Deadline for submission: Monday, March 3, 2025, at 5pm CST. 

The Graduate and Professional School annually recognizes dissertations that have made a significant, impactful contribution to their discipline. 

AWARDS ARE MADE IN FOUR BROAD FIELDS:

Biological Sciences and Life Sciences

• Biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields (health sciences). Also included are agriculture, forestry, zoology; and related fields.

Humanities and Fine Arts

• History; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches

Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering

• Mathematics: mathematics, statistics, computer sciences, data processing, systems analysis;
• Physical Sciences: chemistry, earth sciences, physics, geology, meteorology, astronomy, metallurgy, geophysics, pharmaceutical chemistry;
• Engineering: aeronautical, architectural, biomedical, ceramic, chemical, civil, and electrical engineering sciences; environmental health engineering; geological, mechanical, mining, nuclear, and petroleum engineering.

Social Sciences

• Agricultural economics, geography, anthropology, archaeology, economics, education, sociology, government (political science), demography, and psychology.

If a dissertation is multi- or interdisciplinary in nature, a significant portion of the work must be comprised by at least one of the four broad fields.

Eligibility

Recipients of Texas A&M doctoral degrees are eligible, with graduation date between Summer 2023 and Spring 2025.

One of the distinguished dissertation winners will be named the George W. Kunze Endowed Fellowship Award recipient. Dr. George W. Kunze was a long-time Dean of the Graduate College at Texas A&M University. Upon his retirement, university faculty and friends generously contributed an endowment in honor of Dr. Kunze to provide an award for a doctoral student nearing completion of their degree program.

NOMINATION SUBMISSION PROCESS

Nominators will complete and submit a nomination application via InfoReady. The nomination packet documents (separately saved as .pdfs, 5 total files) should include:

1. An abstract of the nominee’s dissertation (not to exceed five double-spaced pages). Appendices containing non-textual material, such as charts or tables, may be included as additional pages. All pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee.
2. Three letters of recommendation evaluating the significance and quality of the nominee’s dissertation work.
   1. From the nominee's dissertation supervisor/PI/faculty chair
   2. From a member of the nominee's dissertation committee
   3. From an additional person of the nominee's choice
3. The nominee's curriculum vitae (not to exceed five pages)

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT a nomination via infoready

Monday, March 3, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. CST. The InfoReady application link will be made available in mid-February 2025 on the Texas A&M Distinguished Dissertation website.

Award Information

Four Texas A&M Distinguished Dissertation Awards, each consisting of an award of $1,000 and a personalized award plaque.

Selection Process

The Graduate and Professional School will name an award committee whose members have established records in the disciplinary areas under consideration. Additional consultation may be sought at the discretion of the committee members. The nominated dissertations should represent original work making an unusually significant contribution to the disciplines. Both methodological and substantive quality will be judged.

Previous Winners