Dissertation Proposal Workshop

The 2021 RIDGS Dissertation Proposal Workshop Announcement and Call for Proposals

The Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality (RIDGS) Studies Initiative presents the RIGS Dissertation Proposal Workshop (DPW). The DPW encourages applications from students from underrepresented groups and whose research engages broadly with issues of inequality with an intensive week-long dissertation proposal workshop in May 2021. In addition, we will award a $1000 stipend/fellowship.

Our focus is to support graduate students, approximately in their second to fourth years of graduate study, who are in the middle of developing their dissertation proposals. We are looking for projects in the humanities, education, policy, and the social sciences, that are committed to addressing and engaging with some of the most pressing socio-economic issues and inequalities of our time.

The RIDGS DPW workshop will run from May 17, 2021, through May 21, 2021, and active participation in this workshop is a requirement of the fellowship.

What Happens at the Workshops

  • Meet in pre-assigned, interdisciplinary small groups of graduate fellows to workshop proposals with faculty “research directors” (RD’s)/mentors
  • Meet with faculty RDs/mentors throughout the week to further develop your dissertation proposal
  • Learn more about the dissertation proposal process and grant writing
  • Interact with RIDGS affiliated faculty and staff across the University of Minnesota, as well as various Institutes and Centers across campus
  • Build relationships with graduate students and faculty outside of your program

Important Dates

Application Materials Due: NEW DEADLINE, Monday, April 5, 2021



Notification: Monday April 12, 2021 



Workshop Begins: Monday, May 17, 2021

Application Materials

Please submit the following to [email protected].

  • Dissertation Proposal Draft: (2 single-spaced pages) In addition to the brief, 2-page proposal, include a 1-page bibliography. (Note that this proposal is meant to be a tentative draft; the point of this workshop is to help you develop the proposal).
  • “Social Justice” Statement: (1 single-spaced page) A statement on your research’s intellectual engagement with, and commitment to addressing socio-economic inequalities
  • Current CV
  • One Short (1-2 page) Faculty Letter of Recommendation
For questions, please email [email protected].

This fellowship is sponsored by the Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality (RIDGS) Studies Initiative; CLA Office for Research and Graduate education; CEHD Office of Graduate and Professional Programs and Office of Undergraduate Programs, Diversity, and Equity.