How to Apply

Eligibility

• All currently enrolled UC Davis graduate students, professional students and postdoctoral scholars are eligible to apply.
• Students may submit one individually authored work or one team-authored work to which they were the first author.
• The submitted work must be an unpublished, original work by a UC Davis graduate student, professional student or postdoctoral scholar. Examples of eligible work include but are not limited to:
  • research articles
  • dissertation or thesis chapters
  • essays
  • reports on research projects
  • creative works (e.g., plays, exhibits, poetry, performance)
  • evidence-based practice projects
  • quality improvement projects
• Prize winners agree to attend the prize ceremony at Shields Library where they will be honored.

Application Process

The Graduate Student Prize application includes the work itself and a cover letter:

• The work should be in a format that can be submitted via the Graduate Prize Application Portal. Each file must be fewer than 10MB. If that is not possible, please submit a document that provides a detailed description of the project in sufficient detail to allow its merits to be judged. If the project is online, please include the URL.
• The cover letter should be limited to 500 words and explain:
  • how the applicant made use of the library’s resources and/or services such as print, electronic/digital, archival, databases, guides, instruction, research services, circulation services, interlibrary loan, and library spaces
  • how the work contributed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, or belonging (DEIAB)
  • how the applicant used methods that enhanced the public scholarship of the work

 Apply for the Grad Prize by using the Application Portal.

Questions? Check our Frequently Asked Questions first, then email librarygradstudentprize@ucdavis.edu if needed.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

A panel of faculty members and representatives from the library and the Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement will carefully review submitted applications. Where possible, use language that is accessible to a general audience since your application may be read by reviewers outside your field. The panel will use the following evaluation criteria:

• For research or creative work:
  • Clarity and quality of composition
• For cover letter and/or research work:
  • Clearly shows the extent to which the student made effective use of the UC Davis Library’s resources and/or services. Examples include (but are not limited to):
    • Using print, digital, or archival resources, including through interlibrary loan
    • Searching databases provided by the library
    • Using library guides (e.g. subject guides, course guides)
    • Attending library workshops and classes
    • Meeting with a librarian
    • Using physical library spaces
  • Clearly shows the extent to which the student enhanced understanding of diverse groups, i.e. how the work contributed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, or belonging (DEIAB).
  • Clearly shows the extent to which the student used methods that enhanced the public scholarship of the work, including but not limited to community engaged methodologies, interacting with policymakers, or other ways the research was translated to public(s).

Judges will evaluate submissions using the Library Grad Student Prize rubric (PDF).

Important Dates