CLA Grad Directors May Nominate (2) Grad Students for Available Bilslands ASAP

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The College of Liberal Arts can award approximately five (5) Bilsland Dissertation Fellowships in 2021-2022. These academic year (AY) fellowships will carry a stipend of approximately $19,000 and include a waiver of tuition and most fees. They also include a medical insurance supplement worth approximately $1,622 (which can be used to pay part of the cost of medical insurance), as well as fringe benefits.

Nominees must have completed all degree requirements except for the dissertation. Moreover, they are expected to complete the dissertation and receive the doctoral degree by the end of summer 2022 – a requirement which greatly restricts eligibility. Each CLA department or school that awards the PhD degree is invited to nominate up to two (2) students for the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. A complete nomination form (submitted online via InfoReady by departmental grad directors) will include a single uploaded PDF file containing (in order) the following items:

  • a summary of the dissertation project, not to exceed five double-spaced pages in length (exclusive of brief bibliography, cover page, and tables or figures);
  • a copy of the student’s curriculum vitae; and
  • a letter of recommendation from the chair of the student’s dissertation committee

Both the summary and the letter of recommendation should include information about the status of the dissertation project, as well as the expected date of completion. Nominations will be reviewed at the college level with criteria including the following:

(a) Intellectual merit of the dissertation of project

(b) Academic performances and scholarly achievements

(c) Likelihood of completion of dissertation by end of summer 2022

Departments nominating two students should rank the nominations as “First” and “Second” in each individual InfoReady submission form. Nominations should be made via InfoReady no later than Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5 PM EST. The InfoReady URL for nomination of candidates is included below.

CLA Bilsland Nomination Form Spring 2021 – InfoReady:

https://purdue.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1835521

Departments should set earlier deadlines to allow time for nominations.

The Bilsland applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Directors and by the Dean’s office in mid- to late-March. Awards should be announced by April 1, 2021. If you have any questions or concerns about this fellowship, please contact Mike Hicks, CLA Grant Coordinator, at mahicks@purdue.edu. Thank you!