The Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture (VCEA) requests nominations for the 2026 VCEA Dissertation Award. This award is for doctoral candidates and it recognizes the quality of the dissertation and/or innovation of the research conducted.
Lead: Associate Dean of Research (H. Beyenal)
Nomination Guidelines and Eligibility
- This award is open to all doctoral candidates in good standing with an approved dissertation proposal who have passed their preliminary exam and expect to complete and defend their dissertation during the nine-month (academic year) period in which the award is offered (e.g., for the VCEA dissertation award offered in spring 2026, the student should plan to defend their thesis in fall 2026 or spring 2027).
- Nominations must be coordinated through schools, departments, or centers, and only one nomination may be submitted per unit.
- Previous award winners are not eligible.
- The nomination should consist of:
- a brief statement (written by the student on their department letterhead, no more than 1 page in length) that summarizes relevant research and current GPA standing,
- a letter of support by the student’s advisor,
- a 1,000-word dissertation prospectus,
- a nine-month schedule listing dissertation completion benchmarks,
- a CV that demonstrates the highest levels of excellence in scholarship, and
- an unofficial transcript.