CMJ-NBME Dissertation Fellowship
Applications are now open for 2023-2024!
The purpose of the CMJ-NBME Dissertation Fellowship is to promote antiracist assessment and measurement practices. Our goal is to inspire, prepare, and support a critical mass of measurement professionals and partners as they work towards a socially just assessment and measurement system in the medical and health fields.
The CMJ-NBME Fellowship Program is targeted for members of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in measurement. This fellowship will provide opportunities for students to expand their networks, build research and career skills, and garner support in transitioning into professional roles.
This year, in partnership with CMJ, NBME will fund up to two outstanding advanced doctoral candidates so that they can devote themselves full-time to the completion of their dissertation. Each participant will receive a $30,000 stipend and will be expected to attend quarterly community of practice meetings as well as possible optional NBME programming.
Please review the eligibility requirements diligently before submitting your application. Fellowship recipients will be selected by members of both the CMJ and NBME leadership teams.
Completed applications must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59PM EST on Friday, December 29th, 2023. Decisions will be made no later than March 1st, 2024. Fellowships may begin no earlier than June 1st, 2024.
In addition to the criteria noted above, the selection committee will consider the following questions:
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- To what extent does the research topic address socio-political injustices in the assessment process that impact the medical and/or other health professions?
- To what extent is the relevant research grounded in critical theory in the field of measurement?
- To what extent is the study likely to yield new knowledge in the assessment/measurement practices of the medical field (including nursing, public health, mental health, etc.)?
- Are the claims, methodology and analysis plans described in sufficient detail in order to conduct this study?
- Does the narrative submitted display strong authorship skills, with clear direction, organization and structure?
- Is it feasible to complete the study during the fellowship timeline?
- To what extent does the proposal explain the issue that needs to be addressed, the design and logic of the study, timeline of the study, sources of evidence, the nature of the type of data and analysis, the measurement method and the nature of the interpretation of data.
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Candidates will receive a confirmation email when their application has been submitted, as well as when letters of reference have been submitted to their application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that these letters are submitted.
“The CMJ-NBME dissertation fellowship has provided the guidance and space needed to focus on completing my dissertation alongside other national scholars. Being able to have a network of individuals similarly focused on measurement justice has been a remarkable benefit to developing my own study and making consistent progress toward my academic goals.”
– Toyese Oyeyemi (2023 CMJ-NBME Dissertation Fellow)
APPLICATION COMPONENTS:
2. Dissertation Abstract (upload within the online application form)
3. CV (upload within online application form)
4. Positionality Statement: (1.5 pages max, 1.5 spaced)
Applicants will be asked to describe:
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- how their lived experiences and educational work have prepared them for doing research on this topic.
- both in terms of privilege and marginalization, how their research (from research question to articulation to interpretation) is informed by their sociopolitical identities.
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5. Letters of Recommendation:
Two letters of recommendation are required: one from the dissertation chair and a second professional reference. Only two letters will be considered. Letters of recommendation should be sent by the reference directly to us at [email protected].
Click here to view the "Request for Reference Letter" your reference will receive from CMJ
Dear Colleague,
You have been asked to serve as a reference for a Center for Measurement Justice (CMJ) – NBME Dissertation Fellowship program applicant. Each applicant is required to submit two letters of recommendation: one from the dissertation chair and one from another person not related to the student. The application deadline is December 29th, 2024 by 11:59 pm. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all materials, including references, are submitted prior to the deadline.
The Center for Measurement Justice Dissertation Fellowship – NBME Program seeks to encourage a new generation of historically underrepresented scholars in the measurement field to undertake research relevant to the improvement of equitable assessments. The $30,000 fellowship is meant to support individuals whose dissertations show potential for bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to the field of assessment.
In a letter of no more than two pages, we would appreciate your evaluation of the individual as a candidate for the Center for Measurement Justice – NBME Dissertation Fellowship. Please include the applicant’s full name in your letter. In addition, we ask that you please provide your full name, title, department, institutional affiliation, telephone number, and e-mail address. We would like for you to comment on the following six topics:
- Your relationship to the student;
- Your evaluation of the student relative to other students you have worked with;
- The strength of the proposed dissertation research and its relevance to the measurement field;
- The project’s connection to existing research on the topic, and the potential contribution of that dissertation to that literature;
- The student’s future potential as a scholar and likelihood that their research will continue to address the issues in K-12 assessment/measurement;
- The student’s apparent long-term contributions to research in education.
The CMJ website: https://measurementjustice.org/, provides a complete list of application guidelines and eligibility requirements. Thank you for your time and contribution to this process. If you have any questions, please e-mail [email protected].
6. Discussion of Dissertation:
No more than 8 pages should describe the dissertation. Please use the following format: 1.5-spaced, one-inch margins, each page should be numbered, and at least 11-point font. The header should include the fellow’s name and email address. The bibliography does not count towards the 8 pages, but should not exceed more than two pages. Other supplemental materials, such as samples, charts, graphs, questionnaires, etc. may be submitted as an appendix and do not count towards the page limit. Please also provide a detailed timeline for the project in the appendix.
The narrative should include:
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- Statement of the problem (issues being addressed),
- the intended contribution to the field of assessment: any specific use cases as it relates to the field of educational assessment,
- the goals of the research project,
- the intended methods:
- measurement tools and how the data will be collected, analyzed and interpreted,
- and an outline of any relevant literature and theoretical grounding. If preliminary findings or pilot data are available, these should be described briefly.
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The selection committee will be composed of both experts in the educational measurement field and other professionals that may not be experts in the field; therefore, the language specific to the field of measurement should cater to both audiences.
7. Graduate Transcript:
Applicants must upload a graduate transcript to their application form, an unofficial transcript will suffice.
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Quick Links
Online Application
Access the online application portal. The 2024 dissertation application will close on December 29th, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
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