Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship in Biography

Applicants must have completed all course work, passed all preliminary examinations and received approval for a dissertation proposal. Students who have already received a dissertation fellowship are not eligible. The fellowship is open to students in all fields, provided that the dissertation is biographical in its methods and focus.

The application period opens September 1 and closes February 15. The winner will be announced no later than May 1, with funding to be used for the upcoming academic year.

Selection Criteria and Review Process

A review committee of published BIO-member biographers will evaluate applications using the following criteria:

• Scholarly significance of the proposed biography
• Caliber of the applicant’s writing
• Qualifications of the applicant
• Feasibility of the project and proposed schedule

BIO does not provide feedback to the applicants nor reconsider applications once a decision has been announced. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in the future.

Application Components

1. Narrative description of dissertation topic, no more than 1,000 words
2. Writing sample, ideally part of a dissertation chapter, not to exceed 15 double-spaced pages
3. Applicant’s background in the form of a CV, no more than 3 single-spaced pages
4. Projected timeline for completion of the dissertation
5. Transcript of graduate coursework
6. Recommendation from the applicant’s dissertation advisor, written on university letterhead. The advisor must verify acceptance of the dissertation proposal and submit the letter by email directly to BIO’s Executive Director. The subject line should read “BIO Kitty Kelley Fellowship” followed by the applicant’s last name.

The entire application (A-E) should be submitted as a single PDF file. The adviser’s recommendation (F) should be sent separately. The PDF document should be titled “Kitty Kelley Fellowship,” followed by the applicant’s last name.

The application should be formatted with one-inch margins on 8.5 x 11-inch (letter-size) paper. Each component should be clearly delineated, with page breaks between separate components.

Applicant components (A-E) should be submitted via this form by February 15. The adviser’s letter should be emailed no more than two weeks after this date.

The fellowship recipient must notify BIO of acceptance by May 15 and inform BIO of any significant changes to plans during the fellowship year. At the year’s end, the recipient must submit a report detailing the dissertation’s current status and progress. Questions regarding income tax matters should be directed to a financial advisor or the IRS, as BIO cannot provide tax advice.