Grad Student Research Grant Guidelines

Download Grad Student Collaborative Conference grant guidelines (PDF)
Grad Student Collaborative Conference grant application form

Download Grad Student Reading Group grant guidelines (PDF)
Grad Student Reading Group grant application form

Download To Form a More Perfect Union? co-sponsorship call (PDF)
To Form a More Perfect Union? co-sponsorship application form

Graduate Student Grants

As part of its mission to spark new knowledge, foster vibrant intellectual communities, and inspire conversations that matter, the Humanities Center awards grants to School of Humanities faculty and graduate students to support research, conference  travel, publication subvention and conference planning. Grants are awarded twice a year in fall and spring quarters. The Humanities Center's internal grant streams are funded through the UCI Office of Research and the UC Humanities Network.

If you have questions about graduate student grants, contact Amanda Swain at ajswain@uci.edu or schedule an appointment (Zoom or in person).

Our Conversations that Matter theme for 2020-2021 is OCEANS. The Humanities Center will provide co-sponsorship funding for events by organized by departments, centers, research clusters and other faculty-led groups on the Oceans theme that take place September 2020 through June 2021. 

We are no longer accepting requests for Borders & Belongings co-sponsorships.

Graduate Student Grants

1) Collaborative Conferences (CLOSED)   -    Deadline: 11/1/2021

Description
Collaborative Conference Grants may be used to support academic conferences, symposia or film or lectures series organized by graduate students.  Events should be help on campus at UCI or virtually. Applications must demonstrate contribution to the field and an appropriate audience building plan. 

A collaborative project must have at least two (2) co-directors, at least one of whom must be an SOH graduate student.  Graduate students representing an SOH research cluster or department may apply.  Collaboration with external partners, such as other universities or organizations, on virtual events is encouraged.

The Humanities Center will support departmental graduate student conferences if there is a demonstrated financial commitment from the department at the time of application.  We expect the department to contribute at least $500 for conferences with a budget over $2,000 or at least 25% of the conference cost for conferences with a budget under $2,000.

Applicants must have a department or center commitment to provide organizational support for events. The Humanities Center does not provide program or administrative support along with grant funds. Expenses and reimbursements will be processed by the department providing administrative support and charged to the Humanities Center funds account.  Funds must be expended by June 30, 2022

Grants are available for 2021-2022 events. All events must comply with UCI COVID-19 directives and policies current at the time, as well as any School of Humanities  guidelines.

Timeline: Notifications by December 3, 2021

Applications must be submitted electronically by Monday, November 1, 11:00 p.m.

Log in to EEE Scout at https://scout.eee.uci.edu/s/grad-collabconf-fall2021https://scout.eee.uci.edu/s/grad-collabconf-fall2021

Application Instructions

• Name and Department
• Organizing Group (if applicable), Conference Name, Dates
• Name and department of co-organizer
• Grant amount requested and total conference budget amount
• Department providing administrative support to organize the conference.

Upload a single PDF document (max 3 pages) with the following:
• A description of the conference, its contribution to scholarship in this field/on this topic, and a list of key participants.
• A detailed budget for the conference
• A list of other conference sponsors and sources of funding.

An appropriate faculty member (such as the research cluster’s faculty director or other supervising faculty member) should email Amanda Swain directly at ajswain@uci.edu re: the importance of the conference for research in the field, graduate student professionalization and/or departmental identity. The email should also speak to the applicants’ ability to carry out the conference.

Eligibility
A collaborative project must have at least two (2) co-directors, at least one of whom must be an SOH graduate student. Graduate students representing an SOH research cluster or department may apply. Collaborations with external partners, such as other universities or organizations, on virtual events is encouraged.
Call Date: 9/27/2021

2) Graduate Reading Groups (CLOSED)   -    Deadline: 1/19/2021

Description
The Humanities Center announces funding to support interdisciplinary graduate student reading groups.  Applications must include the following:
  1. A central theme/problematic that crosses disciplinary boundaries
  2. Coordinator(s) who will organize the sessions and recruit members
  3. Request amount up to $300
  4. A single PDF (2 pages max) with:
  • Name of reading group
  • A 500 word explanation of the theme and its significance
  • A list of at least 5 committed members (with departments and research interests identified) who pledge to attend the reading groups on a regular basis
  • Budget for requested funds
  • A tentative schedule of activities and proposed reading list winter and spring 2022.
Apply via Google Forms application by Monday, November 1.

Successful applications will receive up to $300 to be used for purchase reading materials, refreshments for meetings or to pay honoraria for guest speakers at a reading group meeting. The reading group must involve graduate students from at least two graduate programs and may include students from outside of SOH.

Decisions will be announced by December 3.  If your reading group decides to plan larger events, please apply for the graduate collaborative conference grants and/or the To Form a More Perfect Union? co-sponsorships. 

For more information, contact Prof. Judy Wu (j.wu@uci.edu).

Eligibility
Graduate students currently enrolled in an SOH graduate degree program.
Call Date: 10/7/2020

3) Individual Graduate Research (CLOSED)   -    Deadline: 2/12/2021

Description
Graduate students in the UCI School of Humanities who have achieved candidacy are eligible to apply for Individual Research grants (max award $3,000) through the Humanities Commons.  Graduate students may receive only ONE Individual Research during their graduate studies. 

Grant funds may be used for research travel, such as flights, ground transportation, and lodging; archival and copying fees; and other research expenses, such as translation or transcription.  Grant funds may not be used to pay for summer living expenses, language study, travel to a conference, food or per diem while traveling, or equipment.

Submission

Narrative Description (two page maximum):
Please provide a description of your dissertation project, what you plan to accomplish with the grant funds and how these activities are necessary to your dissertation project.

Project Budget (one page maximum):
Please provide a list of all project expenses, identifying which expenses will be paid by the grant and which expenses will be paid by other funds. 
Please list other funds – both received and pending – that will be used for this project.

Applications must be submitted electronically by Friday, February 12, 2021 through EEE Scout:
https://scout.eee.uci.edu/s/Grad-Research-W2020

1. Log into the Grad Student Research Grants application form to submit the application:
2. Enter the following information directly into the online form:
o Name
o Department
o Year and quarter achieved candidacy
o Project title
o Total amount requested

3. Upload a single PDF of the project narrative and itemized budget.

4. Click “Save” to save your submission and review or complete at a later date.

5. Once you have completed your online application form, click “Submit Response” to submit the application.  Application forms cannot be changed once they have been submitted.

6. EEE Scout does not send an email confirmation.  Go to https://scout.eee/uci.edu and click on “Review My Submissions.” The Faculty Research Grants form should show as submitted (not saved) in this list.

Letter of Support from Dissertation Advisor or Faculty Supervisor:
A letter of support from the appropriate faculty member indicating support for the application, including the significance of the project and why these activities are necessary to complete the dissertation, should be sent directly to Amanda Swain at ajswain@uci.edu by February 12, 2021.


Eligibility
Doctoral students in the UCI School of Humanities who have achieved candidacy. Graduate students may receive only ONE Individual Research during their graduate studies.
Call Date: 12/14/2020