Pre-Dissertation Travel

Deadline: February 12, 2010 at 5pm
(online application will open in December 2009)

Program Purpose
These awards are intended to get Ph.D. candidates into the field to do preliminary explorations of potential research materials in preparation for writing a dissertation proposal.

As such, the ideal time to hold this award is after passing comprehensive exams and before defending the proposal. The Center for Global Initiatives will consider funding students at other stages as well, but it will not fund dissertation field research.

Eligibility and Restrictions
All UNC graduate students preparing to write a dissertation proposal are eligible to apply with the following exceptions:

• Students doing dissertation field research are NOT eligible;
• Students planning to take language training, attend conferences, or enroll in coursework are NOT eligible;
• Past winners of a Pre-Dissertation Travel Award are NOT eligible;
• Latin Americanists are NOT eligible because the Center for Global Initiatives supports ISA's Tinker Program.  Latin Americanists should therefore apply for a Tinker through ISA.

Available Funding
Estimated Available Funds: $23,000
Typical Range of Awards: $2,000 - $4,000
Typical Number of Awards: 7
Typical Number of Applicants: 31

The Center for Global Initiatives is not bound by these estimates and is often unable to award the full amount of funds requested. Each award is made as a travel reimbursement.

Application Requirements
Materials which should be submitted by the deadline, via the ONLINE APPLICATION CENTER are:

• Part 1:
  • Basic demographic application data
    
• Part 2:
  • Project title and abstract
  • A 1200-word project narrative in PDF format, which
  • Curriculum Vita/Resume in PDF format
  • Project start and end dates
  • Budget that details travel and subsistence costs
  • List of sources of alternative funding requested and received
• Part 3:
  • Please enter the contact information for the letters of recommendation you have solicited. (see below)

In addition to the online application, please drop off the following HARD-COPY materials to the Center for Global Initiatives by the deadline in a large clasp envelope. You should have your letter writers give/send the letters to you sealed and signed across the back for you to hand-deliver to the center with your transcript. Letters and transcripts must be SINGLE SIDED and UNSTAPLED.

• Two letters of recommendation from UNC faculty members
  
• Current UNC Transcript
  This may be the grade summary printout from Student Central or the free internal transcript from the Registrar's Office.
  

Evaluation of Applicants
Reviewers assign points to each application based on the following rubric:

• Need and Impact (max. 5 points)
  Is there a clear need for the applicant to receive this award at this point in his/her studies?
  With this award, will the student make significant progress toward completing a dissertation proposal and a subsequent dissertation?
• Academic Merit and Intellectual Contribution (max. 5 points)
  Does the proposal clearly present an important research question and explain the theoretical and/or policy relevance of the work?
• Feasibility and Methodology (max. 5 points)
  Is the research method and plan adequate and appropriate to achieve the student's expected goals?
  Does the student have the language and/or technical skills to carry out the proposed research?
• Budget (max. 5 points)
  Is the budget clear, adequate, reasonable, and justified?

Late or Incomplete Applications
We will not accept late or incomplete applications.

Notification of Award
Applicants will receive award or rejection notices 4-6 weeks after the deadline via email. You may monitor the status of your application through our online application center.

Reporting Requirements
If you receive this award, you will be required to submit several interim and one final report at the end of your project using the Center for Global Initiative’s Online Reporting System. This system collects narratives and data about funded projects to enable the Center to determine whether its programmatic purposes are being met. In addition, several other research and service requirements will need to be met. The full requirements will be presented to you before you formally accept your award and receive the funds.

Contact Information
Tripp Tuttle
Program Officer, Center for Global Initiatives
tripp@unc.edu