DCII Graduate Student Summer Research & Writing Fellowship 2026 (SMU) — Funding up to $4,000

The Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute (DCII) at Southern Methodist University has opened applications for its Graduate Student Summer Research and Writing Fellowship Program 2026. The fellowship supports SMU graduate students who want dedicated summer time to carry out research or writing on interdisciplinary topics, while also working alongside a small cohort of peers with shared academic interests.

About the Fellowship

The DCII Summer Fellowship is designed to remove financial pressure so graduate students can focus fully on research or writing during the summer months. Fellows receive funding as a summer salary and gain access to an academic cohort where they can share ideas, discuss challenges, and present findings.

This is not only a funding opportunity — it is also a structured research environment that helps students move their thesis, dissertation, or major academic project forward in a meaningful way.

Students will:

• Share research plans in a late-spring cohort meeting

• Work on their project full-time during summer

• Present research results during fall cohort sessions

• (If on campus) attend optional research discussion meetups

Who Can Apply (Eligibility)

The fellowship is open to all SMU graduate students who will remain enrolled in Fall 2026.

However, selection preference will be given to:

• Students affiliated with Dedman College

• Students who have not previously received a DCII Fellowship

The goal is to support as many different researchers as possible.

Funding Amount

• Award: Up to $4,000

• Payment Type: Summer salary support

The amount awarded may vary depending on the applicant’s total summer budget and other funding sources.

Application Deadline

📅 March 6, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM (local time at SMU)

Late applications are typically not considered, so applicants should prepare materials early.

What You Need to Submit

Applications must be completed online and include written responses explaining the proposed research in clear, simple language (reviewers may be outside your field).

Applicants must provide:

1. A description of the research or writing project and a summer timeline

2. How the project fits into long-term research goals and why it matters

3. Explanation of the interdisciplinary elements in the work

4. How the fellowship will help the research

5. All current or expected summer funding sources

6. A brief itemized summer budget

7. Total funding requested (up to $4,000)

8. Citations or references

You must also upload a CV (maximum 3 pages).

Letter of Recommendation

Applicants must arrange a confidential faculty letter of support from their advisor or another faculty member familiar with their research.

The letter should be emailed directly by the recommender to:
[email protected]
Subject line: Summer Fellowship Application LOS

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Interdisciplinary strength of the research

• Potential impact of the project

• Clarity of the proposal

• Feasibility of the summer work plan

• Possibility of collaboration within the cohort

The institute especially values projects that combine multiple academic fields in meaningful and creative ways.

How to Apply

Students can complete the official application here:
https://www.smu.edu/dedman/research/institutes-and-centers/dcii/fellowships/graduatestudent-summer-fellowship/graduate-student-summer-fellowship-application

Why This Fellowship Matters

Summer is often the most productive time for graduate research, but many students must take outside work to cover living costs. This fellowship directly solves that problem. With funding and a built-in academic community, students can concentrate on writing chapters, conducting fieldwork, analyzing data, or preparing publications.

For students planning academic careers or research-based industry roles completing a strong summer research project can significantly improve future fellowship, PhD, and publication opportunities.

Contact

Questions about the program may be directed to:
Dr. Karisa Cloward
Ruth Collins Altshuler Director, Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute
Email: [email protected]

Tip: Because the review committee may not be from your discipline, write your proposal as if explaining your research to an educated reader outside your field. Clear writing is often the difference between a good application and a funded one.

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