UC Davis Library Graduate Student Prize

About the Library Graduate Student Prize

The prize celebrates graduate student researchers who use the library to create outstanding, publicly-engaged scholarship. Up to three prizes will be awarded for an original, unpublished, written work created while the applicant is a graduate student at UC Davis. The prize is co-sponsored by the UC Davis Library and the UC Davis Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement.

Winners will receive:

• $1,000 each
• Recognition at a public prize ceremony held at Shields Library
• A prize letter from the University Librarian and Vice Provost for Public Scholarship

Note: Prize payments are generally subject to federal tax. California residents may be subject to state tax.

Eligibility

• All currently enrolled UC Davis graduate students are eligible to apply.
• Students may submit one individually authored work and/or one team-authored work to which they were a major contributor. If submitting a team-authored work, please indicate your role as a contributor in your cover letter.
• Examples of eligible work (unpublished and by UC Davis graduate student(s)) include but are not limited to:
  • research articles
  • dissertation or thesis chapters
  • essays
  • reports on research projects
• Prize winners agree to attend the prize ceremony at Shields Library where they will be honored.

How to Apply

The Graduate Student Prize application includes the work itself and a cover letter:

• The work should be in a format that can be submitted via email. If that is not possible, please submit a document that provides a detailed description of the project in sufficient detail to allow its merits to be judged. If the project is online, please include the URL.
• The cover letter should be limited to 500 words and explain:
  • how the applicant made use of the library’s resources and/or services
  • how the work enhances our understanding of, or engagement with diverse community groups

Submit application components (written research work and cover letter as attachments) to librarygradprize@ucdavis.edu. 

Applications will be reviewed to ensure completeness and applicants will receive confirmation of receipt.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

A panel of faculty members and representatives from the library and the Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement will carefully review submitted applications. The panel will use the following evaluation criteria:

• For research work:
  • Clarity and quality of composition
  • Significance of research question or findings
  • Methodological rigor
• For cover letter:
  • Clearly shows the extent to which the student made effective use of the library’s resources and/or services
  • Clearly shows the extent to which the student enhanced understanding of, or engagement with diverse community groups