Fellowship Programs for Diversity
Dissertation-Year Fellowship Program

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in the President’s Dissertation-Year Fellowship Program, I am truly grateful.  I am definitely committed to spreading the word about this program’s amazing opportunities and feel honored to be a part of something that contributes so greatly to the building of diversity within the UC system.”  -- DYFP Fellow, Fall 2005

Philosophy

The University of California Academic Career Development Program (ACDP) was designed to facilitate the academic career development of students who show potential to become excellent faculty or researchers in institutions of higher education, and to foster multi-faceted diversity in graduate education at the University of California. Diversity is critical to promoting the lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives that are essential to advanced research and because graduate students form the pool of the academic leaders of the future. Thus, to maintain academic excellence, the University places high value on achieving a diverse graduate student body and faculty. The UC Dissertation-Year Fellowship Program is one component of ACDP.

General Information

The UC Dissertation-Year Fellowship Program provides support to outstanding Ph.D. candidates during their dissertation year. The program is designed to identifies doctoral candidates who whose research or planned career direction focuses on problems relating to disadvantaged segments of society or who have been educationally or economically disadvantaged. The program provides faculty mentorship, information and advice to students as they prepare to become postdoctoral fellows or candidates for faculty positions. Each year, 52 Fellows are selected competitively by the Graduate Divisions of the UC campuses. 

Guidelines
Dissertation-Year Fellowships are awarded to eligible graduate students whose doctoral work will be completed by the end of the program year and who demonstrate strong potential for University teaching and research. Each Fellow receives a stipend of at least $12,000, research expenses of at least $500, and travel funding up to $470 to support visits to other universities for presentation of dissertation research. Each Dissertation-Year Fellow receives additional campus support for student fees and health benefits. Dissertation-Year Fellowships are awarded competitively by the campus graduate divisions. Applicants should contact individual campus Graduate Division representatives to find specific application and stipend information.

Annual Fall Meeting

Each year, Fellows along with their Faculty Mentors attend the Dissertation Year Fellowship Program – President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) Fall Meeting. At the Fall Meeting, Fellows engage in faculty-led workshops on grant-writing, publishing, and receive career advice.  The Fall Meeting provides Fellows with an excellent opportunity to network with other Fellows, faculty mentors, and the President’s Postdoctoral Fellows. 

“As a first-generation college student I have on more than one occasion felt like an imposter amongst my colleagues, however, after attending the Fall meeting and gaining such valuable insights from others who are in or have been in similar situations I feel so much more comfortable in my surroundings and feel as if I have started to build a new community of friends and colleagues.” -- DYFP Fellow, Fall 2005

“On my way back to Santa Barbara, I had drinks with two of the dissertation year fellows, and we had a wonderful conversation.  They expressed their deep appreciation for this meeting, as they haven't really gotten the chance to think through issues of publishing, job search, etc. in their respective depts.  This program has already made a difference.  Thanks again, and best wishes.”  -- James Kyung-Jin Lee, DYFP Faculty Mentor, Fall 2005

Annual Fall Meeting

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