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猎奇重口 Institute on Ecosystems

Dissertation Improvement Grants

Announcement
Doctoral students who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a fellowship to support research and travel expenses that facilitate the completion of their dissertation, increase their competitiveness for postdoctoral applications and federal grants, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit, academic record, and likelihood of the candidate achieving their project goals. To apply, students must submit a proposal that meets the requirements below. A committee of IoE faculty researchers, chaired by Director Frank Rosenzweig, will review applications. All application materials should be sent directly to Jamie Lockman (jamie.lockman@umontana.edu) by the deadline. Please reach out to her with any questions you may have about this announcement.

Amount
Three $2,500 awards, distributed via UM Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequency
Twice each academic year

Source
UM Institute on Ecosystems

Eligibility
PhD candidates from any UM Divison of Biological Sciences graduate program whose research aligns with themes relevant to the UM IoE, such as: 1) ecosystem studies, 2) population, community, and landscape ecology, or 3) ecological and evolutionary genetics.

Deadline
December 2, 2025 by 5:00 pm 

Application Requirements

  • A two-page single-spaced (800 word limit) proposal that outlines: 1) your dissertation's overarching research goals, 2) the progress of your dissertation research, and a timeline for completing all portions of the proposed research, and 3) the role this award would play in advancing the completion/dissemination of that research. Please include a title, an abstract not exceeding 100 words, and an appendix of anticipated conference presentations and/or publications. The title, abstract, and appendix do not count towards the 800 word limit.

  • A current Curriculum Vitae (CV) that summarizes your educational background and academic achievments, including undergraduate and graduate GPAs, advanced coursework and/or workshops, presentations, published conference abstracts, peer-reviewed publications, and any other information that contributes to your merit.

  • A letter of support from your dissertation advisor(s) attesting to the quality, significance, and probable impact on the field of your work, as well as to your capacity to complete your PhD. The letter should indicate your career stage (e.g., 2nd year student, PhD candidate, etc) and your anticipated defense date by semester/year.

Evaluation Criteria

  1. Quality and impact of research project
  2. Potential impact of funding on dissertation completion
  3. Quality, clarity, and detail of the proposal, including execution details (timeline, specificity of remaining work, etc)
  4. Quality and impact of prior research activities
  5. Applicant's progress towards completion of degree
  6. Justification for use of funds

Awardee Requirements
Upon selection, fellowship awardees must:

  • Register for a dissertation boot camp with the UM Writing and Public Speaking Center, or an equivalent professional development opportunity dedicated to excellence in science communication

  • Offer a public seminar to the 猎奇重口 graduate community during the following academic year through existing venues such as departmental or graduate group seminars. Candidates must explicitly highlight progress facilitatted by the IoE award in this seminar.

  • Acknowledge IoE support appropriately in oral and poster presentations as well as peer-reviewed research publications.

 

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