Congratulations to the following 2023 Graduate Student Award winners.
The University of Alabama Outstanding Dissertation Award
- Toai Luong, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
“The Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of Complex Structures in Materials Science”
Department Chair: David Cruz-Uribe
Advisor/Committee Chair: Shibin Dai
The University of Alabama Outstanding Thesis Award
- Olivia Radcliffe, Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
“The Ones Left Behind: The Social Determinants of Health in an Aging Population in the Northern Peruvian Highlands”
Department Chair: Jason DeCaro
Advisor/Committee Chair: Kathryn Oths
Outstanding Non-Traditional Thesis Award
- Sandra Vega, Department of Art and Art History, College of Arts and Sciences
Department Chair: Jason Guynes
Advisor/Committee Chair: Sarah Marshall
Outstanding Research by a Master’s Student
- Samuel Boos (Physics, M.S.)
Outstanding Teaching by a Master’s Student
- Emery Ann Staggs (Biology, M.S.)
Outstanding Service by a Graduate Student
- Emily Locke (Anthropology, M.A.)
Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student
- Gil Carter (Communication Studies, Ph.D.)
Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student
- Xiaoyang Liu (Chemical Engineering, Ph.D.)
Award Nomination Process
At the beginning of the fall semester, each division (college/school) with graduate students establishes one or more committees to determine the division’s winners of the outstanding thesis, non-traditional thesis, dissertation, teaching, research and service awards. The divisional awards coordinator forwards the nomination materials of divisional winners to the Graduate School, where they compete for the University-wide awards.
NOTES:
- Divisional review committees select nominees by the deadlines listed below under the “Submission Deadline” heading. Departments need to submit the nomination materials to their divisional committees early enough so that the divisional committee can submit its nomination materials online by the deadline listed below.
- The Graduate School has appointed committees of emeritus faculty to review the theses and dissertations. The committees will review each thesis/dissertation and supporting documents online, select one outstanding UA thesis and one outstanding UA dissertation and make their recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate School.
- The Graduate Council’s Committee on Teaching, Research and Service Awards will review the materials online and select one University-wide winner within the review timeline.
At Honors Week ceremonies within the divisions of the respective winners, each of the UA winners receives a framed certificate from the Graduate School and an honorarium.
Outstanding Theses & Dissertations
Procedures
College deans appoint divisional committees of at least three graduate faculty members to review theses and dissertations submitted by the departments and to select no more than the number listed below.
| College/Division | Master’s Nominations | Doctoral Nominations |
| Arts & Sciences | Three | Three |
| Commerce & Business Administration | One | Two |
| Education | One | Three |
| Engineering | Two | One |
| All Others | One | One |
Submit the following support documents for each nominee online:
- A brief statement (no more than two pages) from the student, summarizing the major contributions of the research.
- A letter of nomination from the chair of the thesis/dissertation committee, including the following:
- Reason for nominating.
- Significance of the work to the discipline.
- Plans for publishing the work.
- Other publication efforts by the student.
NOTE: Support letters from committee members in addition to the chair are most helpful and strengthen the nomination, but such letters are not required. No more than two additional support letters should be submitted.
Do not send the Graduate School a paper or electronic copy of each nominated thesis and dissertation.
- A copy of the final Committee Acceptance Form (CAF) that includes the signatures of all committee members. Let Dr. André Denham in the Graduate School know if you have trouble locating the CAF.
Because the divisions are organized differently, specific procedures for selecting divisional winners shall be determined in the respective divisions. The general procedures are as follows:
Eligibility Period
Thesis signed by the graduate dean for graduation in December 2023, May 2024 or August 2024.
Submission Deadline
Friday, November 10, 2023.
Review Committee
Committee of Emeritus Faculty.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Outstanding Non-Traditional Thesis
This category refers to both theses that do not readily conform to the traditional model, such as those produced in MFA programs both for literature and the performing arts, as well as those that deviate from the typical disciplinary approaches. This category also includes capstone/final research-oriented projects in non-thesis degree programs.
Procedures
College deans appoint divisional committees of at least three graduate faculty members to review non-traditional theses submitted by the departments and to select no more than the number listed below.
| College/Division | Master’s Nominations |
| Arts & Sciences | Three |
| Commerce & Business Administration | One |
| Education | One |
| Engineering | Two |
| All Others | One |
Submit the following in a single PDF containing the support documents for each nominee online using this link:
- A synopsis of the thesis (500-word maximum) outlining its context within the broader field, as well as how the completed research contributes to the discipline.
- An abbreviated resume or CV for the nominee (two-page maximum).
- A letter of support/endorsement from the major professor focused on the criteria by which the committee will evaluate the submitted theses. These consist of clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology, contributions to the field or discipline, etc.
- A copy of the student’s theses.
- A copy of the final Committee Acceptance Form that includes the signatures of all committee members, if applicable. Let Dr. André Denham in the Graduate School know if you have trouble locating the CAF.
Eligibility Period
Thesis signed by graduate dean for graduation between the Fall Semester 2023 – Summer Semester 2024.
Submission Deadline
Friday, November 10, 2023.
Review Committee
Graduate Council’s Awards Committee.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Outstanding Teaching by a Master’s Student
Procedures
- The individuals nominated must have been enrolled in the previous academic year, with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
- In early September the divisional dean will select the chair of the divisional awards committee and forward the name to Dr. André Denham. Divisional committees typically have at least three faculty members.
- Each department or area may nominate to the divisional committee one graduate student for the master’s award. The divisional awards coordinator uploads the dossier of the college’s winner to the Graduate School for the UA-wide competition. Please use the teaching dossier checklist on page one of the nomination to be sure it has all the required information.
- Please see the suggestions for Teaching Award Nomination letters.
