IDF Fellowship

University of Minnesota Graduate School,
on behalf of the Provost's Interdisciplinary Team

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowships for 2013-14
Graduate School Application Deadline:
12 Noon, Thursday, November 15, 2012

Several interdisciplinary centers /institutes have a preliminary review process to select which students will receive a letter of support.  Students should check directly with the center/institute about procedures for requesting a letter of support well in advance of the November 15 student application deadline.

(A link to the IDF Application Form is provided at the bottom of this page.)

FAQ

Program Description 

The Graduate School, on behalf of the Provost’s Interdisciplinary Team, is pleased to announce the 2013-14 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship (IDF).  This Fellowship awards outstanding Graduate School students with interdisciplinary dissertation topics who would benefit from interaction with faculty at one of the University’s interdisciplinary research centers or institutes.  The fellowship provides a unique study opportunity for our very best students with research and scholarly interests that complement those of the host center or institute and its faculty.  Prospective fellows are asked to designate the host center or institute they believe is the best match with their dissertation topic, contingent upon a faculty member’s willingness to work with the student during the fellowship year. 

Terms of Award

Recipients of the 2013-14 fellowship will receive a stipend of $22,500 for the academic year (9 months) beginning September 2013, plus full tuition. Eligible recipients are also covered by comprehensive health insurance, including subsidized dependent and dental care.

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellows must register in the Graduate School as full-time students each semester.  Fellows may hold supplemental support up to the value of a 25-percent graduate assistantship from any source in each semester. Awards may not be deferred beyond the original award period. 2013-14 recipients will be eligible to apply for an additional year of funding. 

Eligibility

The competition is open to Ph.D. students, by application, with endorsement by the student’s graduate program and college dean/associate dean.  Successful applicants are likely to be students who will be in the second, third, or fourth year of their program in the 2013-14 academic year and who are making timely degree progress.  Students who have passed the preliminary oral examination are eligible, as well as those who have not yet passed this exam.  2012-13 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship are eligible to apply for a second year of funding in a separate competition.

Students who have received a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship or who received the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship prior to 2012-13 are not eligible. 

Application Procedures

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP OFFICE BY 12:00 NOON ON NOVEMBER 15, 2012.  Confirmation of receipt will be sent by email.  No paper copy is required. 

Directors of Graduate Studies are responsible for assisting the student in preparing the application file and submitting the completed application to the Graduate Fellowship Office.  Submit each completed nomination packet to gsfellow@umn.edu,

  • with the email subject line: "Nominating Program IDF 2013," and
  • with PDF attachments (one PDF document per nomination), following the naming convention: Program_Lastname_Firstname.pdf.
  • Please spell out the entire program name and do not use all capital letters.

example:

Email Subject Line: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics IDF 2013
PDF Attachment Name: Biochemistry Molecular Biology & Biophysics_Doe_Jane.pdf

Each nomination packet should be in the following order:

1. the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship application form

2. a three-page statement (double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, margins not less than one inch, citations included within page limit but may be single-spaced), written by the student, that:

  • describes the proposed interdisciplinary research or scholarly project
  • explains how the student’s scholarship will benefit from residence at the center/institute at which the student proposes to study

3. Curriculum vitae

4. a letter of support from the director of the host research center or institute at which the student intends to study; students should check directly with the center/institute about procedures for requesting a letter of support well in advance of the November 15 student application deadline.  In addition to supporting the student’s application, the letter from the center/institute director must:

a. demonstrate how the student will benefit from an affiliation with the center/institute and how the center/institute will benefit from the student’s participation

b. identify the resources the center/institute will commit to the student in terms of:

  • study space
  • funds for student travel to a professional conference (centers/institutes are encouraged to provide $2,500 for activities related to the student’s professional development)

c. explain how the center/institute would be an appropriate host site for the student, e.g.:

  • the mix of disciplines represented among its faculty related to the student’s interdisciplinary interests
  • the diversity of faculty research interests and methodologies
  • regular events that feature faculty members’ work
  • opportunities for students to feature their work
  • other support the center/institute might provide, e.g., financial support, mentoring, professional development opportunities

5. letter(s) of support from the faculty member(s) at the selected research center or institute with whom the student plans to study

IMPORTANT: Please provide the following instructions link to your recommendation letter writers:
http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/recommendationletters/index.html.

6. a letter of support from the student’s academic adviser/co-advisers.

IMPORTANT: Please provide the following instructions link to your recommendation letter writers:
http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/recommendationletters/index.html.

7. a letter of support from the Director of Graduate Studies of the student’s major program; the DGS’s letter may focus principally on the overall academic quality of the student and the student’s scholarly potential

8. transcripts from each college or university attended (photocopies are acceptable, including the University of Minnesota transcript, available online at http://www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html)

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with prospective mentors and host center/institute directors early in the application process to ensure that the student and research project are a good match for the host site.

Review and Selection

The review will be conducted by a University-wide faculty committee.  Selection of recipients will be based on the following criteria:

  • the potential for the student to make an unusually significant contribution to the field

  • the degree to which the proposed or current research manifests the student's independence, originality, and resourcefulness

  • the interdisciplinary character of the research project and how it is crucial to answering the underlying questions

  • the comparative strength of the student's academic record

  • the strength of the supporting letters 

Special attention will be given to the interdisciplinary nature of the current or proposed dissertation research and the willingness of the particular center or institute and its faculty to host the student during the fellowship year.

The DGS and dean of the student’s program will be notified of the outcome of the student’s application in spring 2013.  Student's will be notified of the outcome by their DGS.

Please direct questions about these awards to the Graduate Fellowship Office at 612-625-7579 or gsfellow@umn.edu.

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship Application for 2013-14

2013-14 Recipients

2012-13 Recipients

2011-12 Recipients