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Research and Fellowship Opportunities for Humanities Scholars

 

Martha Malamud

 

 

 

 

 

 

The links listed below lead to a variety of research opportunities for scholars of the humanities and related fields. The University at Buffalo Humanities Institute offers Faculty Research Fellowships and Visiting Fellowships to the Special Collections of the UB Libraries. Other funding opportunities include the UB 2020 Scholars Fund and Graduate Fellowships offered by the New York Council for the Humanities.

 

Humanities Institute Faculty Research Fellowships

UB Libraries Special Collections Fellowships

Humanities Institute Dissertation Fellowship

Humanities Institute Distinguished Scholar in Residence Program

New York Council for the Humanities Graduate Fellowship

Research Workshop Funding

Digital Humanities Initiative at Buffalo Research Funding

UB 2020 Scholars Fund

 

Humanities Institute Faculty Research Fellowships

The Humanities Institute offers fellowships for UB tenured and tenure-track faculty engaged in humanistic research. These fellowships provide the Fellow's department with course replacement funds at the standard CAS adjunct rate ($3,500 per course) to provide a semester of course release, which will allow the Fellow to focus primarily on a major research project and to participate actively in Institute programs.

Fellows should expect to participate in the following programs and events over the course of their fellowship:

Faculty Research and Follow-Up: Fellows will pursue their research topics as outlined in their proposals. The semester following the leave, Fellows are asked to submit a brief (one-page, single-spaced) summary of their research to the Executive Committee that outlines project goals, how the semester as a Humanities Institute Fellow helped the recipient towards that goal, how close the project is to completion, and how it will be made available to the public (i.e. the publication of a book, a series of articles, an exhibition, a documentary film, a performance).

Humanities Institute Events: Fellows will participate in various programs and events brought under the rubric of the Institute, such as lecture series and research projects and conferences organized by the Institute.

Faculty Fellow Presentation: Fellows are expected to share the fruits of their research through a presentation open to the UB community and the general public. This could be a lecture, exhibition, or performance.

Selection Criteria and Application Procedure

Institute fellows will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • The quality and potential of the proposed research project as outlined in a brief proposal (2-3 pages).

  • The quality and completion record of previous research projects and scholarly publications.

  • The potential interest of the project to other fields.

  • The demonstrated ability and desire of the applicant to participate in Institute programs.

Humanities Institute fellows may not accept any other internal or external research support designed for salary replacement during the tenure of their award. Applications that are submitted by January 15 will be considered for the following academic year. Applications must include the following:

  • Cover letter.

  • Brief two to three page, single-spaced research proposal.

  • Current CV, which should indicate in detail previous and upcoming research support (grants, fellowships, leaves, etc.).

  • Signed form from the applicant's department chair that indicates the chair's agreement to free the applicant from two courses in return for course replacement funds at the $3,500 per course adjunct rate. Click Here to Download Form

Applicants must submit six (6) copies of all application materials in a single envelope by Friday, January 15 2010 to:

Michele Bewley
Assistant Director
Humanities Institute
University at Buffalo
810 Clemens Hall
Buffalo, New York 14260

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UB Libraries Special Collections Fellowships

The UB Humanities Institute, in collaboration with the UB Libraries, is offering three fellowships for visiting scholars and graduate students working on their dissertations to use the UB Libraries' outstanding Special Collections, which include, among others, The Poetry Collection, The University Archives and The University's 20,000 volume Rare Book Collection.

Click on this link to find out more about some of the more notable collections in the UB libraries.

The fellowships provide stipends of up to $4,000 ($5,000 for the James Joyce fellowship) to cover the cost of fellows' travel to Buffalo and accommodation and expenses during the time of their stay. In addition to the stipend, Fellows will receive library and parking privileges at UB and are invited to participate in any Humanities Institute events that occur during the time of their visit. If feasible, Fellows are invited to give one public lecture on their research. Fellows are also asked to submit a one page, single-spaced report on the value of having used the collection at UB that will be posted on the Humanities Institute website.

The timing and duration of the Fellows' residence in Buffalo are flexible, though we would anticipate a minimum stay of two weeks. Both graduate students at an advanced stage of dissertation research and more senior scholars are invited to apply.

