Library Graduate Student Prize: Frequently Asked Questions

Are professional and health sciences students eligible to apply?

Yes. Professional students, including health sciences students, are encouraged to apply.

Are postdocs eligible to apply?

Yes. UC Davis postdoctoral scholars across all fields are eligible to apply.

Am I eligible even though I’m not on the main campus?

Yes.

I will be graduating in Fall Quarter. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. Current Graduate students enrolled in Fall quarter who completed the submitted work while at UC Davis are eligible.

I used library resources in the creation of my project, but I didn’t work with a librarian. Is my project eligible?

Yes! There are many ways to find and access library resources, and it is not necessary to have consulted a librarian to be eligible for this prize.

Is my work eligible if it has been published?

No. The work must be unpublished.

Is my work eligible if it has been posted online, such as on a UC Davis departmental or center website?

Yes. This does not count as “publication.”

Can I submit a work that was completed for a class at UC Davis?

Yes.

Can I submit a research proposal?

Yes. As long as the proposal contains substantial desk research and the applicants can:

• clearly show they made effective use of the UC Davis Library’s resources and/or services,
• clearly show the extent to which they enhanced understanding of diverse groups, and
• clearly show the extent to which they used methods that enhanced the public scholarship of the work

May I submit multiple projects?

You may submit only one project of which you are the primary creator, however you may be listed as a team member on other projects in which you participated.

I have more than one project that may be eligible for the prize. How should I choose which to submit?

Please review the Evaluation Process and Criteria section of the Library Graduate Student Prize page, and choose the project you think best meets the criteria on which the entries will be judged.

Can I use Generative AI tools in preparing my application materials?

Use of Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Google Gemini, GrammarlyGO, etc.) to help develop application materials is allowed. If you use these tools, you must adhere to the following requirements:

• The ideas and intellectual work must be your own.
• You must follow all legal and ethical requirements of the tool(s)
• To promote transparency, you must properly acknowledge the Generative AI tool(s) in your references, bibliographies, or other formats appropriate to your application or project materials. (Tips and style examples are available for APA, MLA, Chicago Manual Style, and more.)

I want to submit a video file or other file larger than 10MB. How can I do this?

If you are unable to submit your work via the Application Portal, and you cannot upload elsewhere and provide a link to your work, please email librarygradstudentprize@ucdavis.edu for assistance.

May I provide any supplemental materials with my application, such as a letter of recommendation, separate from the application form?

No. Only the requested materials will be considered.

How will my submission be judged?

Submissions will be screened for completeness and eligibility, then sent to judges who will evaluate each submission using the Library Grad Student Prize rubric (pdf).

If I did not win an award, may I resubmit the same project next year?

Yes, if you meet all of the criteria for eligibility, as described on the Library Graduate Student Prize page.