The Dresher Center for the Humanities invites applications for two Residential Faculty Research Fellowships for spring 2016. Funding is intended to support and promote significant humanities research at UMBC. The Dresher Center welcomes proposals from all full-time, tenured and tenure-track faculty members pursuing humanities research in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.  Applications are especially encouraged from, but not limited to, full-time faculty with appointments in departments and programs with a humanities focus. Two fellowships are available. Proposals will be reviewed by the Dresher Center Advisory Board, with decisions by mid-July 2014.

Dresher Center Residential Research Fellows will receive release from teaching (up to two course releases) in order to work on a significant humanities research project or the training necessary to embark on such a project. Faculty wishing to develop expertise in a new field or discipline towards a future project are also encouraged to apply. Each fellow will have the use of a private office in the Dresher Center and will be awarded $500 to hire an undergraduate research assistant (junior or senior) for the semester. 

During spring 2016, fellows will reside at least one day per week in the Center, conduct two works-in-progress talks (CURRENTS and Fellows and Others), and participate actively in Dresher Center programs. Upon completion of their fellowship, fellows will serve a two-year term on the Dresher Center advisory board.

For information and an application: http://dreshercenter.umbc.edu/scholarly-resources/internal-residential-fellowship-program/ 

Contact Jessica Berman, Director, with any questions: jberman@umbc.edu 

The Dresher Center invites proposals for new Faculty Working Groups in the Humanities. Dresher Center Faculty Working Groups are collaborative, interdisciplinary communities of scholars working on humanities projects, research concerns, or matters of public interest. The Center provides support for the formation of these groups in an effort to promote intellectual exchange and support research activity in the humanities among scholars across campus. Working groups meet regularly and can use their funds to travel to sites or archives, host speakers, explore technologies, create new resources or materials, or other similar activities.

Faculty Working Groups can apply for up to $1,000 in annual support ($500 per semester) for their first-year activities. Priority will be given to groups with at least one member from a humanities department.

Fundable activities include travel to sites or archives, speaker presentations, use/purchase of technology, creation of resources or materials, and support for regular meetings or workshops, etc.

Deadlines for best consideration are November 3rd for groups beginning in spring 2015 and April 1st for groups beginning in fall 2015.

More information and 2015 Application Form: http://dreshercenter.umbc.edu/scholarly-resources/faculty-working-groups-in-the-humanities/

National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources. Successful applicants receive an outright award of $6,000 to support two consecutive months of full-time research during summer 2015.  UMBC may submit up to two nominations for this award.  The CAHSS Dean’s Office, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and the Dresher Center for the Humanities will work as appropriate with the two nominees selected as they prepare their applications to the NEH.

Instructions to Faculty

Review the guidelines  here   and submit the following materials to Scott Casper, Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences by Monday, September 8, 2014.

• A project narrative, not to exceed three-single-spaced pages, as described in the guidelines.  As the guidelines stipulate, the narrative must include an explanation of the part or stage of the project supported by the Summer Stipend and a work plan;
• The names, positions, and affiliations of two or more potential recommenders, with, ideally, no more than one being from UMBC and with at least one being a scholar with expertise in the field of the proposed project.

In addition to the quality of the application, criteria for selection will include the likelihood that the award will have a significant impact on the faculty member’s program of scholarship and that the work proposed for the fellowship period can be completed. Secondary considerations will be whether the individual has other available sources of support for the proposed work (e.g., support from UMBC or another sponsor) and whether the individual is concurrently being nominated for or applying for other awards.