Graduate School at UMBC

Dissertation Fellowship Fall 2026 

Application Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026

Overview: The UMBC Dissertation Fellowship provides promising doctoral candidates with the financial support necessary to focus on writing and completing their dissertations. This fellowship grants students the critical time and resources needed to expedite the final stages of their degree.

Eligibility & Conditions:

Except in extraordinary circumstances, these awards are limited to one term per student. To be considered, Ph.D. candidates must be in good academic standing. Additionally, they must have:

●        No other financial support: This fellowship is strictly for students who do not have UMBC-administered financial support (such as an assistantship) during the fall term. Note: Funding status will be verified prior to application review and applicants with a GA contract through fall 2026 will not be reviewed.

●        Time to commit and focus on writing: Recipients must commit at least 20 hours per week exclusively to dissertation writing for the entire fall term. No other work assignments, besides dissertation writing, may be associated with this fellowship.

Award Details (Fall 2026):

The fellowship is awarded for the summer term only and includes:

●      A maximum stipend of $12,500.

●      Tuition remission for 9 credits of course 899 (billed at 2 credits). Please note: The university provides tuition remission for the cost of 899 tuition only. Fellowship recipients are required to pay all mandatory fees associated with 899 registration.

Selection Criteria:

A committee selected by the Graduate School Leadership Team will review applications. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate that this award will provide the critical support needed to complete their writing, finalize revisions, and successfully defend their dissertation within the fellowship period (by the end of the fall term). Selection is based heavily on the applicant's readiness to finish, and the quality and feasibility of their management plan.

Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following documentation as a single PDF:

1. Fill out the application form with your information (attached).

2. Letter of Support from the Chair of the Dissertation Committee that:

○      Describes the current state of the dissertation and the probable impact of the Fellowship on the student's progress.

○      Verifies that no UMBC-administered financial support is available for the student.

     3. Management Plan (1–2 pages), written by the applicant and signed by the Chair of the Dissertation Committee. This must describe the dissertation format (regular or 3-essay/paper), status of the dissertation work, remaining steps, and a timeline for completion of those steps.

    4. Research Abstract for Lay Audience (maximum 1 page), written by the applicant in plain language for a non-expert audience, describing their research and its relevance.

    5. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (most recent version). Example of CV.

    6. Employer Documentation(if applicable): If employed outside the university, written evidence from the employer indicating a willingness to reduce the student's job hours and duties during the fellowship.

   7. Optional Statement: A brief response to the prompt: "Is there anything else you would like the committee to know about your situation and the need for a Dissertation Fellowship?"

Submission & Deadlines

●        Deadline: Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, July 10, 2026.

●        How to Apply: Email your completed application as a single PDF to dissertationfellowship@umbc.edu.

●        Notification: Recipients will be announced by Friday, July 31, 2026.

The application is attached.

Traffic around the arena will be very heavy beginning at 7:30am on 6/5/2026 and throughout the day to accommodate two high school graduations. Graduation start times are 9am and 1:30pm. Faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to avoid entering campus from I-195, as parking on the east side of campus will be difficult to access. Please plan to park in any available legal permit space across campus. Parking Services will be enforcing parking regulations for safety concerns only. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to manage increased traffic and event activity

We are currently experiencing technical issues with the Dine On Campus website.

While we work to resolve the issue, please refer to the attached Hours of Operation flyer for the most up-to-date dining hours and locations.

Thank you for your patience!

UMBC Dining Services

Executive Council Members

Council Members:

       President: Nico Bartolomeo (nicolab2@umbc.edu)
       Vice President: Marley Cosgrove (marleyc1@umbc.edu)

Advisor: Dr. Matthew Kvalheim (kvalheim@umbc.edu)

Consultant: Dr. Justin Webster, Undergraduate Program Director (websterj@umbc.edu)

The RAC is looking for a student photographer to start in the fall semester. This is a paid on campus job. Details and how to apply below. They will be reviewing applicants soon!

This position would be grat for any student who wants to build some professional experience in photography. 

Any questions about the position can be directed to Alea Shilling (aleab@umbc.edu), Assistant Athletic Director of RAC. 

RAC Student Photographer Position Description: 
UMBC Recreation is seeking a student photographer for the fall semester to support the promotion and documentation of campus recreation programs and activities. This role focuses on capturing dynamic, action-oriented photography that highlights the energy, engagement, and atmosphere of intramural sports, club sports, and recreational events. The ideal candidate enjoys sports and event photography and has an eye for storytelling through fast-paced, authentic moments in a recreational setting. The photographer will play an important role in showcasing campus recreation through high-quality images used for marketing, social media, and the RAC website.

Timeframe/Semester:
The position will begin in the fall semester, with the option to continue into the spring.

