Funding Opportunities
We are pleased to announce the availability of the Graduate Educational Fund, made possible by a generous donation from Sarah Hall, an alumna of the Class of '84. This fund will provide fellowship funding for graduate students pursuing their Ph.D. studies. This fund aims to support the academic and research endeavors of our students.
*Open to all students*
- Number of Awards: Up to four awards
- Amount per Award: $4,000, to be added to RA or TA stipend over two semesters (fall, spring, or summer)
- Eligibility:
- One award will be allocated to each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth-year Ph.D. students.
- Students in their 2nd to 4th year may apply.
- Ph.D graduate students must be in good standing.
- Preference will be given to students who have completed the following milestones on time, as appropriate:
First semester: Interview at least three graduate research faculty and select a research advisor
Second semester: Appointment of the doctoral advisory committee
Third/fourth semester: presentation of the first graded seminar
Summer of the second year: take written and oral Ph.D. Candidacy Exam
Fifth semester: appointment of Ph.D. dissertation committee
Sixth semester: Prepare and present Ph.D. Dissertation Prospectus
Seventh semester: Presentation of the second graded seminar
Eighth semester or later: Ph.D. dissertation defense
To apply for the fellowship, candidates must submit the following materials:
- Cover Letter: A brief letter expressing your interest in the fellowship and outlining your qualifications (for example, your milestones or timeline).
- Statement of Research: A research statement of 2 to 4 pages that outlines your research interests, objectives, and significance. This statement should clearly articulate your research questions, methodology, and expected contributions to the field. Additionally, include details about your papers to be published and how this funding will support your work.
- Brief Bio: This should include your GPA, details of papers published, conference abstracts, and any relevant academic achievements. Also, include whether your published or accepted papers are in the top 15% of journals based on journal rankings created by Web of Science (Journal Citation Reports (JCR)).
- Funding Information: Include information about your supervisor's external fundings as well any proposals they have submitted within the past year.
- Letter of Support: A letter of support from your advisor, detailing your qualifications and potential for success in your research endeavors.
All applications should be submitted electronically to Jingdong Mao (jmao@odu.edu) by **.
We encourage all eligible graduate students to apply for this valuable opportunity to further their academic and research pursuits. Please refer to the rubric for the evaluation of the award for details. Should you have any questions regarding the application process or eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact Jingdong Mao (jmao@odu.edu). Fellowship recipients may list the award on their CV, for example: 2025 Sarah Hall Graduate Fellowship. We look forward to receiving your applications and supporting your academic journey!
- Number of Awards: Up to four awards
- Amount per Award: $4,000, to be added to RA or TA stipend over two semesters (fall, spring, or summer)
- Eligibility:
- One award will be allocated to each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth-year Ph.D. students.
- Students in their 2nd to 4th year may apply.
- Ph.D graduate students must be in good standing.
- Preference will be given to students who have completed the following milestones on time, as appropriate:
First semester: Interview at least three graduate research faculty and select a research advisor
Second semester: Appointment of the doctoral advisory committee
Third/fourth semester: presentation of the first graded seminar
Summer of the second year: take written and oral Ph.D. Candidacy Exam
Fifth semester: appointment of Ph.D. dissertation committee
Sixth semester: Prepare and present Ph.D. Dissertation Prospectus
Seventh semester: Presentation of the second graded seminar
Eighth semester or later: Ph.D. dissertation defense
To apply for the fellowship, candidates must submit the following materials:
- Cover Letter: A brief letter expressing your interest in the fellowship and outlining your qualifications (for example, your milestones or timeline).
- Statement of Research: A research statement of 2 to 4 pages that outlines your research interests, objectives, and significance. This statement should clearly articulate your research questions, methodology, and expected contributions to the field. Additionally, include details about your papers to be published and how this funding will support your work.
- Brief Bio: This should include your GPA, details of papers published, conference abstracts, and any relevant academic achievements. Also, include whether your published or accepted papers are in the top 15% of journals based on journal rankings created by Web of Science (Journal Citation Reports (JCR)).
- Funding Information: Include information about your supervisor's external fundings as well any proposals they have submitted within the past year.
- Letter of Support: A letter of support from your advisor, detailing your qualifications and potential for success in your research endeavors.
All applications should be submitted electronically to Jingdong Mao (jmao@odu.edu) by **.
We encourage all eligible graduate students to apply for this valuable opportunity to further their academic and research pursuits. Please refer to the rubric for the evaluation of the award for details. Should you have any questions regarding the application process or eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact Jingdong Mao (jmao@odu.edu). Fellowship recipients may list the award on their CV, for example: 2025 Sarah Hall Graduate Fellowship. We look forward to receiving your applications and supporting your academic journey!
*Domestic Students Only*
- Total: $30,000
- At least 3 awards, $5,000 each for two years
Both awards will be provided as additional stipends.
Priority
Based on discussions with Dean Dodge, the top priority is recruiting new students. All first-tier, qualified students should be offered this bonus. The second priority is awarding fellowships to existing students.
Travel awards and emergency funds are not a priority at this time. Any remaining funds from the Sarah Hall Graduate Fellowship and Monarch Ph. D Fellowship may be allocated for travel awards and emergency funds.
Looking to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ?
Here we could have some information regarding the application/approval process for these programs. It would be beneficial to have this page function for both current and prospective students, since the links above will likely work for both.
Departmental Highlights
