Microsoft 2021 Research Dissertation Grant for Doctoral Students

The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant is a research grant for PhD students at U.S. and Canadian universities who are members of groups underrepresented in computing.

Microsoft recognizes the value of diversity in computing. The Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant aims to increase the pipeline of diverse talent receiving advanced degrees in computing-related fields by providing a research funding opportunity for doctoral students from groups underrepresented in computing (women, African-Americans/Blacks, Latinos, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and/or people with disabilities).

• Table of Content
• About Microsoft
• Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant
• Aim and Benefits of Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant
• Requirements for Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services. Its best known software products are the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers... read more... continue reading

Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant

Aim and Benefits of Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant

• The 2021 Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant recipients will receive funding up to $25,000 USD for academic year 2021-22 to help them complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work.
• An invitation to the PhD Summit: a two-day workshop in the fall held at one of Microsoft Research’s labs where fellows will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research.

Requirements for Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant Qualification

• Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Grant recipients should support this mission and embrace opportunities to foster diverse and inclusive cultures within their communities.
• PhD students must be enrolled at a university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
• Proposed research must be closely related to the general research areas carried out by Microsoft Research as noted in the Research areas tab above.
• PhD students submitting a proposal for this grant must self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.
• Students must be in their fourth year or beyond in a PhD program when they submit their grant proposal. Students must have started their PhD in September 2017 or earlier to be considered in their fourth year of the program.
• PhD students must continue to be enrolled at the university in the fall of 2021.
• Payment of the award, as described above, will be made directly to the university and dispersed according to the university’s policies. Microsoft will have discretion as to how any remaining funds will be used if the student is no longer qualified to receive funding (e.g. if the student unenrolls from the program, graduates, or transfers to a different university). Grants are not available for extension; however, leaves of absence will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Funding is for use only during the recipient’s time in the PhD program; it cannot be used for support in a role past graduation, such as a postdoc or faculty position. Those interested in receiving this grant will need to confirm their PhD program starting month and year, as well as their expected graduation month and year.
• A recipient of the Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant subject to disciplinary proceedings for inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), or plagiarism will forfeit their funding.

Eligible Groups: Women, African-Americans/Blacks, Latinos, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and/or people with disabilities. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Doctoral students enrolled in their fourth year or beyond of PhD studies and who are underrepresented in the field of computing must submit their proposal directly.

For more details, visit Microsoft website.