The 2021-2022 Doolen scholarship is now closed.
The 2021-2022 application and updated criteria will be available on August 23, 2021.
PURPOSE: The objective of the Doolen Scholarship is to facilitate the study
of aging by providing scholarships to two outstanding graduate students.
These scholarships are made possible by an endowment from the Retirement Research
Foundation to honor the late Mr. Paul D. Doolen, a long-time member of the University
of Illinois Foundation Board of Directors.
PROGRAM: Scholarships of up to $4,000 each
may be awarded to two graduate students in their second year of study, or beyond,
whose principal scholarly interest is in the field of aging. The scholarships may
be awarded annually, and cannot be awarded more than once to the same individual.
Priority for awarding this scholarship generally will be given to candidates who
hold an assistantship or fellowship. The recipients who formally accept the award
will be accorded recognition as "Paul D. Doolen Scholars."
One student will be chosen from the biological-biomedical sciences and the other
from the behavioral-social sciences. It is important that the applicant clearly
mark the appropriate category on the application form and submit appropriate supporting
documentation.
CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY:
The recipients graduate students concentrating their scholarly efforts on the topic of aging, i.
e., biological aspects of the aging process; sociological concomitants of aging;
the treatment of diseases of the elderly; the care of the aged; other topics related
to aging.
The recipients must have completed the first year of a graduate program and be in
their second year of graduate work, or beyond, at the University of Illinois while
the scholarships are held.
Recipients must enroll full time for at least one semester of the academic year
for which the award is made in order to be eligible for the award.
Recipients will be students judged to be outstanding by the selection committee. Among the criteria
utilized by the committee are: research that is novel and/or high impact, well defined, and significantly
far along; publications in reviewed journals as first author; strong recommendations (required); and
academic qualifications.
APPLICATION FOR NOMINATION: Students may apply or be nominated for this award.
The following materials must be submitted, in addition to the application form,
prior to consideration of the candidate.
- A written statement (limited to 2 double-spaced pages using 1-inch margins and 12-point
font) by the candidate explaining his or her interest in the field of aging and
research plans for pursuing this field of study.
- Transcripts of all completed undergraduate and graduate work.
- Three letters of recommendation, two of which must come from faculty members who
have first-hand knowledge of the candidate's work as a graduate student. If applicant
is in the first year of graduate school, the letters of reference used to gain admission
to the graduate program may be used. If in the second year or beyond, new letters
must be obtained. Letters from fellow graduate students are rarely helpful.
NOTIFICATION OF AWARD: Notification of the recipients will be made by the
President of the University of Illinois or the President's designee. Public announcement
of the recipients will accompany their acceptance of the scholarship.
Winners will be announced in early
November, 2021
Application Details
If you have questions, please contact
University of Illinois System
University Academic Programs and Services
807 S. Wright St., Suite 370 (MC 307)
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-2030