The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) has launched its Patrice L. Engle Dissertation Fellowship to support junior students interested in a career in global early childhood development who are from or doing research in low- and middle-income countries.

The Patrice L. Engle Global Early Childhood Development Dissertation Award supports :

• Thesis research on global early childhood development with a one-year grant of USD 5,000. The developmental focus of the research should include children, prenatal to age 6, living in low- and middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank. Potential topics could include (but are not limited to)
  • The effectiveness of different models of parental support on early childhood development.
  • Examination of how childcare programmes promote child development and family participation.
  • The effectiveness of 2-generation programmes that provide support to both mother and child.
  • Innovative strategies to integrate programmes that promote early childhood development with health or nutrition services for young children.
  • Innovative strategies to integrate child development interventions with social welfare services or programmes to promote mental health or maternal education.
  • Innovative strategies to involve fathers and other extended family members in early childhood development programmes.
  • Development of measurement strategies, indicators and assessment tools for children and family interactions that can be reliably implemented in low-resource settings.
  • Strategies for effective scaling up of demonstration programmes.
• If selected to receive a grant, the applicant will receive a free 2-year student subscription to the SRCD.
• Grantees are encouraged to submit an abstract to the SRCD Biennial Meeting after completion of their research. Grantees from low and middle income countries are encouraged to apply to the SRCD for international travel funds to attend the SRCD Biennial Meeting.

Information on financing

The grant includes USD 5,000 to support the thesis research and a 2-year student membership to SRCD.

Eligibility criteria

• Any field of study related to comprehensive early childhood development is acceptable;
• attend a recognized university in the United States or a recognized non-US university that is able to receive and process US scholarships, with preference given to students from low- and middle-income countries;
• Be enrolled and in good standing in a doctoral programme at a degree-granting university, have advanced to candidacy and have completed the required courses;
• Commitment to completing a thesis on comprehensive early childhood development, as evidenced by the approval of a thesis committee;
• Agree to report on progress to the Patrice L. Engle Grants Committee by submitting an interim report 6 months after receipt of funds, a final report at 12 months and notification of delays or irregularities;
• An applicant in a high-income country who proposes to conduct secondary data analysis without involvement in a low- or middle-income country would not be considered eligible;
• The advisor must agree that the candidate is in good standing, is ready to complete the thesis, and that the advisor will supervise the candidate and ensure that the reports are submitted.

The selection criteria

• Relevance of the career and project to the child's overall development ;
• Research plan promise in terms of creativity, innovation, meaning and intellectual rigour;
• Need for funds to conduct research;
• Likelihood of success, including support from the advisor.

For more information, please visit SRCD.