Call for Proposals: Dissertation Fellowship Program (US)

The program is funded by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and provides funding opportunities for doctoral candidates to pursue cutting-edge research on retirement or disability issues. Individuals from historically underserved or underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Focus Areas

• Dissertation proposals must be focused on at least one of SSA’s research focal areas:
  • Understanding service needs and improving service delivery
  • Studying causes and inequities of overpayment and underpayment
  • Addressing barriers to disability and SSI programs participation and processes
  • Understanding and improving communication
  • Identifying disparities by race, ethnicity, and sex
  • Examining economic security of program applicants and beneficiaries
  • Addressing employment barriers for people with disabilities

Funding Information

• Two $28,000 fellowships will be awarded to doctoral candidates enrolled in an accredited program at a U.S. university.

Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum Requirements for Fellowship Applicants:
  • Applicant must be enrolled in a qualified doctoral program at a U.S. university.
  • Applicant must have completed all coursework and have completed the appropriate examinations or qualifications to be considered A.B.D.
  • Applicants must have a dissertation proposal focused on one of SSA’s Research Focal Areas.
  • Applicants must have a dissertation advisor and committee.
  • Applicants must have the chair of the dissertation committee approve the research methodology using the provided form.
  • Applicants cannot receive other federal funding concurrently with this fellowship. Please contact the CRR if you have a potential conflict.

Review Criteria

• Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from the RDRC and SSA. The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:
  • Relevance to retirement or disability policy as listed in the Research Focal Areas section.
  • Evidence that the candidate has passed any or all comprehensive and/or special area exams associated with A.B.D. status.
  • Qualifications of the applicant.
  • Dissertation advisor and committee members.
  • A proposal that has been formally approved by the student’s full dissertation committee.
  • Research design and methodology.
  • Research proposal schedule and timeline

Application Requirements

• All applicants must complete the online submission form. Required components of the online application include:
  • Contact information, institutional affiliation, and education history.
  • Research proposal (PDF attachment).
  • Current CV.
  • Electronic copy of doctoral transcript (scanned copies and/or degree audits are permitted).
  • Name and contact information of two people writing letters of recommendation.
  • Signed form from dissertation committee chair approving the research methodology.

For more information, visit Center for Retirement Research.