In 2023-2024, the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study will support 5 Notre Dame doctoral students with exceptional academic records whose research and career interests centrally involve interdisciplinary questions and the ethical values embedded within them. Ph.D. students entering the 4th or 5th year in the College of Arts and Letters who are engaged in dissertation research are welcome to apply. Fellows will be members of the Institute for Advanced Study for the 2023-2024 academic year, working alongside the residential faculty fellows selected for their scholarly engagement with the 2023-2024 theme, The Long Run.
Apply Now for a Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
Applications for 2023-2024 Distinguished Graduate Fellowships must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Expectations
Ph.D. fellows will fully participate in the Institute's academic program, including:
- Joining the Institute’s two annual retreats designed to help fellows develop work that is accessible to broad audiences;
- Attending the late-Fall 2-day Graduate Fellows get-away retreat on “Research and the Common Good”;
- Presenting in the weekly Wednesday-afternoon Graduate Fellows Research Seminar, giving talks and workshopping research writing;
- Participating in the weekly Tuesday-afternoon Faculty Fellows Research Seminar;
- Participating in Institute dinners, conferences, and public engagement events;
- Engaging in research and career mentorship with Institute faculty, staff, and project partners.
Ph.D. fellows will be expected to be in residence at the Institute for the academic year and will be offered shared office space.
While on fellowship, they should be free of departmental teaching and service obligations and will be expected to commit full-time to their dissertation research and participation in the Institute’s academic program. If a particular teaching opportunity is relevant to the Fellow’s career plan during the fellowship, they may apply to the Institute for special permission to offer their course while on the fellowship. This will be granted only in exceptional cases.
Alongside active participation in Institute programming, Fellows are expected to give a research lecture, workshop a substantial piece of writing, meet regularly with their dissertation advisors, and make substantial progress on their dissertation during the fellowship period.
Benefits
Fellows will be given a stipend of up to $39,000 plus fringe benefits payable over 12 months, replacing their normal Notre Dame Ph.D. support for the year. (This stipend level continues only for the year of the fellowship.) Fellows are required to be in residence from mid-August to May of the fellowship year.
Fellows will also be provided up to $1,000 in individual research support for expenses related to pursuing or publicizing their dissertation research.
Ph.D. students from Notre Dame colleges outside of Arts and Letters and those who have already been awarded a Notebaert Premier Fellowship are not eligible for a stipend, but they are welcome to inquire about applying for the program if they are otherwise eligible for participation.
Application
Fellows will be selected by a competitive application, referral, and interview process in March 2023. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, March 8. Applicants will be asked to submit the following materials on the NDIAS portal:
- A one-page (single spaced) description of your dissertation research along with a draft table of contents for your dissertation by chapter. If applicable, note chapters that are fully or partially drafted;
- Your Curriculum Vitae;
- A statement of interest (no more than three pages, single spaced) that describes (1) the core issue(s) of ethics, value, or meaning confronted in your dissertation project and its significance, and how you envision making progress on that question throughout your fellowship year; (2) how your knowledge and skills could contribute to the intellectual life of the NDIAS as we explore the 2023-2024 theme, The Long Run; (3) how participation in an interdisciplinary community would advance your research and career plans; and (4) past experience of engaging with scholars outside of your field;
- Contact information (email address) for two references. At least one should be involved in advising your dissertation research. Your references do not need to submit letters at this time but should be able to comment on your suitability for the fellowship program when contacted;
- An unofficial graduate transcript;
- A letter signed by your DGS acknowledging your intent to apply to the program;
- A completed application form.
Selection Criteria
Ph.D. fellows will be selected by a panel composed of faculty and staff affiliated with the NDIAS. After determining eligibility, the panel will weigh five criteria:
- Quality of Research Profile: Excellent performance in the Ph.D. program to-date and exceptional potential for the proposed research project;
- Interdisciplinary Potential: The Fellow’s research and career interests align with the mission of the fellowship program. We aim to compose a fellowship cohort with diverse methods and evidence sources. Particular fellows should be firmly rooted in a single discipline but able to identify ways that other methods or sources of evidence might benefit their work;
- Collaborative Commitment: The Fellow’s demonstrated commitment to contributing to research culture in an interdisciplinary institute. We particularly look for evidence of initiative, optimism, curiosity, intellectual humility, and the ability to draw others into research questions;
- Potential for Impact: The likelihood that this fellowship will accelerate and deepen the Fellow’s research and have a clear impact on our understanding of an ethically significant issue;
- Thematic Fit: The Fellow’s interests fit with the Long Run theme structuring the 2023-2024 Faculty Fellowship program.
Applications should be submitted to the NDIAS's online portal.
Applications for 2023-2024 Distinguished Graduate Fellowships must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Questions about the program may be directed to Jeff Tolly, Assistant Director of Educational Initiatives, at jtolly@nd.edu.