Dissertation Fellowship Program
The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College sponsors the annual Dissertation Fellowship Program in the field of retirement or disability research. The program is funded by the U.S. Social Security Administration and provides funding opportunities for doctoral candidates to pursue cutting-edge research on retirement or disability issues. Individuals from historically underserved or underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must demonstrate that their proposal focuses on at least one of SSA’s research focal areas:
- Disparities by race, ethnicity, and sex;
- Addressing barriers to disability program and SSI program participation;
- Economic security of program applicants and beneficiaries;
- Understanding service needs;
- Understanding communication needs; and
- Addressing employment barriers for people with disabilities.
Fellowship Awards
One $28,000 fellowship will be awarded to a doctoral candidate enrolled in an accredited program at a U.S. university. The grant recipient may be required to present their work to the Social Security Administration in Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD.
Submission
Download the proposal guidelines and dissertation committee chair form. The deadline for the 2024 Dissertation Fellowship Program is April 30, 2024.
Review sample proposals that received awards: Sample 1, Sample 2.
Contact
Please contact Marina Tsiknis with any questions about the Dissertation Fellowship Program at 617-552-1092 or tsiknis@bc.edu.
Previous Awardees
2023 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2022 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2021 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2020 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2019 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2018 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2017 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2016 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2015 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2014 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2013 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2012 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2011 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2010 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2009 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2008 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
2007 Dissertation Fellowship Recipients
Where are they now?
See what our previous awardees have done since receiving their grants.