Complete the application (found at http://www.thecommunityfoundation.net/grants/grantsSchedule.html) and submit 5 copies before the deadline.

 Applications should be accompanied by:

• a letter from the supervising faculty member indicating his/her support of the proposed research, its merits for funding by the California Desert Research Fund, and the ability of the applicant to conduct the research and meet established deadlines;
• a letter from the agency or reserve site (as appropriate) authorizing use of the pertinent public lands or reserve for the proposed research; and
• a copy of current curriculum vita for the applicant(s) (two pages maximum).

Students must submit an application through the online application system. This will require a short registration process and allows online document uploads of all supporting materials. If you do not have electronic versions of the required documents, you may also mail the following supporting materials to IHS:
*A current curriculum vitae or resume.
*A proposal of 500-1,000 words outlining the paper to be completed. *The proposed topic should be sufficiently manageable to result in a paper of publishable quality during the program. The paper may be a chapter of a doctoral thesis.
*A detailed bibliography.
*A short writing sample (approx. 8-15 pages), preferably on the chosen subject.
*A copy of GRE or LSAT scores and graduate transcripts.
*The name, address, phone number, and e-mail of a two faculty references.
See http://www.theihs.org/pdf/materials/128.pdf.

Your application must include the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Writing sample
• Names and contact information for at least two references

Writing samples should be two to five pages and may be from any area of work. Applicant must be the primary author of the document. Writing samples have included graduate admissions essays, policy memos, and case studies.

Please be aware that references may be contacted after interviews without prior notification from the NPS Business Management Group. Please inform your references that they may be contacted after the interview.

Your dissertation supervisor must certify your eligibility by sending an email to grantsawards@aag.org prior to December 31 with “AAG Dissertation Grant – Eligibility Verification for NAME OF APPLICANT” in the subject of the email.  In the message body, your dissertation supervisor must print the following information with the appropriate text inserted where indicated in [CAPITAL LETTERS INSIDE BRACKETS] below:

This message verifies that [NAME OF APPLICANT] Will the applicant have both 1) completed all the requirements for the PhD except for the dissertation by the end of the term/semester following this deadline and 2) is expected to have completed a PhD degree by the spring or summer semester of the next calendar year (the year immediately following this deadline).  Anticipated date of completion is [DATE].”

I certify that I am the dissertation supervisor of [NAME OF APPLICANT].

Advisor’s Name, Position/Title
Department
University
Phone Number and Email

Criteria: Proposals should demonstrate high standards of scholarship. The selection committee will observe the purposes and preferences noted above when evaluating proposals. The committee represents a broad spectrum of geographical specialties, and cannot be expected to be familiar with the jargon of all geographical topics. Awards rarely exceed $500. Awards may not be made in years when funds are insufficient or proposals are not suitable.

Applications: Digital submissions are required. All information must be entered in the fillable pdf application  form.  When complete, choose to “save as” a new file with your last name in front of the filename, such as “LASTNAME_AAG_Dissertation_Form.pdf”.  Then send the file as an email attachment to grantsawards@aag.org with “AAG Dissertation Grants” as the subject line.