PURPOSE: The Department provides Professional Advancement Scholarships as a way of recognizing doctoral candidates engaged earnestly in the search for academic, post-doctoral employment. This award acknowledges the fact that a commitment to the process of finding an academic position is itself a significant component of one’s graduate study. Being “on the market,” in other words, is essential not only for the pragmatics of finding employment but also for one’s development as a scholar.

ELIGIBILITY: Students who have completed substantial work on their dissertation, anticipate completion of the doctoral degree by summer term 2020, are actively engaged in the job search process, and have applied broadly (as opposed to “selectively”). Preference will be given to students who have not previously received the award.

AWARD: $150, distributed upon approval of application (allow 2 weeks for processing).

TO APPLY: Submit to Jade Fraley, by e-mail or hard copy, by Monday, November 25:

1. A list (by institution and department/field), of jobs/post-docs for which you have applied along with a statement justifying the scope of your search.
2. Job materials for one job

SELECTION: The selection committee consists of tenure-related comparative literature faculty. This scholarship is awarded to students whose materials demonstrate their commitment to professional advancement.

NOTIFICATION: Applicants will be notified by December 13, 2019.