Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program

Register for the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program Information Session

Award Overview

Value & Duration

Fifteen scholarships will be awarded, each with a total value of $12,500.00 for one year (12 months) and must be held in addition to a program’s normal funding commitment. The $12,500.00 will be broken down into a $10,000.00 fellowship to be used as a top-up to the recipient’s usual funding package, and $2,500.00 towards project expenses and / or professional development.

Fellows will participate in a broader program of specialized skills training in public scholarship, as well as networking opportunities.

Purpose

The Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program offers U of T doctoral students an opportunity to explore the world of public scholarship. Developing a public scholarship initiative allows doctoral students to make connections outside the university through innovative forms of scholarly communication. PhDs for Public Impact fellows focus on engaging the public through their scholarly work. This engagement can take a range of forms, from describing their work in a public forum to partnering with a school, community organization, or cultural institution in an ongoing two-way exchange of knowledge and practices. Read about the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fellows. 

Eligibility

Applicants and recipients:

  • Must remain registered full-time PhD / SJD students at the University of Toronto throughout the 2024-25 program duration (i.e., from September 2024 to August 2025, inclusive);
  • Must be in good standing; and
  • Must have completed at least the first year of their PhD program at the time of application (i.e., must be in the second year or higher of their PhD program at the time of application).

For more information, please visit the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program FAQ page. 

 

Fellows are expected to:

  • Complete a public scholarship initiative to be shared at our annual showcase event;
  • Attend the fellowship orientation event;
  • Attend monthly fellows’ meetings;
  • Participate in program enhancement and evaluation;
  • Promote the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program; and
  • Attend all activities and specifically 75% of the activities in person to build a cohort and community.

Application Process

Register to attend the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program Information Session (December 13, 2023, 3–4 PM ET)

Watch the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Info Session (video recording) after the session. Link will be posted under the Application Process section on the SGS webpage. 

Fill out the 2024–2025 application form, which will open to accept responses on December 1, 2023. Deadline to submit applications to SGS: January 29, 2024.

Application Form Components: 

  • Identifying information: Name of applicant, student number, home unit(s) and contact information; Name of supervisor(s) and contact information; Name of Graduate Chair / Coordinator and contact information; 
  • Summary of proposed public scholarship initiative (maximum 500 words); 
  • Description of impact of proposed public scholarship initiative (maximum 250 words); 
  • Explanation of how public scholarship initiative will address EDI considerations (maximum 250 words); 
  • Description of circumstances that have prepared applicant for the proposed public scholarship initiative (maximum 250 words); 
  • Description of how applicant will advance public scholarship initiative over the year of the fellowship (maximum 250 words); 
  • Description of the current funding package and research and professional development funds available, and proposed use of the $2,500 allowance (maximum 250 words); 
  • Description of any special circumstances that have affected the applicant’s trajectory, e.g., illness, leaves, child or elder care (optional; maximum 250 words); 
  • Curriculum vitae; 
  • Statement of support from supervisor, co-signed by Graduate Chair / Coordinator, which includes a statement that the student is in good academic standing (template form provided). 

Application Requirements

The Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program has proven very popular, resulting in a high volume of applications in previous cycles. Applications will be subject to an initial screening in the Centre for Graduate Professional Development to ensure that a balance of qualified applicants from the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences are sent to the adjudication committee. Applicants are encouraged to ensure they articulate a specific public scholarship initiative in their application to maximize chances of their proposal being sent through to the adjudication committee and selected for the final cohort. 

  • Quality of proposed public scholarship initiative; 
  • Potential impact of proposed public scholarship initiative; 
  • Appropriateness of EDI plan and / or considerations; 
  • Preparedness of the applicant to undertake the proposed public scholarship initiative; 
  • Level of concrete detail provided about the applicant’s plans to advance the public scholarship over the course of the fellowship;  
  • Rationale and relevance of proposed use of fellowship funds; and 
  • Support from supervisor(s) and Graduate Chair / Coordinator. 

Building a Cohort 

  • We are committed to supporting diversity in research, scholarship, and creative practice, as well as individuals from under-represented groups, international students, and multilingual students. 
  • In selection, the committee will ensure there is diversity of backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and disciplines across the cohort of fellows. 

For more information on the 2024–2025 application process please visit the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program FAQ page. 

Results

Applicants will be contacted directly in May 2024.

Terms & Conditions

Failure to meet the terms and conditions of the award may result in the forfeiture of the award and any future instalments: 

To accept the Fellowship, recipients must ensure they provide a signed copy of the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Response Form to the Centre for Graduate Professional Development (CGPD) via email to cgpd@utoronto.ca with a copy to their graduate unit within two weeks of the award offer letter. Fellows will be contacted by the Centre for Graduate Professional Development (CGPD) to provide a short biographical statement and requested to take part in a photoshoot organized by the CGPD.

To maintain the Fellowship, Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellows must be registered full-time at the University of Toronto, maintain good academic standing, and be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of their degree (as determined by the graduate unit). Recipients who withdraw, transfer to part-time status, complete all degree requirements prior to the end of their award, or fail to complete the full academic session, will not be eligible for future installments and may be required to repay any funds received for the incomplete session. Students on an approved Leave of Absence should inquire about interrupting the fellowship during their period of leave. Students may not hold full-time employment or a faculty appointment concurrently with the fellowship. 

Fellows will also be required / expected to: 

  • Complete a public scholarship initiative to be shared at the annual showcase event; 
  • Attend the fellowship orientation event; 
  • Attend monthly fellows’ meetings; 
  • Participate in program enhancement and evaluation; 
  • Promote the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program; and 
  • Attend all activities and specifically 75% of the activities in person to build a cohort and community.

Award Holder Information

The School of Graduate Studies will disburse the fellowship in three instalments using the following timeline: 

  • Connaught Impact Fellows can expect their first instalment of $5,000 CAD within the first few weeks of September following registration. 
  • The second instalment of $5000 CAD will be issued within the first few weeks of the winter session, and will be automatically applied to tuition and / or any outstanding balance on the student’s fees account. Any remaining funds will be refunded to the student. 
  • The $2,500.00 CAD supplement for professional development and project expenses, will be paid as a lump sum to students also within the first few weeks of September so that it is available to recipients at any time during the award year and the remainder of their PhD program. 

Award payments are processed through ACORN. The method of distribution (direct deposit or a mailed cheque) depends on the information students enter into their ACORN accounts. 

  • Upon registration, we strongly recommend that students set up direct deposit by logging into ACORN and adding their banking information. Direct deposit will ensure that payment(s) are issued quickly. The How to Activate & Maintain Your Award page of SGS’ website contains more details on this process. 

 

Contacts & Resources

Please direct all questions regarding the fellowship or its application process to: 

 

SGS Centre for Graduate Professional Development 

Email: cgpd@utoronto.ca 

Website: Centre for Graduate Professional Development – University of Toronto (utoronto.ca)