Dissertation Fellowships

 

The Graduate School awards two full fellowships to Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies each year. Each fellowship carries a nine-month, approximately $24,750 stipend (tuition and fees to be paid by the Graduate School). Please note that students in years 1-6 who enroll in the Duke student medical and dental insurance plans will have the plan premiums covered by The Graduate School. Students in years 7 and up would be expected to self-fund any insurance plan in which they enroll, whether it be the Duke student plan or an external policy.

The intent of these awards is to “buy time” for a doctoral candidate who is past course work and engaged in the early stages of dissertation research. As the fellowships are in Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies, it is expected that fellowship recipients will devote the year to deepening their knowledge of feminist theory and methods, and exploring interdisciplinary angles on the topics being researched. We also expect fellows to be active participants in program activities throughout their fellowship year. Graduate students enrolled in the Certificate Program in Feminist Studies will have priority for these awards.

Deadline

March 31st  (Late applications will not be considered.)

Eligibility Criteria

  • Students enrolled as full-time Ph.D. students at Duke University from all areas in the University are eligible to apply.
  • The fellowship is for one year only, non-renewable, non-deferrable. The amounts of stipend and fees payments are determined by the Graduate School.
  • Recipients must be in residence during the entire academic year.
  • Recipients must have taken and passed preliminary exams by the end of the semester prior to the beginning of the Fellowship. 
  • Recipients are expected to participate in community activities that are of mutual benefit to the individual and to Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies, including a presentation of work-in-progress in the Graduate Scholars Colloquium, if asked.
  • No other award may be held concurrently with this fellowship without permission from the Dean of the Graduate School, including teaching commitment(s).

Selection Criteria

  • Substantial prior scholarly investment in the field of gender, sexuality and/or Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies,
  • Interest in prioritizing faculty positions in Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies as a potential career trajectory, and
  • Willingness to be part of the intellectual and social life of the Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies community at Duke.

The Graduate School prefers that priority be given to candidates at earlier stages of their research, particularly candidates entering their 4th or 5th year of study in the academic year of the fellowship.

Applicants will be notified of decisions by May.

Application Process

To apply click on Dissertation Fellowship Application. The following is a summary of the information required to apply for the Dissertation Fellowship.

Application Materials:
  1. A one-page cover letter
  2. An Overview of Dissertation Abstract
  3. A brief description of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies courses taken, including faculty and institution
  4. A summary of previous funding and possible funding sources for the next year
  5. Curriculum vitae
  6. Transcript

For questions, please contact Julie Wynmor at julie.wynmor@duke.edu.