Residential Research Groups: Topic Proposals

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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 Board and UC leaders in the humanities. 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.

An expected outcome of an RRG is the publication of a volume or an equivalent project arising from research pursued at UCHRI.

UCHRI's facilities for participating scholars include private 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.

Academic Year 2010-11

The UC Humanities Research Institute (UCHRI) invites topical proposals for research groups to be in residence at the Institute for one or two quarters during the 2010-11 academic year (July 1 to June 30).

Deadline: December 15, 2008

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 (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 Director David Theo Goldberg 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.

APPLYING FOR UCHRI RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH GROUPS

Applications must be submitted through the online FASTAPPS system (emailed, mailed, or faxed applications will not be accepted). Basic information as well as uploaded documents such as project and biographical abstracts, proposal, and abbreviated curriculum vitae, are required.

For RRG Topic Proposals, the online application must be filled out by the UC faculty member who will serve as the group's Administrative Convener. Administrative Conveners are normally members of the UC Academic Senate. UCHRI policy allows for only one Administrative Convener; however, this does not preclude more than one intellectual leader within the group who may have contributed to developing the proposal.

Applicants are strongly advised to read the guidelines before filling out their applications:

For programmatic questions, contact rneumann@uci.edu.
For technical assistance, contact techsupport@hri.uci.edu.

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