Dissertation Research Application

Description

The Woodcock Institute sponsors an annual competition for dissertation research funding. The purpose of the dissertation award is to assist doctoral students with research costs. The current program funds three $5,000 grants. One of the dissertation awards is designated for doctoral students in the APA accredited School Psychology Doctoral Program at Texas Woman’s University. The other two dissertation awards are open to graduate students from any other doctoral program.

Eligibility 

1. Applicants must be graduate students of psychology, education, or related mental health field in good standing with their university, at a regionally accredited university or college located in the United States or Canada. Applicants must be enrolled full-time or working on their dissertation research for an equivalent of full-time enrollment regardless of actual registration status.
2. The dissertation topic must be related to the mission of the Woodcock Institute, which is the advancement of neurocognitive research and translation of neurocognitive research into practice.
3. Applicants must have had their dissertation proposals approved by their dissertation committees prior to application.
4. Applicants who have already defended their dissertations are eligible to apply for these funds, as long as they have not yet received a doctoral degree as of the application deadline.
5. Each doctoral program may endorse no more than one student per year for the Woodcock Dissertation Research Award.
6. Applicants must not have previously received Woodcock Dissertation Research Award.
7. The dissertation research may be in any area of psychological or educational research.

How to Apply 

1. The Woodcock Institute staff will examine all applications for eligibility.
2. Please submit your packet of application materials (described in this section) via email (woodcockinstitute@twu.edu) to be received by the Woodcock Institute any time after September 15^th of each year. A complete application should be emailed to woodcock@twu.edu. Please use a font of 10 points or greater, and 1-inch margins. Materials can be single or double spaced. 

Please include each of the following: 

   1. 
A Woodcock Dissertation Award Application [PDF] that is typed or neatly printed, signed by the applicant and approved by the chair or head of the department (as described on the form). 


   2. One-page maximum typed cover letter describing your research interests and experience, as well as your career plans. 


   3. Two-page maximum summary of the dissertation research, including project background and rationale, an explanation of research design (methods, procedure, analysis plan, etc.) and other important aspects of the project. One additional page listing references may be included (citations should be included in the text). 
Please follow APA style in your submission. 
      
      Please Note: Figures and/or tables may be included only if they can be incorporated into the two (2) page research summary. The research summary must not exceed the two (2) page limit including any figures or tables.
      
      
   4. One-page maximum brief explanation of proposed use of funds (i.e., budget). The award must be used to support expenses that are directly related to the dissertation research (e.g., computer time, equipment, testing materials, participant fees, and incentives); it may not be used for indirect costs, tuition, travel, lab assistant pay, consultant fees, or personal expenses. Be sure to justify all expenses and detail any additional funds that will be used for the project. If the budget for the project exceeds the amount available from the award, you should describe the source of the additional funds.
   5. Two-page maximum curriculum vitae including scientific publications, presentations, research and teaching experience (the curriculum vitae may contain only highlights and does not need to be a complete version).
   6. One-page maximum letter of recommendation from your academic advisor or professor.
      
      Please Note: The maximum length of the recommendation letter is one (1) page. Please communicate to the faculty member who will write your recommendation letter the importance of adhering to this maximum page limit. In addition, please do not submit more than one letter of recommendation; only one will be forwarded for review.
      
      
3. All application materials must arrive in one complete email correspondence after Sept. 15^th of each year to woodcock@twu.edu. Be sure to keep a copy of the submitted materials for your records. You will receive an email after the application deadline confirming that your application has been received.
4. Decisions will be based upon the quality of the submitted information. Panels of distinguished scientists representing the breadth of scientific psychology and education will make funding recommendations to the Woodcock Institute’s Executive Director.
5. APA Dissertation Research Award recipients are announced in late October or after depending on funds available. All applicants for the awards are notified of funding decisions via email.
6. Any changes to the budget details supplied in the proposed use of funds section of the grant application must be approved in advance (in writing) by the Woodcock Institute Executive Director.
7. By August 31^st of each year, each dissertation research award recipient must submit a one-page report specifying how the funds were used, which must be signed by the chair or head of the department or the student's faculty advisor. If the dissertation has not been completed in the one-year cycle of the grant awards, a final report must be submitted to the Woodcock Institute when the dissertation is completed. More details will be provided to each award recipient about this final documentation.