2023 Best Dissertation Award 

The William F. Ballhaus, Jr. Prize for Excellence in Graduate Engineering Research is the Viterbi School’s Best Dissertation Award. The winner of the 2023 Best Dissertation Award will be awarded to one graduating Viterbi Ph.D. student with a grand prize of $10,000.

2023 Best Dissertation Award Nomination Form
Nominations are due: March 24, 2023

A complete nomination submission consists of:

• Completing the 2023 Best Dissertation Award form with the Student Nominee's Information
• Uploading the student's CV, Letter of Recommendation, and Dissertation,
• Uploading a 5 minute video from the student describing their dissertation research.

When nominating students for this award, please consider the following:

• The candidate(s) must have a graduation term of Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023.
• Candidates must defend and submit required paperwork and obtain the committee’s approval by the first week of April. 
• Candidates with a Summer 2023 graduation term will be eligible for the Best Dissertation Award during the Spring 2024 term.
• Each postcode is eligible for one nomination.
• Exception: Computer Science will receive 2 nominations, and the ECE department that has 2 post codes, but will receive 3 total nominations.

2023 Best Dissertation Award Additional Information:

• The candidate must be able to present during the Best Dissertation Symposium on May 4th, 2023
• The winner will be announced at the PhD Hooding Ceremony on May 10, 2023

2023 Best Dissertation Symposium
Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023

Time: 2 PM - 5:3O PM
Location: RTH 526 Ming Hsieh Board Room 

This award is given to one student per academic department. Recipients will receive a $250 prize and will be recognized at the Graduate Student Awards Ceremony. Both graduating and continuing Ph.D. students are eligible for this award.

This award comes with a $300 prize and will be given to one Best TA from each Viterbi department, for a total of eight awards school-wide. Recipients will be recognized at the Graduate Student Awards Ceremony.

Both graduating and continuing Ph.D. students are eligible for the Jenny Wang Excellence in Teaching award.

This award comes with a $300 prize and will be given to one "Best TA" from each Viterbi department, for a total of eight awards school-wide. Recipients will be recognized at the Graduate Student Awards Ceremony. Both graduating and continuing Ph.D. students are eligible.