The Pillars of Discovery: Summer Dissertation Writing Fellowship supports PhD students who have completed comprehensive exams and are engaged in research and writing toward completion of the dissertation or equivalent culminating project. The fellowship is designed to provide sustained summer support, structured writing accountability, and measurable research progress.
Submissions are due February 15. Please note that if the deadline falls on the weekend, the application is due on the preceding Friday.
Program Overview
The Pillars of Discover fellowship provides intensive summer support for dissertation research and writing, with an emphasis on steady progress toward degree completion. Fellows will participate in a required writing group and will enroll in a 1-credit graduate research course, which will be graded by the student’s advisor based on documented progress over the summer.
Up to eight fellowships will be awarded, subject to available funds.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Missouri throughout the academic year in which the application is submitted.
- Have successfully completed comprehensive examinations prior to the start of the summer fellowship term (completed D3 must be submitted/on file with the Graduate School).
- Plan to enroll in (at minimum) 1-credit hour of doctoral research during the summer term for which the fellowship is awarded.
- The student will NOT hold summer work responsibilities at Mizzou (i.e., student employment, assistantship).
- Be in good academic and departmental standing according to Graduate School and department/unit policies.
- Maintain enrollment at Mizzou through the fall term following the summer fellowship term.
Additional eligibility parameters:
- Students holding 9-month Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) remain eligible.
- Student may hold other fellowships concurrently, provided those awards allow summer funding, do NOT provide summer funding, and there is no conflict with institutional policies.
- Student may NOT be a Dissertation Year Fellowship (DYF) recipient.
Each department or program must provide an eligibility letter confirming the applicant’s academic standing, progress toward degree completion, and readiness for intensive summer research and writing.
Award and Funding
Each fellowship includes:
- A summer stipend of $7,500.
- Coverage of resident tuition for one (1) credit hour of doctoral research enrollment.
One credit hour of resident tuition (non-resident tuition will be waived) will be paid directly by the fellowship program. Departments and students should coordinate with Karen Gruen in the Graduate School for assistance with the billing process. The Fellowship portion will be disbursed via Financial Aid; please be aware that there may be tax implications associated with this award. It is the student’s responsibility to pay any associated taxes.
Program Requirements and Expectations
Fellows must:
- Enroll in a 1-credit doctoral research course supervised by their advisor (e.g., 9090, 9095) in their home department for the summer term.
- Develop and follow a summer research/writing plan that includes concrete milestones (e.g., chapters drafted, data analyzed, articles submitted).
- Participate in a structured writing community throughout the summer (e.g., scheduled writing groups, social writing sessions, or writing retreats) coordinated by the Graduate School, Writing Center, or department.
- Submit brief mid-summer and end-of-summer progress reports to , including evidence of participation in writing activities and progress toward stated goals.
- Receive a satisfactory (S) grade in the 1-credit research course, based upon advisor expectations and on documented progress and engagement with the writing group.
Failure to meet participation or progress expectations may affect the final course grade and could impact eligibility for future Graduate School funding opportunities.
Application Requirements
All application materials are submitted through InfoReady.
- Online application form (basic information, program, agreement to not engage in other university work over summer and contact details).
- 1 page project statement describing the dissertation project, current stage, specific summer goals, and how the fellowship will facilitate timely completion.
- 1-page summer work plan outlining concrete milestones and a proposed writing schedule (including intended participation in writing groups/social writing).
- Current CV (2 pages) highlighting academic achievements and progress toward the degree.
- Eligibility and endorsement letter on departmental letterhead, signed by the Graduate Director or Department Chair, confirming:
- The applicant’s doctoral status and successful completion of comprehensive exams.
- Good academic standing.
- Agreement that the student will enroll in 1 credit hour of research during the summer term.
- A brief statement of support for the applicant’s proposed summer research and their readiness to benefit from the fellowship.
Timeline
- Call for Proposals announced: December
- Application deadline: Mid-February
- Departmental eligibility letters: same due date
- Award notifications: Mid-March, prior to spring break
- Fellowship period: Summer 2026
Questions
For questions about eligibility or application materials, contact Kristine Mallinson at kristine.mallinson@missouri.edu.
For tuition billing for the 1-credit research enrollment or other financial questions, contact Karen Gruen gruenk@missouri.edu.