The Graduate School Founder’s Dissertation Fellowships are competitive one‐semester (fall or spring) or summer dissertation completion fellowships funded by the Graduate School or SUNY system. They are available on a competitive basis to domestic advanced Ph.D. students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or Indigenous peoples of Canada eligible to register as domestic students under the Jay Treaty, or students with DACA status. Applicants demonstrate excellence in their academics, leadership, and service and have made significant contributions to Cornell’s core value to provide a community of belonging where scholars representing different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award, nominees must have received at least one year of support (e.g. teaching assistantship, training grant, etc.) from their graduate field or special committee chair and meet the following conditions:

1. Enrolled in a Cornell doctoral program for a minimum of three years by the time of nomination;
2. Will have passed the A exam prior to the award period for the fellowship. 

Priority consideration is provided to nominees expected to complete all requirements for the doctorate within three terms (spring, summer, or fall) from the semester of nomination.