Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

To be eligible, an individual will:

• Be a WashU graduate student or postdoctoral appointee
• Through initial research achievement in a humanities, social sciences and sciences field, show outstanding promise as a scholar, as evidenced by independent investigation or current/former work on a dissertation project.

Postdoctoral Appointee Applicants must:

• Be a WashU postdoctoral associate or postdoctoral scholar at the time of the application submission and at the time of induction to the Bouchet society
• Show exemplary abilities as an early-career scholar, as evidenced by achievement in research and scholarship.
• Please note: Priority consideration is given to those who intend to pursue academic careers, have acted as a leader in their respective WashU communities, have a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in higher education, and are from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the academy.

Members of the BGHS at WashU are required to:

• Register for and attend the Annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education in the year that they are inducted into the Society and participate in the BGHS Induction Ceremony. The 2025 conference dates are April 3-6, 2025.
• Participate in WashU chapter inductee reception tentatively scheduled for April 8, 2025.
• Represent WashU’s BGHS chapter, assist in the selection process for the annual WashU Bouchet Speaker event and may be asked to speak at events.

Members of the BGHS at WashU receive:

• Coverage of travel costs and registration fees for the Annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education in the year that they are inducted into the Society to participate in the BGHS Induction Ceremony.
• Participate in WashU chapter inductee reception and chapter events on campus.
• Access to the BGHS member network via the Bouchet Connect platform and invitations to national BGHS programming.

The 2025 cycle is now closed.

• A completed application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• A personal statement (1-1.5 pages) that explains how the applicant embodies the characteristics of Dr. Bouchet. The statement should describe the applicant’s character, leadership, advocacy, scholarship, service, and anticipated contribution to the Society.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• A 250-word research description.
• Two letters of recommendation.
  • The first letter should be from the applicant’s current faculty mentor or PI who is knowledgeable about the applicant’s research and can describe the nominee’s current and potential contributions to their field(s) of study.
  • The second letter can be from a faculty member, dean, director, or other professional contact or mentor familiar with the applicant’s research and/or service.
  • Both letters should address how the applicant exemplifies each of the core values of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (i.e., CLASS: Character, Leadership, Advocacy, Scholarship, and Service) and embodies the Bouchet legacy.

• The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs identifies and selects outstanding WashU postdoctoral appointees that meet the requirements, collects the documentation necessary for candidacy, and makes a recommendation to the WashU Bouchet Chapter to induct them.