The broad fields of competition are based on the CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award and alternates between Biological/Life Science and Humanitiesand Fine Arts or Social Sciences and Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering every two years. For 2023 , the fields are Biological Sciences/Life Sciences and Humanities and Fine Arts. Consult CGS/ProQuest solicitation for more about this years categories.
Below is a non-inclusive list of the the fields considered to belong to the broader fields. These are general dissertation/research topic fields - not majors. Please email ugsaward@indiana.edu if you have any questions.
Biological/Life Sciences fields includes biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields.
Humanities field include history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches.
Social Sciences field includes agricultural economics; geography; anthropology; archaeology; economics; education; sociology; government (political science); demography; and psychology.
Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering fields include mathematics; statistics; computer sciences; data processing; systems analysis; chemistry; earth sciences; physics; geology; meteorology; astronomy; metallurgy; geophysics; pharmaceutical chemistry; aeronautical, architectural, biomedical, ceramic, chemical, civil, and electrical engineering sciences; environmental health engineering; geological, mechanical, mining, nuclear, and petroleum engineering.
Each degree-granting program of The University Graduate School is allowed one nominee of a "truly outstanding" dissertation in each category . Nominations may be made by the Director of Graduate Studies or Departmental Chair by submitting the following:
- Completed nomination form
- Three letters of support, of which one must be from the nominee’s dissertation supervisor, another from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee, and the third from a person of the nominee’s choice. These letters should evaluate the significance and quality of the nominee's dissertation work.
- A curriculum vitae (not to exceed five pages)
- A non-technical 1,000 word abstract which can be easily understood by all of the members of the Awards Committee (who come from a wide variety of different disciplines spanning the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
- An abstract of the dissertation not to exceed ten pages (appendices containing other material, such as charts, tables, and/or references may be included as additional pages)
- An electronic copy of the dissertation.
- If selected, dissertation must be in ProQuest database to be eligible to be nominated for CGS/ProQuest Ph.D. Distinguished Dissertation