  • The James Joyce Fellowship: For scholars and graduate students whose research is centered on the writings of James Joyce, Modernism, Joyce-related research, research on Sylvia Beach, Modernist publishers, Modernist genetic criticism, Joyce's literary circle, his literary colleagues, or his influences.

  • The David Gray Fellowship: For scholars and graduate students whose research is centered on 20th and 21st century English language poetry and poetics. (This fellowship must be completed by June 30th of the following year in which the award was received).

  • The Charles D. Abbott Library Fellowship: For scholars and graduate students whose research would be enhanced by any of the books, manuscripts or unique documents in the UB Libraries special collections, which include materials from The Poetry Collection, The University Archives, The Polish Collection, The Collections of the Music Library, and The History of Medicine Collection.

Please note that applicants may apply for only one fellowship per academic year.

Selection Criteria and Application Procedure

The deadline for applications is January 15 . Applications must include the following:

  • Cover letter. 

  • Brief two to three page, single-spaced research proposal, including length and approximate timing of proposed visit 

  • Current CV, which should indicate in detail previous and upcoming research support (grants, fellowships, leaves, etc.).

  • Letter of support from department chair or dissertation director.

Applicants must submit six (6) copies of all application materials in a single envelope by Friday, January 15 2010 to:

Michele Bewley
Assistant Director
Humanities Institute
University at Buffalo
810 Clemens Hall
Buffalo, New York 14260

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Humanities Institute Dissertation Fellowship

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Humanities Institute Distinguished Scholar in Residence Program

The Humanities Institute invites proposals for our new Distinguished Scholar in Residence program, which brings renowned humanities scholars and artists to the UB campus for a substantial visit—either one semester or a portion thereof.

We are especially interested in scholars who cross disciplines and whose presence on campus will invigorate the intellectual life of faculty and students in more than one department.  We expect that Distinguished Scholars in Residence would teach a graduate seminar or offer a for-credit workshop during their stay.  Other events—lectures, symposia, performances—will be arranged by the Humanities Institute as appropriate.

Funding support for Distinguished Scholars in Residence is flexible, though it is unlikely that the Humanities Institute will be able to fund 100% of any residency.  We anticipate funding 50% of the costs for a Distinguished Scholar in Residence.

Please forward the cv and a narrative description of potential candidates to the Institute Director; please indicate which semester the candidate would be most likely to visit.  Please also indicate what other sources of support for the visit have been requested.   There is no deadline.  Candidates will be considered on an ongoing basis.

At present the Institute is unable to provide office space for Distinguished Scholars in Residence; this should be arranged through the nominating department.

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New York Council for the Humanities Graduate Fellowship

About the Fellowship

The New York Council for the Humanities awards a University at Buffalo Public Humanities Fellowship each academic year. This fellowship is designed to expose graduate students in the humanities to work in the public realm and to encourage excellence in the public humanities in New York State. This fellowship is being offered in conjunction with the Humanities Institute of the University at Buffalo and is supported by the "We The People" initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.


The Public Humanities Fellow will play a key role in the Council's Reading Between the Lines (RBTL) book discussion program, which engages members of the general public in facilitated conversations about books chosen to illuminate significant themes in American history, culture, and life. During the course of the fellowship, the Fellow will develop and facilitate a new four-session RBTL series, which will then become part of the roster of series available to non-profit organizations around the state. The Fellow will also take part in a training session and several discussions focused on issues related to public humanities with his or her counterpart from the CUNY Graduate Center.

For more information on the Council's Reading Between the Lines program visit http://www.nyhumanities.org/discussion_groups/adult_audiences/rbtl.php

For questions or additional information contact Jane McNamara at jmcnamara@nyhumanities.org  or 212-233-1131 ext. 24.

Fellowship Requirements

Fellowship applicants are asked to propose a four-session series related to a theme that is selected each year. Series focused on this theme can encompass a wide range of topics and disciplines, but should draw connections between local populations or issues and broader history, politics, and culture. The books selected for the series should be accessible in both tenor and length to non-academic readers, and must be in print and reasonably priced. Generally, Reading Between the Lines series are devoted to non-fiction, although they may include fiction if it is discussed within an historical or cultural context.

