Howard University’s Center on Race and Wealth and the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison seek applications for the fourth annual Dissertation Proposal Workshop. The application deadline is Feb. 12, 2020, 11:59 p.m., CST. This week-long workshop, held at Howard University in Washington, D.C., is aimed at pre-proposal doctoral students in the social sciences from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations who are studying topics related to poverty or inequality in the United States.

The workshop provides students the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to prepare a dissertation proposal. Funding is provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as part of IRP’s National Poverty Research Center award.

The workshop will be led by faculty from Howard University, IRP, and other institutions. Students will set and accomplish daily goals, participate in group lectures, work individually and in small groups, and consult with workshop mentors. Topics will include the following: 1) Strategies for formulating a solid research question and hypotheses; 2) Strategies for determining the appropriate research method and securing data; 3) Goal setting and time management strategies; and 4) Peer and mentor feedback on draft proposals.

Eligibility

Applicants must be pre-dissertation proposal doctoral students studying at U.S. universities from at least one of the following underrepresented racial or ethnic populations: a) African American or Black; b) American Indian or Alaskan Native; c) Hispanic/Latino; d) Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, or Hmong; e) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Preference will be given to those who are also of the first generation in their families to achieve a college degree.

Funding

Funding for travel, meals, and lodging at Howard University (for students residing outside of the D.C. area) will be provided to 12 successful applicants.

Application Instructions

To apply, please complete the online application form. Applicants are responsible for asking their primary advisers to fill out the recommendation form by the application deadline.

Both the applicant and the adviser will receive a confirmation e-mail when the recommendation is completed. Note that the recommendation can be completed before or after the application is submitted but both the application and the recommendation must be completed by the deadline for the application to be complete.

For information about the workshop, contact Dr. Janet Griffin-Graves via email at jrgriffin-graves@howard.edu.

Process-related questions should be directed to: IRP Apply at irpapply@ssc.wisc.edu.