Each year, the Council of Graduate Schools and ProQuest Dissertations Publishing recognize dissertations that make an unusually significant contribution to their fields. Michigan Tech may nominate one candidate in each field.
Eligibility
For the 2026 competition, graduates are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:
- Must have been awarded the PhD between July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026
- Must have been awarded a PhD in one of the eligible fields for the 2026 competition
- Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering: Mathematics, statistics, computer sciences, data processing, systems analysis, chemistry, earth sciences, physics, geology, meteorology, astronomy, metallurgy, geophysics, pharmaceutical chemistry; aeronautical, architectural, biomedical, ceramic, chemical, civil, and electrical engineering sciences; environmental health engineering; geological, mechanical, mining, nuclear, and petroleum engineering.
- Social Sciences: Agricultural economics, geography, anthropology, archaeology, economics, education, sociology, government (political science), demography, and psychology. Please note that for purposes of this competition, history is classed within the humanities and is not a field of competition this year.
- Each department or college may nominate one candidate in either or both of the above eligible fields. Each unit may create its own selection process for its nominee.
Eligible fields in 2027 will be Biological Sciences/Life Sciences and Humanities and Fine Arts.
Nomination Procedure
Nominations for the 2026 CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award are due no later than 4 p.m. on May 28, 2026 in the Graduate School.
Nominations
A nomination packet must be submitted by the department chair or college dean to our google form and will include the following required items:
- The nominee's name, current email, current position, and current employer
- The following items collated as a single PDF file:
- an abstract of the nominee’s dissertation (not to exceed five double-spaced pages). Appendices containing nontextual material, such as charts or tables, may be included as additional pages (not to exceed five double-spaced pages). All pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee.
- three letters addressing the significance and quality of the nominee's dissertation
work
- one letter from the dissertation advisor.
- one letter from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee.
- one letter from a person chosen by the nominee.
- the nominee's curriculum vitae (not to exceed five pages)
Evaluation
The applications will be evaluated by a panel of faculty representing each of Michigan Tech's Colleges with PhD programs. Applications will be evaluated on the impact and significance of the research.
One application in each field will be forwarded to the Council of Graduate Schools for their consideration. The Council of Graduate Schools will name an Award Committee whose members have established records in the disciplinary areas under consideration. Additional consultation may be sought at the discretion of the committee members. The nominated dissertations should represent original work making an unusually significant contribution to the disciplines. Both methodological and substantive quality will be judged.
Recipients
Recipients will be awarded:
- a $2,000 honorarium from CGS/ProQuest
- a certificate of recognition
- reasonable travel expenses to the award ceremony in December 2026, in Los Angeles, CA, as part of the annual meeting of the Council of Graduate Schools.
The Graduate School will recognize the nominee selected to represent Michigan Tech on our website.