W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research Dissertation Award
The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research is now accepting submissions for its annual award recognizing the best PhD dissertation on employment-related issues. The Institute has sponsored this award since 1995.
A first prize of $2,500 is being offered. Up to two honorable mention awards of $1,000 may also be given.
Eligible persons for the 2026 prize are those whose dissertation was accepted during the 24-month period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026. The deadline for submission is July 20, 2026.
The dissertation may come from any academic discipline, but it must have a substantial policy focus. Dissertations will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Policy relevance
- Technical quality of the research
- Clarity of writing and presentation
Applicants must upload a 10-page summary of the dissertation, CV, and a letter of endorsement from their dissertation advisor. Applicants are advised that they will need to supply a copy of their entire dissertation if they are selected as a finalist, and they may apply for the award only once. Additional information may be obtained by contacting us at communications@upjohn.org.
