AERA – ABS Graduate Student Education Research Workshop
Call for Applications
Purpose and overview: The American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Association of Black Sociologists (ABS) announce a joint professional development training workshop for advanced graduate students who are examining an education research topic from a sociological perspective. This workshop will provide advanced graduate students with mentoring and guidance on their dissertation and give them insight into publishing their work. A small group of senior scholars will review graduate students’ dissertation research (i.e., manuscripts, chapter drafts, preliminary findings, etc.) and lead workshop activities. All graduate students’ research will focus on an area in education research and/or sociology of education. This includes but is not limited to topics such as school structures, school climate, school financing, learning contexts, issues in higher education, children and youth, or student achievement. In the workshop participants will discuss the intersection of race, class, and gender with these education research topics.
Students will submit a manuscript to a workshop senior scholar for review 4 weeks before the workshop. During the ABS Conference, there will be panel discussion featuring the senior scholars as well as a designated time for the scholars to work individually with the graduate students. Students and senior scholars will be expected to maintain contact during the year to advance the students’ research interests. Students whose work is completed or near completion will be invited to participate in a poster session at the 2010 AERA Annual Meeting in Denver (April 30- May 4, 2010).
Senior Scholars: Senior scholars will be invited to participate whose research addresses education topics and the intersections between race, class, and gender.
Dates: The workshop will be part of the 2009 ABS Conference, in New Orleans – June 17th- June 20th. All workshop activities will be held the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, June 17th.
Application: Graduate student applicants must have their dissertation proposals accepted. Applicants must be in the process of collecting or obtaining data for their dissertation, analyzing data, or writing their dissertation. The dissertation must address an issue or topic that is pertinent to education research and preference will be given to studies focusing on race, class, and/or gender. Applicants will submit the following:
1.   Complete Application form
2.   Overview of research (2 pages limit; double spaced)
3.   Writing sample (10 page limit)
4.   Curriculum vitae
5.   Letter of recommendation from faculty advisor
Application materials must be e-mailed to fellowships@aera.net no later than April 6th, 2009. Direct all questions to George L. Wimberly, AERA Director of Social Justice and Professional Development, at fellowships@aera.net or 202-238-3200.