Distinguished Dissertation Award Application Procedures

Each year, the Council of Graduate Schools and ProQuest/UMI recognize dissertations that make an unusually significant contribution to their fields. Michigan Tech may nominate one candidate in each field.

Eligibility

For the 2013 competition, graduates are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must have been awarded the PhD between July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013
2. Must have been awarded a PhD in one of the eligible fields for the 2013 competition
   • Humanities/Fine Arts: 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.
   • Biological and Life Sciences: biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields.

Eligible fields in 2014 will be social sciences; mathematics, physical sciences and engineering.

Nomination Procedure

Nominations for the 2013 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award are currently being accepted. Applications are due no later than 4 pm on June 26, 2013 in the Graduate School.

Nominations

A nomination packet must include the following required items:

1. a completed nomination form.
2. a 10-page abstract of the dissertation, double spaced on white letter-sized paper. (pdf preferred, number each page, and put nominee’s name on each page)
3. three letters addressing the significance and quality of the PhD work
   1. one letter from the dissertation advisor.
   2. one letter from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee.
   3. one letter from a person chosen by the nominee.

A nomination packet may also include the following optional items:

1. abstract appendices containing non-textual material such as charts, tables or figures. (pdf preferred, number each page, and put nominee’s name on each page)
2. a brief CV

Electronic delivery of the above materials as PDF files to Dr. Debra Charlesworth is preferred. If documents are too large to be e-mailed, Google Drive can be used to share the appropriate files.

Evaluation

The applications will be evaluated by a panel of faculty representing each of Michigan Tech's Colleges and Schools. Applications will be evaluated on the impact and significance of the research.

Recipients

Recipients will be awarded:

• a $2,000 honorarium from CGS/ProQuest
• a certificate of citation
• reasonable travel expenses to the annual meeting of the Council of Graduate School, December 4-7 in San Diego, California

The Graduate School will recognize the nominee selected to represent Michigan Tech on our web site.