The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant is a research grant for PhD students at U.S. and Canadian universities who are members of groups underrepresented in computing. The application deadline is 22nd March 2021 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. This award is for anyone who belongs to any of these groups: Women, African-Americans / Blacks, Latinos, American Indians / Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians / Pacific Islanders, and / or people with disabilities. The award is for students at universities in U.S. and Canada.
About the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant 2021 for Doctoral Students
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 from groups under represented in computing (women, African-Americans/Blacks, Latinos, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and/or people with disabilities).
Eligibility Criteria
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. So, grant recipients should support this mission and embrace opportunities to foster diverse and inclusive cultures within their communities.
Below are the eligibility criteria
- PhD students must be studying at a university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
- Proposed research must be closely related to the general research areas carried out by Microsoft Research as noted in the Research areas tab above.
- PhD 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, and/or person with a disability.
- Students must be in their fourth year or beyond in a PhD program when they submit their grant proposal. Students must be in PhD program in September 2017 or earlier to be eligible in their fourth year of the program.
- PhD students must continue to be studying at the university in the fall of 2021.
Payment of the award will be made directly to the university and dispersed according to the university’s policies. Microsoft will have discretion as to how any remaining funds will be used if the student is no longer qualified to receive funding (e.g. if the student unenrolls from the program, graduates, or transfers to a different university). Grants are not available for extension. However, leaves of absence will be considered on a case by case basis.
A recipient of the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant subject to disciplinary proceedings for inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), or plagiarism will forfeit their funding.
Value of Award
The 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant recipients will receive funding up to $25,000 USD for academic year 2021-22 to help them complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work.
In addition, they will receive an invitation to the PhD Summit. This is a two-day workshop at one of Microsoft Research’s labs where fellows will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research.
How to Apply for Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant
Doctoral students in their fourth year or beyond of PhD studies and who are under represented in the field of computing must submit their proposal directly.
For more information about the program, visit the Program Webpage.
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