Nominations are now open for the 2011 Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)/University Microfilms International (UMI) Distinguished Dissertation Award. This year, nominations are being accepted from dissertations in the fields of:
- biological and life sciences (more details)
Including: biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; agriculture, forestry, and related fields. - humanities/fine arts (more details)
Including: history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches.
Michigan Tech may nominate one student in each field. PhD students who have completed all of their degree requirements between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2011, are eligible. Next year, the 2012 competition will accept nominations in the fields of social sciences and mathematics/physical sciences/engineering for students who have graduated between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2012.
A nomination packet must include the following:
- a completed nomination form.
- a 10-page abstract of the dissertation, double spaced on white letter-sized paper.
- optional: abstract appendices containing non-textual material such as charts, tables or figures.
- a letter of reference from the dissertation advisor.
- a letter of reference from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee.
- a letter of reference from a person chosen by the nominee.
- optional: a brief CV.
The Graduate School has access to the pdf file of all dissertations, so it is not necessary to include the dissertation.
The letters of reference should address the significance and quality of the dissertation work.
Nominations should be delivered to Debra Charlesworth in the Graduate School no later than 4 p.m. on June 22nd. Contact Debra Charlesworth (ddc@mtu.edu) if you have any questions about the competition. See also the Council for Graduate School’s announcement page.