Dr. Mariam K. Chamberlain was the founding president of the National Council for Research on Women, which merged with ICRW in September 2016. Dr. Chamberlain was a true visionary whose contributions to the feminist and social justice movements can be seen across the world by generations of women. Mariam was a key force in shaping and launching the women’s studies and academic research movements in the United States and worldwide through her work as a Program Officer at the Ford Foundation in the 1960s and 1970s. She provided the strategic vision, funding, and support to launch university and college-based centers and freestanding policy institutes focused on women’s issues. Mariam helped build a network of dedicated and accomplished leaders committed to advancing women, especially in academia, and helped cultivate lasting institutional support for their work.
Under Mariam’s leadership, the organization increased and promoted research on women, built alliances for collaborative work, and advanced research into policy applications. Her vision has evolved into a dynamic network of thought leaders and changes agents working to ensure more fully informed debates, policies, and practices, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and equitable world for women and girls, their families, and their communities.
Through a generous $100,000 matching grant from the Ford Foundation, the organization established the Mariam K. Chamberlain Dissertation Award to honor and extend Mariam’s vision. The Award enabled Re:Gender and now ICRW to continue Mariam’s work promoting mentorship as well as high-level scholarship. The Mariam K. Chamberlain Dissertation Award creates an opportunity for first-generation doctoral students, including immigrant students, to continue working on a dissertation under the close supervision of a senior dissertation advisor over an academic year.
$10,000 is awarded annually: $8,500 to a Ph.D. graduate student (preference is to award a student who identifies as a woman); and $1,500 to the student’s dissertation advisor—to be split among advisors if more than one advisor is supporting the student. The sum awarded to the student may be used to help fund ongoing research and associated education costs. It is expected that the sum should also help fund travel expenses related to the Award for both the student and the advisor, including a dissertation presentation when the Award period has concluded.
The student’s dissertation must be related to ICRW’s mission to advance gender equity, social inclusion, and shared prosperity. Our main thematic focus areas include gender and climate change, economic empowerment and opportunity, health and reproductive rights, and equitable social and gender norms. For more details on some of the issues on which we work, visit www.icrw.org and click on “Issues”.
The Award winner will work on her or his dissertation with the guidance of the dissertation advisor based on a jointly conceived project plan. The graduate student will be requested to make a dissertation presentation at an ICRW event prior to the award period ending. The advisor is encouraged to attend as well. During the Award period, the winning student must remain in good academic standing.
The nominees will be evaluated by an initial internal screening panel and the nominees who pass this screening will be shortlisted for evaluation by an independent selection committee of development practitioners, academics and researchers, business professionals, policy experts, and civil society leaders with deep knowledge of the field of gender and international development.
- How do I apply?
Submit an online application. Within the application, there are questions to answer directly on the form, as well as places to upload supplemental material, including your prospectus and CV, and letters of recommendation.
- What does the application process entail?
The application is split into 5 parts:
1. Student Information: including name, contact information and demographic information.
2. Dissertation Information: including project title, expected degree date, status of dissertation approval, names of your dissertation committee, and dissertation discipline.
3. Application Questions: including long-form questions about how your topic is related to ICRW’s mission, the reason your chose your topic, the contribution of your project to your disciple/field, and how your research builds on existing scholarship related to ICRW’s main thematic areas.
4. Application Supplements: including your prospectus and CV.
5. Reference Letters: including a letter of reference from your dissertation advisor, and at least 1 other academic reference. - Does the application have to be sent by the application due date, or does it have to be received by that date?
Applications and all supporting materials, including reference letters, CVs, and transcripts, must be electronically submitted by no later that 11:59pm EST on the due date.
- What font and line spacing should I use for my prospectus? Can I include charts and other graphics in my narrative?
Please use 11-point font, 1.5 line spacing, and 1-inch margins for your prospectus. Charts and diagrams are acceptable but must be included in the page limitations.
- What kind of references do I need to have?
