Outstanding Dissertation Awards

The Outstanding Dissertation Awards were established in 1979 by the Graduate School to recognize exceptional work by doctoral students and to encourage the highest levels of scholarship, research, and writing.

The Michael H. Granof Awards will be given in 2026 to recognize the University’s top dissertations. The recipients of this year’s awards will be selected for each one of the categories below. The Granof Awards are considered the top graduate student awards. All prizes will be announced in spring of 2026.

Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) chairpersons nominate one doctoral student from their programs for the award. Winners are selected in each of these three categories:

  • Area A — Humanities and Fine Arts
  • Area B — Social Sciences, Business and Education
  • Area C — Mathematics, Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Biological and Life Sciences

A dissertation may be considered in only one competition category. Select the category most appropriate to the topic and methodology of the nominated dissertation.

Professional & Student Awards

Awards Open:
TBD - Check back in late October 2025

Questions

If you have questions, email 
Brianna Smallman.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, the dissertation must meet one of the following criteria:

  • It will be submitted in final form to the Graduate School by April 24, 2026, for a degree to be awarded in May 2026.
  • It was submitted for a degree awarded in August 2025 or December 2025.
  • It was submitted by April 25, 2025, for a degree awarded in May 2025.

These dates align with the Graduate School’s deadlines for final paperwork and graduation applications.

Nominations

The Graduate School's Online Awards System

Nominees for the award must be submitted through the Graduate School's dedicated online awards system. The application process entails the nominator filling out the application with the necessary details about the nominee.

To successfully complete the online application, please gather the following documents:

  1. Nomination Letter: A letter from the chairperson of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) that succinctly outlines the reasons for selecting the dissertation as the program's nominee.
  2. Two Letters of Support: Obtain letters of support from two of the following individuals:
    • The dissertation supervisor
    • The graduate adviser
    • The department chair
    • A committee member
  3. Dissertation Copy: Include one copy of the complete dissertation, along with the abstract.

Ensure all components are compiled and submitted through the Graduate School's online awards system to facilitate a thorough and efficient nomination process.

Evaluation

The faculty review committees will consider both the methodological and substantive aspects of the dissertations, including the:

  • Importance/impact of the subject;
  • Originality/creativity of the work;
  • Quality of the scholarship;
  • Potential for publishing;
  • Organization of the dissertation;
  • Quality of the writing; and
  • Other appropriate factors that denote excellence.

Individuals writing letters of support should be encouraged to keep these criteria in mind as they comment on the significance/major contribution of the dissertation and the particular aspects of the dissertation that distinguish it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the nomination and supporting letters be?

There’s no required length. Please be sure that all requested information is thoroughly included in both the nomination and supporting documentation.

What are the nomination categories for the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation and Master’s Thesis or Report awards?

There are three main areas:

Area A — Humanities and Fine Arts
Includes programs focused on human culture, expression, and historical understanding.

Examples: 

  • Humanities: English / Literature, History, Philosophy, Linguistics, Religious Studies, Classics, Cultural Studies
  • Fine Arts: Studio Art, Art History, Music (Performance, Composition, Theory), Theatre and Dance, Film and Media Studies, Creative Writing

Area B — Social Sciences, Business, and Education
Covers disciplines that study society, human behavior, and organizational systems.

Examples:

  • Social Sciences: Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Public Affairs / Public Policy
  • Business: MBA Programs, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, Information Systems
  • Education: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, Special Education, Higher Education Administration, Counseling and Student Services 

Area C — Mathematics, Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Biological and Life Sciences
Includes programs focused on scientific inquiry, quantitative analysis, and technological innovation.

Examples:

  • Mathematics: Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Computational Science
  • Engineering: Mechanical, Electrical and Computer, Civil, Chemical, Biomedical, Aerospace Engineering
  • Physical Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences (Geology, Geophysics), Astronomy, Materials Science
  • Biological and Life Sciences: Biology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Ecology, Genetics, Biomedical Sciences
Can I submit an incomplete dissertation or thesis for the Outstanding Dissertation & Master’s Thesis/Report award?

No. Only completed dissertations and master’s theses/reports will be considered. Incomplete submissions are not eligible but may be submitted the following year once finalized.

Who should nomination letters be addressed to?

All nomination letters should be addressed to the Review Committee.

What is the submission deadline?

All submissions must be received by 11:59 PM CST on the day of the stated deadline on the awards page.

How many nominations can each department submit for the Outstanding Student Employee award?

Each department may submit one nomination per category: one for a Teaching Assistant (TA) and one for an Assistant Instructor (AI).

2025 Award Recipients

Yunina Barbour-Paybe

Yunina Barbour-Payne

Program: Theatre and Dance
Dissertation Title: Redbone, Blackbones and Other Bones to Pick: Formations
of Affrilachian Aesthetics

Ronan Kerr

Ronan Kerr

Program: Astronomy
Dissertation Title: The SPYGLASS Program: Mapping the Extensive Star 
Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood

Kevin Moran

Kevin Moran

Program: Psychology
Dissertation Title: Obesogenic Behavioral, Metabolic, and Neuronal Consequences
 of Adolescent Social Stress in Male Hamsters

Award winner and individuals congratulating her

Sociology Ph.D. Alumna Wins University’s Top Dissertation Award

June 11, 2024
Faith Deckard, a recent sociology doctoral graduate, has focused her research on better understanding how people and their families navigate the criminal legal system and its aftermath. Winner of the 2024 Granof Award, she examines how the cash bail system entangles not just individuals but also families in a complicated economic and social system of obligation, debt and punishment.
2023 Michael H. Granof Award Winner Will Burg

New Technologies with a Twist: Engineering Alumnus Wins Top Dissertation Prize

July 11, 2023
Will Burg’s dissertation, “Collective Quantum States in Twist Controlled Graphene Heterostructures” was awarded the 2023 Michael H. Granof Award – the Graduate School’s most prestigious honor. The contributions of his groundbreaking dissertation is widely recognized by those in the field and can potentially lead to new quantum devices for computation.