Modality:
Hybrid. Photography work will be completed in person at events, while editing and related tasks can be done remotely. If structured as an internship, this may be adjusted based on academic or departmental requirements.

Hours per Week:
Approximately 5 hours per week.

Student Responsibilities:

• Capture photos of club sports, intramural events, and other recreation special events/classes
• Provide content for use on the website and social media platforms

Desired Traits:

• Personable and professional
• Dependable, including punctual attendance at scheduled activities and meetings
• Organized and detail-oriented

Compensation:
We have a couple of options available:

• Hourly rate of $15/hour
• Alternatively, an internship-based structure may be possible depending on departmental alignment (similar to our current arrangement with Public Health). We are open to discussing what works best.

Additional Requirements / Notes:

• Willingness and ability to travel off campus for select events, if needed

Application Materials & Submission:
Please submit the following via email to Alea Shilling at aleab@umbc.edu:

• A short paragraph of interest
• A resume (if available/desired)
• Samples of work or a photography portfolio (especially event/action/sports photography)

MSRP webinars are open to all Faculty and Staff, regardless of their retirement plan.

Registration closes 2 hours before the start of the webinar.

Click here to Register. All webinars are approximately 45 minutes in length.

Building Better Credit: Habits that Make a Difference 

Credit impacts more than one may realize, from loan approvals and interest rates to future financial opportunities. Join MSRP for this webinar and discover how credit scores are calculated, what influences a score, and smart strategies to build and maintain healthy credit habits. 

• Monday, June 15 at 11am
• Thursday, June 25 at 1pm

Getting to Know EMPOWER: Participant Technology in Action

Explore the tools, technology, and experiences that help participants make the most of their retirement journey with EMPOWER. 

(Presented by Empower, MSRP's Contractor for Plan Administrator) 

• Wednesday, June 17 at 1pm
• Friday, June 26 at 11am

Your MSRP 457(b) and 401(k) Benefits: A Smart Start To Financial Security

Join MSRP for a comprehensive overview of the State of Maryland’s 457(b) and 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Plans, designed to help employees make the most of their available retirement benefits. Whether they are a new employee or looking to refresh their knowledge, this session will explain how these plans work, outline their key advantages, and show how they can support employees' long-term retirement goals as public sector employees.

• Monday, June 15 at 1pm

Your Pension, Social Security, and MSRP: Retirement Income For Life

Wondering how much income one needs in retirement, when to claim Social Security, and how the State Pension and MSRP savings fit together? Join MSRP  to learn how to estimate benefits from all retirement income sources and plan with confidence.  

• Thursday, June 11 at 1pm
• Thursday, June 25 at 11am

Wellbeing And Medicare Essentials: Plan For A Thriving Retirement

Whether retirement is right around the corner or a few years away, this webinar helps employees plan holistically, so they can retire with clarity, confidence, and purpose. In this session, they will discuss Medicare essentials and how smart healthcare choices support overall wellbeing, peace of mind, and quality of life in retirement.

• Thursday, June 11 at 11am

Click here to Register. All webinars are approximately 45 minutes in length.

Hi everyone!

We're back with our weekly Free Farmer's Market 2-2:45pm in the Apartment Community Center. See you soon!  

UMBC CSEE Professor Roberto Yus received a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to support his research on democratizing the Internet of Things (IoT) by introducing a semantic abstraction framework that hides the complexity of raw sensor data. While IoT devices collect vast amounts of valuable data, most organizations struggle to use it because transforming raw readings into actionable insights requires deep technical expertise in sensor selection and AI modeling. To bridge this gap, his research will enable users to directly query high-level concepts, such as occupancy or energy consumption, while the computer system automatically manages the underlying sensors, machine learning models, and data pipelines to find the answers.

Looking for a roommate - pics attached. 

Rent is $738/month.  It’s a 2-bedroom unit in the Mount Ridge community on Maiden Choice.

I am 38 years old, male, gay, and a PhD student.

-Felipe

felim1@umbc.edu

Do you need a Culture GEP and Entrepreneurship Minor elective course? 

Check out this summer course: GLBL 210: Business Beyond Borders!

Do your interests span the globe?  Do you care about Global Business?

Explore the dynamic world of global business—no passport needed. This online summer course introduces how markets, ideas, and entrepreneurs connect across and beyond borders. You’ll learn how innovation and technology drive global opportunities, with a focus on social entrepreneurship and real-world case studies from around the world.

Blending cultural insight with business strategy, the course helps you understand global collaboration, negotiation, and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems—giving you practical tools to thrive in today’s interconnected economy.

Earn 3 credits that will count as a Culture GEP and Entrepreneurship Elective in just 4 weeks in July!

Sign up for this online asynchronous summer course to gain a global perspective and stand out in an increasingly connected world!

Find more information about summer session here.

Course dates: July 6-July 31, 2026