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There is an increasing amount of discussion recently about the need for universities to provide better professional development opportunities for their PhD students in the humanities. The following articles provide important perspectives.

First, Kaustuv Basu focuses on innovative ways that some schools — in this article, Harvard, Stanford, and U Michigan — are shortening the time to degree in humanities fields: The Radical New Humanities PhD.

Next, Felicia B. LeClere highlights the debate within the field of history regarding training for non-academic careers. LeClere asserts that the production of knowledge has long existed outside of the university walls (as well as inside them), and that collaborating with non-academics is an important skill that must be part of graduate training: “Plan B” and Bob Dylan.

What do you think?

Event Date(s): April 20, 2012

Time: 9:00 am-11:00 am

Location: W32 Machmer Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Description: Advice on how to write National Science Foundation dissertation funding proposals and information about the merit review process. NSF Program Director Regina Werum will read proposals sent in advance and provide feedback.

This is short notice, but if there is still room it would be a worthwhile way to spend your Friday morning! Registration is necessary — details after the jump.

Read more…

The Rachel Tanur Memorial Prize in Visual Sociology, sponsored by the Social Science Research Council, invites entries to its competition in photography and interpretation.

Awards: first prize, $2,500; second prize, $1,500; third prize, $500.

Eligibility: any graduate student in a social science field. There is no citizenship requirement.

This is a two-phase application in which you interpret two photographs by writing two, 4,000-character (approx. 500-word) essays. In the first phase, you choose a photograph by Rachel Tanur, available on the website, and write about it. In the second phase, you upload your own photograph, accompanied by your essay. Sample essays are available on the website. The application is online, along with further instructions. Be sure to click on “Apply” in the side menu, then choose “Criteria” before filling out the application.

Deadline: April 20, 2012.

More info…

Here’s a UMass PhD recipient (Comparative Lit.), who was awarded a Mellon ACLS Fellowship during her time at UMass, discussing the components of an application to a major fellowship competition.

If you’re a U.S. citizen seeking funding to conduct research abroad, this is an excellent opportunity to get information about graduate research funding through the Fulbright Scholars Program.

Overwhelmed by your data? Unsure how to organize for maximum efficiency? Confused about copyright issues? Check out this library-sponsored workshop for UMass grad students:

Data Management Basics: a Workshop for Graduate Students
Tuesday, March 27
Du Bois Library, room 2601
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided.

RSVP with specific questions and/or issues that you would like to address regarding data management in the context of your research.
Email datamanagement@library.umass.edu by March 9 to reserve a spot.

Open to all graduate students, this workshop will give an overview of why data management is important (federal mandates, efficiency), good data management practices (organization, documentation, and storage) and data management issues such as copyright, ethics, and publication. We will also address specific data management questions that are sent in by March 9. This is not a hands-on workshop for specific software programs, but aims to give students a general overview of best practice for data management.

This workshop is hosted by the Libraries’ Data Working Group.

Note that GSGS is not sponsoring this workshop, but it looks like a great opportunity to get good advice on organizing your research. For more info, be sure to contact the library folks at the email address above.

Two resident scholar programs are open for applications. This competition is for research that will take place during the 2013 calendar year.

The Spencer Baird Society program supports research in an extensive range of subject areas in the Special Collections of various Smithsonian Institution-affiliated libraries in Washington, DC and New York, NY.

The Dibner Library program supports research using the rare books and manuscripts collections at the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Award: Each offers a stipend of $3,500 per month for one to six months.

Eligibility: Open to doctoral students. There is no citizenship requirement; however, it is expected that the candidate will be able to conduct research in English. There are further language requirements for the Dibner Library fellowship.

Deadline: March 15, 2012.

Read more…

A thought-provoking article on the usefulness of humanities degrees outside of academia. Read more…

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has opened this year’s competition for its summer program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.

Graduate students and researchers from a variety of fields who share a common interest in the nonlinear dynamics of rotating, stratified fluids share an intense ten-week research experience, and vigorous discussions of concepts that span different disciplines. Fellows pursue a research project under the supervision of the staff and present a lecture and a written report for a proceedings volume.

Award: Fellows accepted to participate in the GFD Program will receive a stipend $5,500 and an allowance for travel expenses within the United States. Fellows are expected to be in residence for the full ten weeks of the program (this year, June 18 to August 24).

Eligibility: Applicants must be graduate students in any field sharing a common interest in the nonlinear dynamics of rotating, stratified fluids. These fields include classical fluid dynamics, physical oceanography, meteorology, astrophysics, planetary atmospheres, geological fluid dynamics, hydromagnetics, physics and applied mathematics. There is no citizenship requirement.

Deadline: February 15, 2012

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Here’s something to read and review when the holiday rush is over and we have those few precious weeks off campus in January:

As we know, grad students don’t really get a break. If you’re preparing to submit a grant or fellowship application between now and March, these next weeks are your chance to write and polish your proposal. And if you’re planning to submit an application next fall (yes, I said it), the spring semester is the time to start drafting your proposal(s). So follow the link for some tips to help you re-organize and work more effectively in 2012 and beyond.

Read more…

Have a safe and joyous holiday season, and best wishes for the coming year!