Proposals are invited by doctoral students to the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant for Ph.D. students in 2021.
The Microsoft research grant for Ph.D. students at universities in the United States and Canada, who are underrepresented in the field of computing and pursuing research aligned to the research areas carried out by researchers at Microsoft.
Microsoft recognizes the value of diversity in computing. The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant aims to increase the pipeline of diverse talent receiving advanced degrees in computing-related fields by providing a research funding opportunity for doctoral students who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This includes those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQI+, and/or person with a disability.
Benefits
- The 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant recipients will receive funding up to $25,000 USD to help them complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work.
- An invitation to the Ph.D. Summit: a two-day workshop in the fall hosted by Microsoft Research where grant recipients will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research.
Eligibility
- Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Grant recipients should support this mission and embrace opportunities to foster diverse and inclusive cultures within their communities.
- Ph.D. students must be enrolled at a university in the United States or Canada.
- Proposed research must be closely related to the general research areas carried out by researchers at Microsoft.
- Students must be in their fourth year or beyond of a Ph.D. program
- Students must have started their Ph.D. in September 2017 or earlier to be considered in their fourth year of the program has taken into account transfers, approved leaves of absence, etc.
- Ph.D. students submitting a proposal for this grant must self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQI+, and/or person with a disability.
- Ph.D. students must continue to be enrolled at the university in the fall of 2021 or forfeit the award.
Application Process
The below outlines the information necessary to submit your proposal in our submission portal.
- A curriculum vitae,
- Proposals,
- letters of recommendation,
- Thesis topic description, and
- A one-page description of how the grant would be used, uploaded separately,
- URL to their professional website (optional, but strongly recommended; and must be up-to-date).
Deadline: March 22, 2021.
For more information and submission, visit the official site.
