It is my pleasure to announce the winner of the 2008 Dissertation Prize of the Journal of Applied Econometrics. The Prize is open to PhD students in economics writing a dissertation with a substantive empirical application. The empirical application of the dissertation may be in any field, such as labour economics, monetary economics, empirical finance, business cycle, international trade, public economics, and applied topics in the field of microeconomics. The value of the prize is $ 2,500. Mr Matthew Chesnes, of the University of Maryland, for his paper Capacity and Utilization Choice in the US Oil Refining Industry The next prize will be awarded in September 2009. Nominations must be submitted by 15th July 2009, and must include a draft dissertation chapter or other paper taken from the dissertation, and two covering letters: one from a faculty member with knowledge of the dissertation work, and one from the student. Nominations should be sent to the JAE Editorial Office, Room 91, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DD, UK, or by e-mail to jae@econ.cam.ac.uk. In the evaluation of nominations, the emphasis will be on the careful and rigorous application of econometric techniques and the appropriate interpretation of the results. The economic content of the nominated chapter or paper will be stressed. Clear expression and good use of English are important. Scholars will be selected and notified by 15th September 2009, and will receive a stipend of $ 2,500 for research support.