The Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund is being launched to support deserving Liberian Ph.D. students to pursue their terminal academic degrees. This scholarship favors academic fields that support Liberian national development and/or advances in the frontiers of knowledge and is for students enrolled at accredited universities.

Current Ph.D. students wishing to apply should submit a one-page statement that includes their name, where they are from in Liberia, the name of their institution, their department, their field of study, and their intended or actual dissertation topic. The statement should also mention their status in their program (e.g., pre-proposal, post-qualifiers, proposal writing stage, data collection phase, ABD, etc.) and how long they have been in the program. Relevance of their topic to Liberian national development or to expanding the frontiers of knowledge should also be well-justified, and their future career goal should be mentioned. Students should state concisely and specifically which item in the list below they are seeking funding for and the anticipated cost (supporting evidence is welcome). Last but not least, a brief letter of support from the student’s major advisor should be attached.

Scholarship funds can be used for the following categories of expenses: 1) tuition and fees; 2) books and other published materials (including access to research-related online resources); 3) research materials and supplies; 4) laptop computers or other tech equipment necessary for the research project; 5) research-related travel; 6) expenses related to attending conferences at which the student is presenting her or his own research; 7) publication fees related to the publication of the student’s scholarly work in a reputable journal or dissertation publication; 8) graduation fees, including academic regalia purchase (not rental). If an award is made, receipts should be provided expeditiously.

Support the Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund has been established to support deserving Liberian students in their pursuit of doctoral degrees. This scholarship prioritizes academic fields that contribute to Liberia’s national development or push the boundaries of knowledge. It is available to students enrolled in accredited universities.

DONATION CATEGORIES:
We invite you to contribute at a level that aligns with your capacity and commitment. There are eight giving tiers available—each designed to accommodate a wide range of supporters. Explore the options below to find the one that’s right for you.

• $5,000 TUITION ANGEL – Will support tuition and fees for a dedicated Ph.D. scholar.
• $2,500 TECH TITAN – Will support the purchase of a high-quality laptop for one Ph.D. student or other specialized equipment needed to complete the dissertation.
• $1,500 RESEARCH PARTNER – Will defray research and data collection expenses, including essential research-related travel, for a Ph.D. scholar.
• $750 REGALIA RELIEF – Will allow a graduating Ph.D. scholar to purchase (not rent) the academic regalia (cap, gown, & hood) they will need for the rest of their academic careers.
• $500 CONFERENCE CHAMP – Will support research-related conference travel for the presentation of research findings at an academic conference.
• $200 RESUME BUILDER – Will support conference registration fees for an academic conference in which a Ph.D. student is presenting an academic paper.
• $100 LIBRARY BUILDER – Will support essential scholarly resources for one Ph.D. student’s dissertation literature review.
• $25 BOOK BUDDY – Will purchase an essential research-related book for a Ph.D. student.