Eligibility Period
Enrolled in master’s program fall 2023, spring 2024 or summer 2024.
Submission Deadline
Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Review Committee
Graduate Council’s Awards Committee.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student
Procedures
- The individuals nominated must be enrolled in the previous academic year, have a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 and must have had major responsibility for at least three-course sections.
- In early September, the divisional dean will select the chair of the divisional awards committee and forward the name to Dr. André Denham. Divisional committees should have at least three faculty members.
- Each department or area may nominate to the divisional committee one graduate student for the doctoral award. The divisional awards coordinator uploads the dossier of the college’s winner to the Graduate School for the UA-wide competition. Please use the teaching dossier checklist on page one of the nomination to be sure it has all of the required information.
- Please see the suggestions for Teaching Award Nomination letters.
Eligibility Period
Enrolled in doctoral program fall 2023, spring 2024 or summer 2024.
Submission Deadline
Friday, January 5, 2024.
Review Committee
Graduate Council’s Awards Committee.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Outstanding Research by a Master’s Student
Procedures
- The individuals nominated must have been enrolled in the previous academic year, with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 and with research involvement appropriate to the department/area.
- In early September, the divisional dean will select the chair of the divisional awards committee and forward the name to Dr. André Denham. Divisional committees typically have at least three faculty members.
- Each department/area may nominate to the divisional committee one person for the master’s research award. The materials submitted for each nominee must describe clearly (in non-technical terms) each nominee’s actual involvement in the research, with emphasis on the primary responsibilities of the student. The student’s involvement in the research activity should be extensive enough that the student would be eligible to serve as the senior author of a publication or primary presenter if the research results were presented at a conference. The divisional awards coordinator uploads the dossier of the college’s winner to the Graduate School for the UA-wide competition. Use the research dossier checklist as page one of each nominee’s searchable PDF to be sure the PDF has all the required information.
- Please see the suggestions for Research Award Nomination letters.
Eligibility Period
Enrolled in master’s program fall 2023, spring 2024 or summer 2024.
Submission Deadline
Friday, January 5, 2024.
Review Committee
Graduate Council’s Awards Committee.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student
Procedures
- The individuals nominated must have been enrolled in the previous academic year, with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 and with research involvement appropriate to the department/area.
- In early September, the divisional dean will select the chair of the divisional awards committee and forward the name to Dr. André Denham. Divisional committees typically have at least three faculty members.
- Each department/area may nominate to the divisional committee one person for the award. The materials submitted for each nominee must describe clearly (in non-technical terms) each nominee’s actual involvement in the research, with emphasis on the primary responsibilities of the student. The student’s involvement in the research activity should be extensive enough that the student would be eligible to serve as the senior author of a publication or primary presenter if the research results were presented at a conference. The nomination should clearly state what part of the body of research was completed at the doctoral level. The divisional awards coordinator uploads the dossier of the college’s winner to the Graduate School for the UA-wide competition. Use the research dossier checklist on page one of each nominee’s searchable PDF to be sure the PDF has all the required information.
- Please see the suggestions for Research Award Nomination letters.
Eligibility Period
Enrolled in doctoral program fall 2023, spring 2024 or summer 2024.
Submission Deadline
Friday, January 5, 2024.
Review Committee
Graduate Council’s Awards Committee.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Outstanding Service by a Graduate Student
Procedures
- The individuals nominated must have been enrolled in the previous academic year, with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 and must agree to be nominated.
- In early September, the divisional dean will forward the names of the divisional committee members and the name of the chair of the committee to Dr. André Denham. Divisional committees should have no fewer than three faculty members.
- Each department or area may nominate to the divisional committee one graduate student for the award.
Eligibility Period
Enrolled in master’s or doctoral program fall 2023, spring 2024 or summer 2024.
Submission Deadline
Friday, January 5, 2024.
Review Committee
Graduate Council’s Awards Committee.
Winners Selected
No later than Friday, February 2, 2024.
Criteria
- A broad range of service activities by graduate students is typical of nominations.
- The awards committee gives strong consideration to the quality, quantity, variety and duration of the nominee’s service activities.
- The service may or may not be directly related to the student’s academic discipline, and academic discipline generally is not the only area in which the student has provided exemplary service.
- If the service activities are related to the discipline, the award may recognize special service appropriate to the student’s discipline at the local, state, national or international level and/or service focused internally and directed toward the University and its students. It can recognize outstanding service activity that brings honor and recognition to the student, the student’s division, the profession and the University.
- The service must go beyond the student’s duties and responsibilities related to participation in a class, a thesis or dissertation, a graduate assistantship or any other type of paid employment.
- The service might involve the provision of in-service training to groups external to the University, in areas appropriate to one’s discipline and expertise or the provision of continuing education.
- The service might focus on the development of outcome-based research opportunities in business/industry, labor, consumer groups, schools or voluntary agencies either within or outside the academic discipline.
- The service might include an advisory role and responsibility for official student organization(s).
- The service often includes activities and outcomes related to the enhancement of student life and the overall quality of life at UA, in the community, state or region.
- The service profile typically includes volunteer activity both within and outside the academic discipline that brings honor and recognition to the student and the University. Activities outside the discipline, though not mandatory, do address the issue of “variety” of service and strengthen the nomination significantly.
Contents of the Dossier Uploaded to the Graduate School for the College’s Nominee:
- Cover memo from college or school awards committee chair, indicating that the submitted dossier is for the student who is the college or school’s award winner.
- Letter (required) from faculty member making the nomination, outlining the nominee’s qualifications for receipt of the award.
- Other support letters (optional), to a maximum of three.
- One-page student description of service activities and reasons for being involved in the activities (required).
- CV/resume (required).
For more information or questions, please contact Dr. André Denham