The Fellow is required to facilitate the proposed series twice, once during the fall semester and once during winter/spring semester, at public venues in the Buffalo area selected by the Council. In addition, the Fellow is required to participate in a facilitation training session during fall semester, and in two other meetings with his or her counterpart from the CUNY Graduate Center during the course of the fellowship. These discussions will be opportunities to reflect on the field of public humanities and may involve other guests invited by the Council. The Fellow is also required to present an on-campus talk about his or her experience working in the public realm, which will be arranged by the Humanities Institute of the University of Buffalo. In addition, the Fellow will be asked to evaluate both iterations of his or her Reading Between the Lines series, and provide the Council with a written version of the on-campus talk.

There may be additional optional opportunities for the Fellow to participate in meetings and conferences related to the public humanities during the course of the fellowship.

Who Should Apply

Any University at Buffalo doctoral candidate in the humanities who has completed at least one year of graduate-level course work is eligible to apply. Experience teaching and/or working with the public is helpful but not required. This fellowship is particularly appropriate for graduate students who are interested in gaining experience working outside of academia.

Fellowship Stipend

The fellowship carries a $5,000 stipend, which will be paid in two installments ($2,500 in September and $2,500 in January). Additional funds are available to cover travel to the required training session and meetings.

The New York Council for the Humanities invites proposals to develop and facilitate sessions of Reading Between the Lines (RBTL) for adults. This innovative reading and discussion program engages members of the public in facilitated conversations about books chosen to illuminate significant themes in American history, culture and life. The goal of the program is to encourage informed civic discussion. These four-session public discussions are held at libraries, museums, historical societies and other community gathering spaces and are led by graduate students in the humanities who propose the series topics and syllabi through a competitive process. The program is part of the NEH-sponsored "We The People" initiative.

Application Deadline

Eligible applicants should use the form available at

http://www.nyhumanities.org/discussion_groups/adult_audiences/rbtl_buffalo.php

Please also include a current resume and one letter of recommendation with your application.

Applications should be mailed to:

Jane McNamara
Senior Program Officer
New York Council for the Humanities
150 Broadway, Suite 1700
New York, NY 10038

or emailed to:  jmcnamara@nyhumanities.org

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Research Workshop Funding

HI Research Workshop funding is designed to support existing interdisciplinary reading groups in the humanities and to encourage the formation of new groups.  Research Workshops may include any number of faculty and/or graduate students, focusing on any topic, but they must be interdisciplinary.  Workshops based exclusively in a single academic unit will not be funded.  Funding levels vary, but the maximum award is $2,500 per year.  In the interest of long-term planning, established groups may apply for more than one year’s funding. 

Requests must include the following information:  

  • Name and descrbe the principal focus of the Research Workshop 
  • Indicate how long the Research Workshop has been in existence or whether it is a new group
  • Provide a concise summary of the Research Workshop’s productivity and results to date
  • Indicate how often the Research Workshop meets and what format its meetings typically take
  •  Llist the Research Workshop’s membership by name, department, and email address (including both faculty and graduate students).
  •  Describe the Research Workshop’s plans in the academic year for which funding is being requested and provide an itemized draft budget.
  •  Indicate other funding sources (committed or pending) for the Research Workshop.
  •  Indicate the Research Workshop’s principal coordinator for in the academic year for which funding is being requested.

Deadline 2010-11 Research Workshop applications are to be received by January 15, 2010 .

Applications are to include original and 8 copies.

Please mail to Michele Bewley, 810 Clemens Hall, North Campus 

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Digital Humanities Initiative at Buffalo (DHIB) Funding

The Digital Humanities Initiative at Buffalo (DHIB) invites proposals for funding for activities to be carried out during summer 2008. Completed proposals are due by April 4th . Click Here For More information.

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UB 2020 Scholars Fund

This program is intended to provide resources to support academic excellence in research and scholarly activities that are aligned with one or more of the UB 2020 strategic strengths. These seed grants will provide funding, where such resources are not available from the department, school of college, to allow the development of ideas to enhance the chance of external funding. However, awards will also be made in areas where external funding is rare.

Applications from all schools and disciplines are encouraged to apply. For more information visit:  http://www.research.buffalo.edu/rsp/fund.cfm

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