Please provide 2-3 references to support your application. One reference must be from your dissertation advisor. Letters of references will be uploaded by you to your application. References must be in PDF format and signed by the individual giving the reference. Your letters of reference are due with your application by the due date. No exceptions.
- Can I provide supplementary materials with my application, such as an article or video?
Please do not provide supplementary materials beyond what is requested in the application. We will request additional materials as needed.
- Is there are interview component to the application?
No.
- When will the final winner be notified?
The selection process usually takes 4-8 weeks from the application due date. Please check the Mariam K. Chamberlain Award webpage for the current due date and projected selection date.
- How do I know if my project has won the award?
Due to the high volume of submissions, only the winner of the award will be contacted.
- Must I be a U.S. citizen to apply?
No. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and non-citizens are invited to apply. However, applicants must be enrolled at an accredited institution in the U.S.
- I am currently studying at a university in another country. Am I eligible to apply?
No. The award is for students enrolled in U.S.-based, accredited academic institutions that confer doctoral degrees. However, students of any nationality or citizenship are eligible.
- Another member of my family has received a doctoral degree. Am I eligible for this award?
No. The applicant must be first generation doctoral student, defined by ICRW as the first of their family to seek a doctoral degree.
- What is the selection process for the awardee?
The nominees will be evaluated by an initial internal screening panel and the nominees who pass this screening will be shortlisted for evaluation by an independent selection committee of development practitioners, academics and researchers, business professionals, policy experts, and civil society leaders with deep knowledge of the field of gender and international development.
- What criteria will be considered in the selection process?
The internal and external selection committees, comprised of experts in the field, will consider the following: the applicant’s qualifications; the proposed project’s consistency with ICRW’s mission to advance gender equity, inclusion, and shared prosperity; and the project’s originality, rigor, and projected contribution to the field. Preference is given to a student who identified as a woman.
- Are the specific focus areas the only one that will be considered?
Yes. The dissertation proposal but support ICRW’s mission to advance gender equity, inclusion, and shared prosperity. It must also complement our main thematic focus areas, which including gender and climate change, economic empowerment and opportunity, health and reproductive rights, and equitable social and gender norms.
- How many projects can each student propose?
One. Please choose and submit a single proposal for your strongest idea.
- Will ICRW give feedback if my application is not chosen?
No. ICRW will not comment on applications after making the award decision. All applications and supporting materials become the property of ICRW and, as such, will not be returned.
- I am currently applying to other awards as well. If I receive the Mariam K. Chamberlain Award, can I simultaneously apply for other awards?
Yes
- What is the award amount?
The award is $10,000 in total — $8,500 for the student and $1,500 for the advisor or to be split among advisors if there are multiple.
- How many awards are made annually?
One award. There will be one student-and-advisor team receiving the award each year.
- How may I spend the award?
For students, the award may cover expenses including tuition, fees, books, room-and-board, research-related expenses, or travel expenses related to the dissertation project. For the advisor, the fund may be used to support travel and attendance costs to be present at the student’s dissertation presentation at an ICRW evet. Funds will be distributed directly to individual members of the winning team in two installments.
- Can this award help cover school tuition or other related expenses?
Yes.
- How long do I have to spend the award?
The award period of approximately 1 year long. For the 2022-2023 Mariam K. Chamberlain Award, the award period is February 2023 – December 2023.
- Does this award require the winner to relocate? No.
No.
- Will there be additional resources to complete the proposed project? For example, travel funds?
No. The winning student and advisor are expected to cover any award-related expenses from their prize money.
- If I decide not to apply to the Mariam K. Chamberlain award, is there another way to be connected to ICRW and it’s work?
Yes. Joining our email list is the best way to stay up-to-date on our current activities. You can subscribe here.
- Is there an opportunity to continue working with ICRW after the award period ends?
This award does not lead to a paid staff position at ICRW. However, we encourage all winners to join our network, check our current job postings on our website, and continue sharing your work with ICRW!
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