Now accepting applications for the AY 2024-25 graduate student awards listed below. The deadline to apply is December 6.

 

Faculty interested in nominating students for the following awards should use this nomination form. See award descriptions below. Nominations are due by November 11.

  • Jean Elizabeth Spencer Award
  • Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award
  • Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship
  • Charles A. Caramello Dissertation Award

 

Students may self-nominate for the following awards:

Conley H. Dillon Award

The Conley H. Dillon Award is open to graduate students in the Department of Government and Politics who have finished all course requirements, passed their comprehensive examinations, and successfully defended their dissertation prospectus. Special preference will be given to students whose dissertation makes an original contribution to those fields and questions that occupied Professor Dillon throughout his career, in particular, intergovernmental relationships within the United States, American Government, or public policy in the United States. In choosing a Dillon Award winner, the faculty committee will primarily consider the quality of work completed on the dissertation, but will also take into consideration teaching, other scholarship, and public service.

To apply, click here.

Application materials:

  1. One page cover letter describing your research, progress on your dissertation, and fit with the award.
  2. CV
  3. Letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (instructions for uploading provided in application).

Don C. Piper Award

The Don C. Piper award is open to doctoral students in the Department of Government and Politics and is awarded for the best conference paper or journal article within the current academic year. Work co-authored with other current GVPT students is eligible, but any other co-authoring relationships (e.g., with faculty) are not. Nominees must be active GVPT graduate students.

To apply, click here.

Application materials:

  1. The paper to be considered (should be typical length for a journal article).
  2. One page cover letter describing the paper (including where it was presented and/or accepted for publication) and its contribution to the literature.
  3. CV
  4. Letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (instructions for uploading provided in application).

Jean Elizabeth Spencer Award 

This endowed, merit-based award will be granted to a graduate student in the Department of Government and Politics with a preference for someone who promotes gender diversity in the social sciences and exhibits the potential to make a contribution to the areas of state and/or local government or American politics. Nominees must be active graduate students (either taking courses or working on their dissertations).

To apply, click here. 

Application materials:

  1. One page cover letter outlining your interests and goals in political science. 
  2. CV
  3. Writing Sample
  4. Letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (instructions for uploading provided in application).

Roger H. Davidson Award

The Roger H. Davidson award is open to doctoral students in the Department of Government and Politics and was created to honor one of GVPT’s most distinguished former faculty. It is awarded annually by the American politics faculty to the graduate student who writes the best paper in the field. In addition to overall quality, preference is given to papers written in Professor Davidson’s fields of expertise – i.e., first preference for empirical (but not necessarily quantitative) papers on Congress and the Presidency, second preference for empirical papers focusing on American national political institutions in general, and third preference to empirical papers written about American politics generally. Please note that this does not mean that papers on Congress and the Presidency automatically win. We encourage students to submit quality papers on a broad range of subjects within the American politics field. Work co-authored with other current GVPT students is eligible, but any other co-authoring relationships (e.g., with faculty) are not. Nominees must be active GVPT graduate students.

To apply, click here.

Application materials:

  1. The paper to be considered (should be typical length for a journal article) 
  2. One page cover letter describing the paper (including where it was presented and/or accepted for publication) and its contribution to the literature.
  3. CV
  4. Letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (instructions for uploading provided in application).

Virginia Lee Lussier Research Travel Grant

The Virginia Lee Lussier Research Travel Grant supports GVPT doctoral student research. Preference will be given to research projects focusing on international conflict. Nominees must be active GVPT graduate students (either taking courses or working on their dissertations).

To apply, click here. 

Application materials:

  1. Synopsis of the research work being undertaken and its justification.
  2. Statement with the following information:
    • Name and address of host institution where research or institute/program activity will be conducted.
    • Name and email of host institution advisor.
    • Start and end dates of research or institute/program activity.
  3. A letter from the host academic or research institution confirming support of the research project or participation in the institute/program activity.
  4. Travel and research budget (transportation, lodging, meals, other). List all funding sources secured, including the amount for each.
  5. CV
  6. Letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (instructions for uploading provided in application).

