Graduate Student Resources

Terms: The Marvin E. Goody Award ($5,000.00) is given each term to a student in any department at MIT who will be expected to complete his or her SM Thesis or equivalent (i.e., MArch, SMArchS, SMBT, MCP, SM, MEng) at the end of the following term. The competition is held in December (for completion in May) and in May (for completion in February) of each year. Selection will be on the basis of the promise and subject of the thesis proposal as it relates to the aims of the Goody Award. The aims of the award, which was established in 1983, are to extend the horizons of existing building techniques and use of materials, to encourage links between the academic world and the building industry, and to increase appreciation of the bond between good design and good building – criteria that are intended to reflect the range of Marvin Goody's interests as a teacher, researcher, and designer. To be appropriate for the Goody Award a thesis proposal must address one or more of the stated aims. The criteria the committee will use in judging applications are: (1) the promise of the thesis, in the form of evidence that the work it contains is likely to satisfy the intentions of the prize, and (2) the student's record, as evidenced by letters of support and the student's statement. In the last regard, the Committee will look for evidence that the promise of the thesis will be realized. Eligible: Students from Architecture, DUSP, CE and ME who will complete thesis in the semester immediately following application. Process: The award is administered by a committee consisting of: Adele Santos, Dean, School of Architecture and Planning Yung Ho Chang, Head, Department of Architecture Frank Perkins Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Patrick Jaillet Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Applications consist of: 1. Completed application form (also available at front desk in 7-337). 2. A brief resumé of the applicant. 3. A copy of the applicant's thesis proposal. 4. Confidential letters of support from the thesis advisor and at least one other faculty member. These letters should make clear the specific qualities of the proposal in relation to the objectives of the Goody Award and should be submitted with the application in an envelope to be sealed by the recommender. 5. A statement on the application form by the student describing the relationship of his or her proposed thesis to the aims of the Goody Award. 6. A budget indicating proposed use of funds. Be specific about how the award money would facilitate the realization of the thesis. Submission should be unbound, page numbered, and reproducible by black-and-white copier. Applicants are strongly urged to seek the advice of faculty in the formulation of their statements and applications. Schedule: Fall Term 2007 Announcement/call for proposals: November 6, 2007 Deadline for proposals: November 29, 2007 Announcement of winners: December 12, 2007 Spring Term 2008 Announcement/call for proposals: March 10, 2008 Deadline for proposals: April 7, 2008 Announcement of winners: May 15, 2008 Spring 2007 winner: Rossella Nicolin, Civil and Environmental Engineering