Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Review and Selection
| Category | Category Measures |
|---|---|
| Academic Record | Applicant has a strong academic record as evidenced through one or more of the following: publications/presentations; awards/honors, professional experience, grants/fellowships, etc. listed on their CV and/or referenced by the advisor or nominator; scholarly, professional, or community activities that have enhanced their teaching and/or research qualifications; cross-disciplinary research endeavors. |
| Originality | Research question and/or approach is novel and innovative, addresses gaps in the current scholarship, and significantly advances understanding in the applicant's field. |
| Readibility | Applicant's materials are clearly articulated, compellingly written, and understandable for non-expert audiences, utilizing appropriate use of text, charts, and graphs. |
| Research Design | Applicant's research goals are clearly outlined, explore specific and important questions, acknowledge potential benefits and limitations, and are supported by appropriate quantitative or qualitative methodology. |
| Research Significance | The contribution, importance, and impact of the applicant's research to the field, as well as broader impacts, are clearly outlined and supported by advisor and nominator. |
| Time to Degree | Applicant's time to degree is appropriate and on par with colleagues within the field, allowing for reasonable extensions resulting from personal experiences (including the Covid-19 pandemic). |
| Score | Scoring Considerations |
|---|---|
| 1 | Applicant qualifications are evident for all category measures and compelling, relevant, numerous, and clearly-articulated for all measures |
| 1.5 | Applicant qualifications are evident for all category measures and compelling, relevant, numerous, and clearly-articulated for most measures |
| 2 | Applicant qualifications are evident for most of the category measures, but are not as compelling and numerous as a "1" or "1.5" score |
| 2.5 | Applicant qualifications are evident for most of the category measures, but are not as compelling, numerous, and well-articulated as a "1" or "1.5" score |
| 3 | Applicant qualifications are lacking for some category measures or are not as compelling or clearly-articulated as a "2" or "2.5" score |
| 3.5 | Applicant qualifications are lacking for some category measures and are not as compelling or clearly-articulated as a "2" or "2.5" score |
| 4 | Applicant qualifications are insufficient for some or most of the category measures or cannot be assessed because the information provided is poorly articulated |
Overview of Selection Process
Each application will be reviewed by a minimum of three faculty reviewers who will assign a score in each category. Scores will range from 1-4, with "1" respresenting the strongest score. Halfpoint scores (1.5, 2.5, 3.5) will be available. Scores will be standardized and averaged to create a composite score for each applicant, which will be considered for the final selection. One award will be made in each of the four subject areas: Biological/Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, & Engineering, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Contact Us
Graduate School Fellowships Office
gradfunding@unc.edu