Virginia Lee Lussier Collaborative Summer Research Fellowship

The Virginia Lee Lussier Collaborative Summer Research Fellowship is open to doctoral students in the Department of Government and Politics. The fellowship supports research for students studying international relations, with a preference for projects on international conflict and resolution. The fellowship is designed to encourage students to work closely with a faculty member to develop a paper suitable for presentation at an academic conference and/or publication, ideally on a topic focused on the student’s dissertation. Nominees must be active GVPT graduate students and must register for the following fall semester. The recipient is expected to spend time during the summer working on the proposed project that is supported by the fellowship. Additionally, the recipient is expected to (1) complete and submit a draft paper (either single-authored or co-authored with a faculty member) by August 31, 2025; and (2) submit a proposal to present at a major conference during the 2025-26 academic year. Faculty mentors are expected to be in regular contact with the student over the summer.

To apply, click here. 

Application materials:

  1. An overview of your research proposal (no more than 4 pages, plus images, tables, references, etc.). Include the title of your research project and the name of the faculty member advising the project. Describe the work to be done in the summer to conduct and prepare your research for presentation at a regional, national, or international conference, and potentially for publication. Include a plan for the execution of your work.
  2. CV
  3. Letter of recommendation from the faculty member advising the research project. The letter should describe the paper the student will complete during the summer and how the faculty member will assist in developing the student's research and any advanced research skills. The letter should also describe the student's accomplishments, intellectual promise, and progress in the program (instructions for uploading provided in application).

 

Faculty nomination is required for the following awards:

Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award 

The Graduate School's Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award recognizes the contributions that GAs provide to students, faculty, departments, administrative units, and the University as a whole. GVPT may nominate two students for consideration to BSOS; the College will select which nominations to forward to the Graduate School. Award winners will receive a credit for mandatory fees in the spring semester. Graduate Assistants must be holding at least a half-time graduate assistantship (TA, RA, or AA) for fall and spring of the current academic year. See below for the Graduate School's award criteria.

To nominate a student, click here (faculty only). Nomination deadline: November 11.

Qualities of an Outstanding Teaching Assistant

  • Knows the subject matter being taught very well
  • Teaching style engages students; students feel they are part of the learning process
  • Coordinates closely with the professor in planning their instructional activities
  • Available to the students with flexible office hours and other means of communication
  • When grading assignments, provides clear and helpful feedback to students
  • Treats students fairly and equitably

Qualities of an Outstanding Research Assistant

  • Has made important contributions to the faculty member’s research
  • Has mentored other graduate assistants and students
  • Evidence of future promise as a researcher
  • Evidence of scholarly achievements (e.g., publications, conference presentations)

Qualities of an Outstanding Administrative Assistant

  • Takes on responsibilities beyond the job requirements
  • Supervises and mentors other assistants or students, formally or informally

For students: If your nomination has been confirmed by Karmin, click here to apply for the award.

Ann G. Wylie Fellowship

Dissertation fellowships provide full-time support to University of Maryland doctoral candidates who are in the latter stages of writing their dissertations. Awarded students can choose to use the fellowship in either fall or spring of the following academic year. Fellowship benefits include a $15,000 stipend, a candidacy tuition award (899 only), a credit for mandatory fees associated with 899 registration, and reimbursement for the purchase of an individual student health insurance plan for the semester. Eligible candidates must be advanced to candidacy by June 1, 2025 and expect to graduate by August 2026.

To nominate a student, click here (faculty only). Nomination deadline: November 11.

For students: If your nomination has been confirmed by Karmin, click here to apply for the fellowship.

Charles A. Caramello Dissertation Award

The Charles A. Caramello Distinguished Dissertation Award recognizes original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline. Recipients receive an honorarium of $1,000 and may be selected for nomination to the CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award competition. Eligible candidates must have defended their dissertation in the current calendar year. GVPT may nominate two students for consideration to BSOS; the College will select which nominations to forward to the Graduate School.

To nominate a student, click here (faculty only). Nomination deadline: November 11.

For students: If your nomination has been confirmed by Karmin, click here to apply for the award.