Professional Development Graduate Award

Deadlines

  • Sunday, June 1, 2025 for professional development activities/opportunities taking place in Summer term 2025 and Fall term 2025

Recommendation letters must also be received by the stated deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The deadline for professional development activities/opportunities taking place in Winter term 2025 was December 1, 2024.

The deadline for professional development activities/opportunities taking place in Spring term 2025 was March 1, 2025.

Overview

Funded by the Division of Graduate Studies and, in part, by the Gary E. Smith Foundation, this award is designed to support outstanding graduate students pursuing activities that would enhance their skills, knowledge, and abilities beyond their academic coursework and research, preparing them for post-graduation careers and increasing their overall employability and success in their chosen fields.

Key elements of graduate student professional development may include, but are not limited to:

  • Skill Development: workshops, seminars, and training sessions to develop skills that are transferable and valuable in various professional settings, but not usually offered by the academic program/department. These skills include communication, leadership, project management, teamwork, and problem-solving.
  • Career Exploration: providing opportunities to explore potential career paths, industries, and job roles relevant and/or tangential to their academic disciplines. This could involve career fairs, networking events, and talks from professionals in different fields.
  • Career Preparation: assisting students with resume/CV writing, interview skills, and job search strategies.
  • Research and Writing/Performance Support: assisting with improving research and writing/performance skills, which are crucial for publishing research papers, preparing theses or dissertations, performances or showcases.
  • Teaching and Mentorship: offering teaching and mentorship opportunities meant to help develop instructional abilities and gain experience as educators or mentors.
  • Networking and Collaboration: encouraging students to build professional networks within and beyond their academic community, connecting with researchers, industry professionals, and alumni.
  • Ethics and Responsible Conduct: opportunities providing guidance on ethical issues related to research or work, ensuring the understanding of principles of professional integrity and responsible conduct in their field.
  • Presentation and Public Speaking: opportunities to practice and improve presentation skills to different and diverse audiences.

Graduate student professional development is aimed at empowering students to become well-rounded professionals, capable of thriving in relevant fields within industry, government, non-profit, and academia. 

Award Details

  • $2,000 is the maximum funding allowed per award.
  • Any student who has already been awarded one time a Division of Graduate Studies Professional Development Award, or a Division of Graduate Studies Professional Development Scholarship, or a Gary Smith Award, may reapply.
  • If a student applied to this award in the past but was not selected as a winner, they may reapply.
  • The award is meant to provide for professional development opportunities between in Spring term 2025 only.
  • If selected as an awardee, a student must accept that the Division of Graduate Studies will feature them on the Division's website, communication and social media. Failing to meet this condition will result in the award not being granted to the successful applicant.

Eligibility and Criteria

  • Currently enrolled Master's, Doctoral and Law students.
  • Must be a full-time enrolled student at the time of distribution.
  • Must be enrolled in Fall term 2025 if applying for the award supporting professional development activities taking place between Summer term 2025 and Fall term 2025.
  • The faculty advisor or program coordinator may be contacted for verification purposes in lieu of credit enrollment.

This award is not meant to support:

  • The completion of a course assignment.
  • The advancement of a student's progress towards graduation.
  • The completion of a program/degree requirement.graduatestudies.uoregon.edu/funding/awards/professional-development-graduate-scholarship
  • Compensating research subjects for their time.
  • An internship or externship training program required to graduate, such as a terminal internship. 

Application

The online application requires:

  • A statement of 300 words or less summarizing your proposed professional development or training enrichment activities. The statement should explain why this is a unique opportunity and how it will advance your career goals.
  • A simple budget of 300 words or less for your proposed activity. Please include any funding/sponsorship you have already secured.
  • Two Recommendations: one from your primary faculty advisor and one from another UO faculty member:
    • Enter recommenders' contact information on the application. They will receive an email with a link to provide their recommendations.
    • The letters must evaluate the activity you proposed, and must address how this specific activity will contribute to your professional development.
    • Both letters must be received by the deadline date and time. 

Apply Now

For more information, please contact the Division of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Students with Financial Aid 
Receiving this award may reduce your financial aid award. Please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to applying for this (and any other type of) support.

You may apply for this award regardless of immigration status or work eligibility.