RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH GROUPS: TOPIC PROPOSALS 2013-14
The UC Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI) invites topic proposals for research groups to be in residence at the Institute for one quarter during the 2013-14 academic year (July 1 to June 30).
Who Can Apply: UC Ladder Rank Faculty can apply as conveners. UC and non-UC faculty, as well as postdoctoral and doctoral scholars, are able to participate in residential groups by applying to the individual RRG fellowships.
Funding Source: UCHRI
Deadline: Extended to 5 pm PST on Friday, January 13, 2012. FastApps opens on October 17.
Residential research groups (RRGs) are at the heart of UCHRI's activities, convening key scholars to work in collaboration on interdisciplinary topics of special significance. UCHRI promotes new scholarship in the humanities by fostering collaborative inquiry outside institutional and disciplinary structures. RRGs are in essence teams of researchers, often unknown to each other before residency, and assembled to work on a commonly defined research agenda. They are composed of a range of UC faculty, visiting scholars (including UC postdoctoral scholars), UC doctoral students, and non-UC faculty as resources allow.
RRGs are developed through a two-stage process. First, research topics for RRGs are determined by open competition or by UCHRI in consultation with its Advisory Committee. Through a competitive review process, RRG fellows are then selected based on their ability to contribute to the research agenda of the group. Collaboration may take many forms. In communicating across disciplines, there are challenges of language, terminology, and methodology for all RRGs. The organizing premise of the residential research program is that when those challenges are surmounted, breakthroughs in knowledge are possible.
Expected outcomes of an RRG include edited or co-edited volumes, key word texts, multimedia websites, significant extramural proposals, substantial curriculum plans, or other such significant projects arising from research pursued at UCHRI.
UCHRI's facilities for participating scholars include offices with e-mail/Internet access, seminar and conference rooms, a multi-media room, and a reference library. Furnished apartments are provided free of charge to fellows by the Institute for use on an as-needed basis during their residencies, resources permitting. Virtual residencies may also be considered as an alternative to on-site residence. Either option must be discussed with UCHRI prior to application.
Proposal Development Potential research group organizers are encouraged to contact their campus representative on the UCHRI Advisory Committee, comprising one representative from each UC campus to discuss their ideas and to get comments and advice.
Past experience has demonstrated that early consultation is instrumental in developing successful proposals. Proposers should contact their Advisory Committee representative well in advance (at least 3-4 weeks) of the deadline, both for the success of the proposal and in courtesy to the committee member. Proposers may also contact UCHRI as a resource in developing proposals.
At the time of initial inquiry, potential conveners will be given advice on whether to proceed with the development of a formal proposal. Institute resources do not permit funding of every RRG proposed, and at times the Advisory Committee must decline even eminently worthy and compelling proposals.
Awards will be announced no later than March 2012.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted exclusively online through UCHRI's FastApps system.
Required documents include:
- Program abstract (250 words max.)
- Biographical abstract (100 words max.)
- Proposal narrative (4000 words max.)
- Curriculum Vitae (2 pages max.)
The applicant must be a UC ladder rank faculty member who will serve as the group's Administrative Convener. This does not preclude more than one intellectual leader within the group who may contribute to developing the proposal.
For program-related questions, please contact Suedine Nakano, Program Administrator, at snakano@hri.uci.edu.