About.
University of Maryland Department of Government and Politics will hold its annual Rising Scholars Conference this November 2-3, 2023.  The conference is designed to increase diversity in the field by introducing undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to the academy and facilitating engagement with students on their research interests and activities. Students will present recent or ongoing research projects, which might include honors thesis work or collaborative research with a faculty member.  Each student will receive feedback from our faculty and have a chance to engage with their peers, graduate students, and faculty at UMD and learn more about the doctoral program in political science.
 
We encourage students from a wide range of backgrounds to apply! In addition to the student attendees, their faculty mentors are invited to join us. Mentors provide invaluable support for their students and contribute to the intellectual diversity of the program. All expenses for the student and mentor are covered by the program, and we can offer a modest honorarium for mentors. The program will include dinners for graduate students and student attendees on Thursday evening, conference presentations on Friday, and a group dinner for all attendees on Friday evening. Mentors are invited to join local faculty for an informal dinner on Thursday evening.
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We welcome applications from current juniors and seniors, as well as recent graduates who have not yet applied to graduate school.
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University of Maryland, College Park
Fostering diversity in the field of Political Science

Highlights.
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Student Research Presentations
Original research
Co-authored projects
Honor's theses
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PhD Admissions Question & Answer
How to apply
Funding opportunities
Letters of recommendation
​Career options
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Faculty Engagement
Feedback on research
Career advice 
DEI information

Application.

​Applications are due September 30.

We request the following materials: 
(1) brief online application form 
(2) a transcript (unofficial)
(3) title and abstract of the research paper
(4) a letter of support from a faculty sponsor. The letter should address the student’s scholarly potential as well as how their inclusion will strengthen the diversity of the field (mentors can send this to gvptdgs@umd.edu).
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We anticipate making decisions and issuing invitations on or about October 15.