Summer Dissertation Working Group applications due April 25
The Graduate School will select one cohort of 15 current PhD students from across the humanities and humanistic social science disciplines to participate in the summer dissertation writing group.
The writing group seeks to develop students’ skills as writers and as managers of long-term academic projects, while, at the same time, counteracting the isolating work practices typical of the dissertation writing phase of the PhD program.
Together, with intensive faculty mentorship and professional development activities, the combined elements of the dissertation writing group program will help students build sustainable writing habits and enhanced ability to contribute to a cross-disciplinary intellectual community. Students selected to participate will receive a $500 professional development grant to support research and conference travel in the following year.
PhD students who have advanced to candidacy, have an approved dissertation prospectus, and will be using a University Fellowship, rather than teaching, in 2025-26, are eligible for application to the program.
Application materials include:
- a cover letter of no more than one page, detailing where you are in the writing of your dissertation and the reasons you wish to participate in this group
- a graduate transcript
- a very brief letter from your dissertation advisor indicating your readiness to participate in the program.
All materials, with the exception of the recommendation, must be submitted as a single PDF document. Applications are due on Friday, April 25, and should be submitted directly to Bridget Nixon (bridget.nixon@yale.edu).
Send questions to Dean Pamela Schirmeister (pamela.schirmeister@yale.edu). Applications are reviewed by a committee of faculty and administrators with oversight for the program. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions shortly after the application deadline.