Dissertation Research Award Support Ph.D. dissertation research in rural sociology
Award Overview
Supports graduate student research that advances the field of rural sociology and helps foster the development of future rural sociologists.
Submission Period:
October 1 – December 1
Eligibility
- RSS graduate student members
- Research on any topic encompassed by the field of rural sociology
- Society-wide, but interest groups are encouraged to nominate candidates
Requirements
- Cover letter explaining how the research will influence the applicant’s future work related to rural sociology
- Proposal (≤10 pages) with budget and justification – 12-point font and 1” margins to include:
- well-defined problem statement
- abbreviated literature review
- section detailing research methods
- work-plan schedule
- itemized budget for the planned work
- brief budget justification narrative that meets the following guidelines
- equipment purchases are not permitted with endowment funds
- RSS will not pay overhead charges to the host institution of the recipient
- proposals may seek additional funding from other sources – the budget narrative must describe exactly which parts of the project would be supported by additional funds and which parts would be supported by RSS funds
- CV
- Faculty letter of support that addressed the project’s intellectual significance and the likelihood the dissertation work will be actively pursued during the academic year in which the award is made
Award
- Award Recognition and Certificate
- Up to $4,500 in Award Funds
Previous Award Winners
2026
Yue Xu
2025
Danielle Schmidt
2024
2023
2022
Andres Mesa
2021
Jenny Melo Velasco
Carolyn Reyes
Forrest Stagner
Feinuo Sun
2020
Combined with 2021
2019
2018
Laura Bray
Robert Francis
Anne Junod
Shannon Westlake
2017
2016
Raeven Chandler
2015
Emily Wornell