Every summer, the Graduate Division and Summer Sessions host two sessions of the Dissertation Write-In. These free, four-day writing workshops are aimed at helping Ph.D. students in the middle stages of their dissertation process by providing intensive writing times, breakout sessions with a facilitator on typical dissertation issues (including dealing with procrastination, managing research and sources, and writing to work through difficult ideas), one-on-one consultations with the facilitator, and peer consultations. Participants gain strategies and tools to create positive writing habits and thus become more efficient and productive writers.

As part of its efforts to provide financial support for graduate students who are engaged in short-term intensive campus programs that contribute to their development as academic professionals, the Graduate Division provides a Professional Development Award to eligible participants of the Dissertation Write-In. A fellowship of $500 will be awarded to students who successfully complete all four days of the program. Note that this fellowship is available to students regardless of P-status but that receiving the fellowship funding requires full-time registration in the relevant quarter (for Session 1 this would be Spring Quarter and for Session 2 this would be Fall Quarter).

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

Current UCSB Ph.D. students are eligible to apply if they:

  • Have advanced to candidacy
  • Have completed a chapter of their dissertation
  • Are committed to attending all sessions of the Write-In

 

Each year we host one session VIRTUALLY and one session IN PERSON in order to accommodate different student needs and preferences. We encourage you to apply for the session that best fits with your life logistics. Space is limited in each of the sessions, and attendees are selected through the application process described in more detail below.

2023 SESSION 1

June 19 - 22

Format: Virtual
Number of Attendees: 30

Applications open: Monday, April 24
Application deadline: Friday, May 12 (11:59pm Pacific)
Applicants notified by: Monday, May 22

2023 SESSION 2

September 18 - 21

Format: In person
Number of Attendees: 20

Applications open: Monday, July 31
Application deadline: Friday, August 11 (11:59pm Pacific)
Applicants notified by: Monday, August 21

*Due to the unpredictability of COVID-19 case rates, the facilitator will decide by August 21 whether this session will be moved to virtual

Application Information

The link to apply is made available only during the application window.

Applicants are asked to provide:

  • A brief (approximately 150 words) description of your dissertation project
  • A list of your work/progress on your research and writing up to this point
  • Any obstacles you have encountered in your writing thus far
  • Expectations for what you hope to accomplish during the Write-In
  • Identify specific writing issues with which you would like help
  • A brief explanation of why you feel that you are in the "middle stages" of the dissertating process and what makes you prepared to participate in the program at this stage (note: applicants are no longer required to submit their dissertation prospectus or a dissertation chapter as part of the application)

Application Decisions

Students who apply are chosen in the following way:

  • Of the pool of applicants, the facilitator determines who is eligible/appropriate to participate based on the criteria outlined above
  • From the list of eligible applicants, the facilitator runs a lottery system to determine the selected number of participants for the session
  • Applicants are notified of their application decision via email by the facilitator

QUESTIONS?

Katie Baillargeon (program facilitator)

and/or 

Baron Haber (program coordinator)