The Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute is pleased to announce a call for applications for the inaugural semester of the DCII Graduate Student in Residence (GSiR) Program.
The purpose of the DCII GSiR Program is to support advanced Dedman College graduate students as they pursue research on topics of interdisciplinary interest and impact. The program is designed to give graduate students the dedicated space to develop their research agendas and the opportunity to engage with other students (and faculty) who share their interdisciplinary interests.
GSiRs will be given access to a private office for Spring Semester 2021, within the DCII’s offices in the new Gerald J. Ford Hall for Research and Innovation (alongside the Data Science Institute, Center for Research Computing, AT&T Center for Virtualization, Visualization Lab, and Guildhall). They will also receive up to $2,500 to support research activities and/or domestic conference travel, to be utilized within the 2021 calendar year.
Eligibility: Dedman College Ph.D. students in their third year or above
Residency Period: Spring Semester 2021
Submission Deadline: December 18, 2020 at 5 p.m.
Notification of Recipients: January 8, 2021
Award Amount: Up to $2,500
Award funds may be used to support academic conference travel within the continental United States. Funds may also be used for research-related travel, supplies, software, and other direct research expenses. Funds may not be used to purchase computer hardware or as salary/stipends.
Expectations of GSiRs:
- Give a seminar presentation, along the lines of a work-in-progress talk or a “practice” conference presentation/job talk, during Spring Semester 2021
- Work out of the DCII office for a minimum of 10 hours per week during the semester
- Make occasional contributions to DCII social media accounts
Submission Guidelines:
Applications should include a brief proposal and curriculum vitae, not to exceed five combined pages.
The proposal should:
- Describe the specific research you plan to undertake during Spring 2021, in language that is accessible to a reviewer who is not an expert in your field
- Explain how the planned research will help your larger research program, and describe the significance and relevance of that program
- Detail the interdisciplinary dimensions of the research program
- Explain how becoming a GSiR would enhance your research
- Provide an itemized budget outlining how you would spend the award funding
Applications will be evaluated on the interdisciplinary content and the potential impact of the applicant’s broader research program, as well as on the clarity, specificity, and appropriateness of the applicant’s plans to make use of the GSiR Program’s available physical and financial resources.
We particularly encourage applications from students whose research programs connect in some way to one of the DCII’s 2020–21 Research Clusters (a complete list can be found here).
In addition to submitting the application, applicants should arrange for their advisor (or other faculty member familiar with their research program) to write a confidential letter of support.
Completed applications and advisor letters of support should each be submitted to dcinterdisciplinaryinstitute@smu.edu, with “GSiR Program Application” included in the email’s “Subject” line.
Depending on the competitiveness of the applicant pool, the DCII may request brief Zoom interviews with a small number of finalists.
Questions about the program or application process should be directed to Dr. Karisa Cloward, Director of the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute, at kcloward@smu.edu.