Deadline
March 1, 2025
Overview
The purpose of this fellowship award is to recognize and support research with significant societal impact potential. This award was formally known as the UO Public Impact Fellowship.
Past successful applications showcased research on economic opportunity improvement and well-being, social justice, political participation, cultural engagement, and scientific and technical solutions to pressing social issues.
Award Details
- One award of $6,000.
- Funds will be disbursed to student billing account in equal installments each quarter or semester of the 2025-26 academic year.
Eligibility and Criteria
Master's, Doctoral and Law students who:
- Are conducting research that has substantial public value and will benefit local, national and/or global communities.
- Have a strong academic record.
- Must be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of degree requirements. Review the Division of Graduate Studies' satisfactory progress requirement here.
- Are willing to participate and/or have their research featured in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and/or Division of Graduate Studies public and donor relations efforts.
Students must:
- Be enrolled full time at the time of award distribution.
- Be enrolled the entire 2025-2026 Academic Year.
- Plan to graduate in spring or summer term 2026 (for Masters and Law students).
- or, advance to candidacy by the end of Fall term 2025 (for Doctoral students).
Applications will be judged using the following criteria:
- Student's ability to convey their research to an audience of non-specialists.
- Clarity of the direct impact of the research on a specific community as well as the potential regional, national, and global impact.
- Strength of the student's academics.
- Attention will be paid to discipline to ensure broad representation of UO graduate programs each year.
Application
Applicants must apply online. The online application includes:
- A proposal (no more than 1500 words or 3 pages, excluding works cited/references) that includes a description of your research/academic interests, how they relate to the requirements of this award, and a description of how you will use these funds. The proposal should also describe the impact the research will have on local, national, and/or global communities.
- A brief (maximum 150 words) student profile that includes previous institutions and degrees, research interests, current projects, awards and honors, work experience and career objectives, and any other noteworthy outside interests or activities
- 1 letter of recommendation from the designated UO faculty advisor:
- Enter recommenders' contact information on the application; they will receive an email with a link to upload their letters
- The letter must address the public impact of the research and verify that the student is making satisfactory progress per Division of Graduate Studies' requirements (with attention to the student’s intent to be advanced to candidacy by fall term in the case of doctoral students and anticipated completion date in the case of master’s and law students).
- 1 letter of recommendation from another UO faculty member:
- Enter recommenders' contact information on the application; they will receive an email with a link to upload their letters
- The letter should address the public impact of the research and describe the student’s academic progress
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.