PROGRAM: Scholarships of up to $4000 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 will be 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.
Only students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago are eligible. 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.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Students must apply for this award through an online application process. The following materials must be submitted, in addition to the application form, prior to consideration of the candidate.
- A written statement describing your research plans in aging studies (500-word limit) and the research methodology you expect to employ (500-word limit).
Applicants are advised that the awards committee is comprised of scholars with diverse expertise in biological and behavioral fields of aging. Competitive research statements avoid jargon to clearly communicate the innovation and potential impact of the proposed research to scholars with broad expertise in aging.
- Unofficial 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. Letters from fellow graduate students are rarely helpful.
EVALUATIVE CRITERIA:
- Novelty and innovation of research
- Peer-Reviewed publications, particularly those focused on the study of aging
- Conference presentations, particularly those focused on the study of aging
- Demonstrated commitment to the field of aging
- Strong recommendations
- GPA, professional experiences
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.
The application deadline is September 27, 2026.
Winners will be announced in early to mid-November
If you have questions, please contact
University Academic Programs and Services
University of Illinois System
uspscholarships@uillinois.edu
(217) 333-2030