The Center for Social Science Scholarship invites applications for Faculty Working Groups to promote intellectual exchange in the social sciences and across campus. These collaborative scholarly learning communities will meet regularly to engage in such activities as: working on research projects, reading key literature, exploring new methodological approaches, and/or engaging in matters of public interest related to the social sciences.

Up to four Faculty Working Groups will be selected by the center director and advisory board members. Groups should be faculty-led and must include at least one faculty member from a social science department at UMBC. Additional priority will be given to groups whose members and/or areas of interest are multi- or interdisciplinary. Advanced graduate students may participate as Faculty Working Group members but may not serve as leaders.

Faculty Working Groups can apply for up to $1,000 in annual support ($500 per semester); groups will also be able to apply for continuation funding. Groups may use funds for such items as: supporting regular group meetings; purchasing software, books, or other materials; hosting external speakers; creating scholarly resources; traveling to external sites for research or public engagement purposes; and other similar activities. A brief report of the group’s activities will be due at the end of the funding period.

Apply by May 30, 2019, for groups to begin in Fall 2019.

Click on the attached file to download the application form. 

Applications should be submitted via email to socialscience@umbc.edu. Questions may be directed to Christine Mallinson, Director of the Center for Social Science Scholarship.

Congratulations to Evan Avila (Economics, Political Science, 2020), winner of the prestigious Truman Scholarship for 2019!

Established in 1975, the Truman Foundation is the nation’s official living memorial to our thirty-third president and The Presidential Memorial to Public Service. The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for those pursuing careers as public service leaders. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.

Evan is a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and member of the Honors College, studying economics and political science at UMBC. He is passionate about solving the structural disadvantages that marginalized populations face when trying to achieve long-term financial security. “Evan has taken on what other students might consider “boring” endeavors- income tax preparation, working for the U.S. Census Bureau- and turned them into deeply meaningful experiences, ones that he sees as inextricably linked to empowering people. He cares about people who are invisible to many- immigrants, retirees, the poor,” observes April Householder, Director of Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships.

In 2018, Evan won a national research competition, the iOme Challenge, with policy solutions for gig workers who lack access to qualified retirement plans. He has since been invited to speak on the subject at several policy conferences, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As President and Site Manager of UMBC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), Evan deters predatory tax preparers by training students to prepare free income taxes for over 500 low-income households in the Baltimore area. Evan is has also interned at the U.S. Census Bureau and Treasury Department. After graduation, Evan intends to earn a dual JD/LLM in Taxation and pursue a public service career in tax and social insurance policy.

According to Arthur Johnson, former UMBC Provost and Director of the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program, “Evan’s selection is a reflection of the significance and relevance of the service activities that UMBC students are providing through programs such as theSondheim Scholars, Shriver Center, Honors College, and many others.  It also is further evidence that UMBC’s commitment to civic engagement is alive and well among our students. Among many other expectations, TrumanScholars are expected to become leaders of our nation and communities and we are confident that Evan will fulfill those expectations.”

For more information about Truman and other UMBC past prestigious scholarships winners, please visit: https://ur.umbc.edu/prestigious-scholarships/.

Please see below for a curated list of upcoming funding opportunities. The Center for Social Science Scholarship and the Maryland Institute for Policy, Analysis, and Research (MIPAR) assist faculty members and departments in finding funding opportunities and in providing researchers with pre-award and post-grant management assistance. To set up an appointment, email socialscience@umbc.edu.

Program: Grant

Congratulations to Susan Sterett for her recent award from the National Science Foundation. Professor Sterett intends to use the award to hold  a workshop to be held at the beginning of the 2019 WPSA conference. A key component will be a session on managing conflict and improving our lives in the academy, facilitated by a professional from a university office on diversity and inclusion.  The workshop will close with brainstorming some of the challenges people find in the profession, including managing rejection, and brainstorming what gatekeepers can do.  

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and The Gritty Talks Competition Winners!! 
(GEARS, March 27th, 2019)

Department: Chemical Biochemical Environment Engineering

Program: Environment Engineering

Doctoral Student

Presentation title: Can we recover phosphorus from waste.