major Professor should fill out the form, add an electronic signature and submit the form with the letter of support directly to the Director of Graduate Studies.
FALL 2016 DISSERTATION YEAR FELLOWSHIP (DYF) APPLICATION (please fill out in Microsoft Word save as PDF) Part I 1. Name Last First Middle 2. Home Address Street City State Zip Code Tel. # Panther ID E-mail 3. Doctoral Training Program Degree 4. Grad School Entry Date: 5. Date (D-1) approved by UGS 6. Date (D-2) approved by UGS 7. Date (D-3) approved by UGS 8. Total Graduate Credits: 9. GPA: 10. Proposed Title of Dissertation 11. Major Professor s E-mail 12. By signing this application form you affirm that: 1) the information you have provided is true; and 2) you will work full-time on your dissertation research during the period of the fellowship (if awarded); and 3) you will not hold any other fellowship or assistantship nor hold other employment during this time. Signature Date
Part II All Psychology Dissertation Fellowship Proposals must have completed the Application Proposal with the following structure. The Application Proposal will be no more than 6 pages. This section is to be created in Microsoft Word and saved as a pdf file: I. PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of the Project Summary/Abstract is to describe succinctly every major aspect of the proposed project. It should contain a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. Consider the significance and innovation of the research proposed when preparing the Project Summary II. RESEARCH PLAN Must be organized into four sections: Specific Aims/Research Strategy; Significance, Innovation, and Approach. The assessment of this research plan will largely determine whether or not the application is favorably recommended for funding. 1. Research strategy/aims: The Research Strategy should answer the following questions: What do you intend to do? Why is this worth doing or the significance of the research? How is it innovative? What has already been done in general, and what have other researchers done in this field? Use appropriate references. What will this new work add to the field of knowledge? What have you (and your collaborators) done to establish the feasibility of what you are proposing to do? How will the research be accomplished? Who? What? When? Where? Why? 2. Significance: The Significance section should explain the importance of the problem or describe the critical barrier to progress in the field that is being addressed. Explain how the proposed research project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields. Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved. 3. Innovation: Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms. Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions. Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions. 4. Approach: The purpose of the approach section is to describe how the research will be carried out. This section is crucial to how favorably an application is reviewed. III. JUSTIFICATION FOR FELLOWSHIP The fellowship justification has three parts: 1) the explanation for why the fellowship is essential; 2) Summary of previous and ongoing financial support during Doctoral Studies at FIU (e.g. TA, RA, Fellowships, scholarships, etc.). List all
external funding applied for either by the student or by Major Professor for the student. Indicate if funding was awarded, the amount awarded, and period of support provided. Please designate internal funding vs. external funding; and 3) an explanation of how your current means of financial support precludes or significantly interferes with your ability to complete your dissertation in a timely fashion and how this will enhance your research productivity IV. Provide a timeline for completion of your doctoral work. Please be specific and clear about where the research currently stands. V. Curriculum Vitae highlighting funding proposals, publications, and presentations completed at FIU VI. Letter of support The letter of support must be accompanied by the Applicant s Waiver/Faculty evaluation form (Applicant-Reviewer Form). Applicants must fill out the applicant section and provide the form to the letter writer (i.e., the applicant s Major Professor). VII. Applicants will be notified if they have been awarded the Psychology Dissertation Award in early May 2016.
Department of Psychology Dissertation Award Applicant Reviewer Form APPLICANT S WAIVER OF RIGHT OF ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, a student enrolled at Florida International University has the right to access his or her educational records. We comply with this law, while still allowing the student the option of waiving his or her right of access. If you wish to waive the right to access this recommendation, please indicate below and sign. If left unsigned, it is assumed that you are NOT waiving your right to access this recommendation. The option you choose in no way affects our consideration of your application. I WAIVE my right to access/examine the contents of the following recommendation I DO NOT WAIVE my right to access/examine the contents of the following recommendation Applicant Name Last First Middle Panther ID Signature of Student/Applicant Date ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Recommendation Section: to be completed by Major Professor/Advisor providing letters of support. Please submit completed and signed recommendation form and attached recommendation to the Director of Graduate Studies by Friday, April 22, 2016. Compare the applicant to other students you have known at a similar point in their career. Use the following numerical scores. Mark every block; insert X if insufficient knowledge. 1 Outstanding upper 5% 2 Excellent upper 6 to 20% 3 Very Good (Above Average) upper 21 to 40% 4 Good (Average) middle 41 to 60% 5 Fair (Below Average) lower 40% 0 Not Applicable Research Ability and Potential Self-Reliance and Independence Originality Written and Verbal Communications Familiarity with Research Literature Number of Publications Timely Progress toward Degree Completion Perseverance in Pursuing Goals Effort Devoted to Research