START has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to launch a program for graduate students at the University of Maryland, College Park, who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of homeland security. The program will provide high-achieving Ph.D. students who have pursued research relevant to homeland security with professional development opportunities designed to help ensure that they are well prepared for pursuing careers in this field. In addition, students who participate in this program will receive generous financial support to allow them to focus efforts on their dissertation.
Doctoral students who participate in the Recipients of START Career Development Program will be provided:
- a START Dissertation Awards for $30,000 towards tuition, fees, and a stipend for one academic year
- Support for travel to and registration at one relevant professional conference
- One-on-one mentoring with a professional in the homeland security arena and from the leadership of the START Center
- Meetings with officials from the public and private sector working in positions related to homeland security
- Opportunities to present their original research to leading terrorism scholars
- In return, participating students will commit to working for a minimum of one year in the homeland security arena, following graduation.
Eligibility Requirements The START Dissertation Award program is available to Ph.D. students at the University of Maryland, College Park, who have successfully completed all required coursework in their home department and who have advanced to candidacy at the time of application. Preference will be given to students who are completing dissertations related to the study of the human causes and consequences of terrorism. Doctoral students in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences are encouraged to apply, but the program will not be exclusive to this cohort. Students who have received support from START in the past are eligible for this program. Students from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. In addition, eligible students must meet the following criteria:
- Agreement to commit a minimum of one year (12 months) of employment in the homeland security workforce (in the public, private, non-profit, or university sector);
- Maintenance of an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher in their graduate coursework; and
- Possession of U.S. citizenship.
A total of 4 doctoral students will be selected for participation in this program for the 2008-09 Academic Year. An information session for graduate students interested in the START Career Development Program will be held on Thursday, March 13th at 2:00pm in 3121 Symons Hall. Applications are due Monday, March 31,2008, at 5:00 pm.
