2020/2021 Funding Opportunities

 

The Center for Equality and Social Justice (CESJ) is pleased to announce its May 2020 – May 2021 Award Cycle for undergraduate, graduate student, and faculty funding. Four award mechanisms will be available this year, including:

  • Three Undergraduate Research Assistantships
  • Three Graduate Student Research Assistantships
  • Up to two competitive Graduate Student Research Fellowships
  • Three Faculty Research Assistantships.

All full-time undergraduate, graduate students, and faculty at the University of Kentucky are welcome to apply. Those from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Applications are welcome from individuals or teams. 

These assistantships and fellowships will be awarded for work that engages with the focus areas of CESJ, and is either community-engaged or explicitly policy-relevant. The focus of the CESJ is to examine inequality and promote social justice on the basis of, for example, race/ethnicity, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, religion, age, ability level, and social class. For more details about the CESJ, see our website: https://cesj.as.uky.edu. Previously funded work can be found here.

The sections below outline each funding mechanism and application instructions.

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DEADLINE FOR ALL GRADUATE AND FACULTY PROPOSALS IS FEBRUARY 1, 2020

DEADLINE FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROPOSALS IS FEBRUARY 15, 2020

Email all application materials, as one pdf, to ukcesj@gmail.com

 

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Undergraduate Research Assistantships

CESJ solicits applications for Undergraduate Research funding from students, or student teams, who wish to conduct research with faculty guidance. Student projects should involve research, community engagement, or fieldwork related to the focus of the CESJ. Successful applicants will be matched with a faculty mentor who will supervise their work; those who have already identified a willing faculty mentor for their project should indicate so in their application materials. Successful applicants will receive scholarships in a lump sum in their student accounts in May 2020, applicable taxes will be withheld.

Funding details:

  • Three CESJ Undergraduate Research Assistantships will be awarded this funding cycle
  • Applications will be accepted from individuals or teams of students
  • Awards include up to a $3,000 stipend to offset research or fieldwork expenses
  • In addition, faculty mentors will receive a $1,000 stipend
  • These awards do not include tuition support

Proposals must include (team proposals should contain one cover letter, one research summary, and CVs for each applicant):

  • Cover letter indicating interest, relevant experience, project collaborators, and future career goals
  • CV
  • 500 words describing the research project and goals, including mention of how the research could impact the community or influence policies that promote social justice
  • Project timeline
  • A project budget is not necessary

 

 

Graduate Student Research Assistantships

Graduate Student Research Assistantships will be awarded to support policy-relevant research, community-engaged research, or fieldwork. Successful applicants will be matched with a faculty mentor who will supervise their work; those who have already identified a willing faculty mentor for their project should indicate so in their application materials. Successful applicants will receive stipends in a lump sum via payroll in May 2020, applicable taxes will be withheld.

Funding details:

  • Three Graduate Student Research Assistantships will be awarded this funding cycle
  • Applications will be accepted from individuals or teams of students
  • Awards include up to a $5,000 stipend
  • These awards do not include tuition support

Proposals must include (team proposals should contain one cover letter, one research summary, and CVs for each applicant):

  • Cover letter indicating interest, relevant experience, project collaborators, and future career goals
  • CV
  • 500 words describing the research project and goals, including mention of how the research could impact the community or could influence policies that promote social justice
  • Tentative project timeline
  • A project budget is not necessary

 

 

Graduate Student Research Fellowship(s)

Up to two semester-long, Graduate Student Research Fellowships will be awarded to graduate students pursuing careers in research, policy, advocacy, or non-profit leadership. Successful applicants will be matched with a faculty mentor who will supervise their work; those who have already identified a willing faculty mentor for their project should indicate so in their application materials.

Funding details:

  • Up to two one-semester Graduate Student Research Fellowships will be awarded this funding cycle
  • Fellowships include a stipend ($9,000 per semester, or $18,000 total), plus full tuition support

Application instructions:

  • Cover letter indicating career goals, and research/practice as relevant to community engagement or policy advocacy
  • CV
  • 500 words describing the student’s research and goals, including mention of how their research could impact the community or influence policies that promote social justice

 

Faculty Research Assistantships

For 2020, summer funding will be awarded in support of translational or collaborative work—making research more policy-relevant, more engaged with the community, or more accessible for lay audiences. For example, this funding may be used to support collaborative work between faculty who would not otherwise be able to collaborate, or the writing of a policy brief, white paper, or an op-ed in a nationally recognized publication.

Funding Details: 

  • All full-time faculty at the University of Kentucky are welcome to apply.
  • Applications are welcome from individuals or teams.
  • Awards include a $5,000 stipend; applicable taxes withheld
  • Successful applicants will receive funding via payroll in May 2020 and applicable taxes will be withheld.

Proposals should include:

  • Cover letter detailing interest, project collaborators, and how this work enhances either translational or collaborative efforts
  • CV
  • 500 words describing the translational activities the grant will be used to support, including relevant background and how the work (a) could impact the community or influence policies that promote social justice and (b) further your career goals
  • Project timeline
  • A project budget is not necessary