The PCCBS has established a doctoral fellowship for ABD students in honor and memory of David Lieberman, former President of the PCCBS and a dear friend, colleague, and mentor for several decades. David was a renowned scholar of eighteenth-century law and society at UC Berkeley School of Law, as well as a specialist in the works and ideas of Jeremy Bentham.
The fellowship is intended to provide one-time financial support to students who have reached the ABD stage in their graduate programs and who demonstrate both merit and need. The funds are designed to help support an outstanding doctoral student with living and/or research expenses in the coming year. It is open to students working in British Studies defined broadly, who are enrolled in doctoral programs in the Pacific Coast region, and who are members of PCCBS at the time of application.
Applications should include a c.v., a two-page description of the doctoral project, and plans for the next year (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026). The description should focus on the applicant’s scholarly interests, dissertation project, and budget, which may include living as well as travel and/or other research-related expenses.
In addition, two confidential letters of support, including one from the applicant’s primary adviser and/or members of the doctoral committee should be submitted under separate cover to David Como, PCCBS President, who will distribute materials to the Fellowship committee. Please send letters to by February 7, 2025. The letter should describe the applicant’s academic and intellectual qualities and specific financial needs.
The recipient does not need to be present for their announcement, but they will be expected to participate at the following year’s panel for PCCBS award winners to discuss their dissertation project. That participation can be by Zoom if necessary.
The complete application is due by February 7, 2025. Please send all materials to
Winners
- 2024 Tiffany Bragg (Department of History, UC Riverside), “An ‘Unhappy Accident’ in Madrid: English Republicans, Exiled Royalists, Spain the Assassination of Anthony Ascham” (dissertation)
- 2023 Eva Vaillancourt, Department of History, UC Berkeley, “Red Light, Green Light: Traffic and the Twilight of the British World Order, 1890 to 1950” (dissertation)