Call for Applications: 2021 Anti-Racism Summer Research Grants for Graduate Students

In support of the Provost’s Anti-Racism Initiative, and in partnership with the Rackham Graduate School, the National Center for Institutional Diversity’s Anti-Racism Collaborative offers summer research grants that aim to support engagement in research projects focused on racism, racial equity and racial justice while advancing graduate student progress toward degree. Grants may provide support for a student’s own project extending from their faculty advisor’s research, or for a student’s independent scholarship supervised by a faculty mentor. A faculty support letter will be required as part of the funding application.

Projects should focus on topics and processes related to racism at structural, systemic, institutional, interpersonal and/or intrapersonal levels, which could cover a variety of domains, including, but not limited to:

• Health, well-being, and social determinants of health
• Education in formal and/or informal settings
• Socioeconomic and occupational stratification and mobility
• Environmental racism and social justice
• Community development and infrastructure
• Social movements and activism
• Immigration experiences and policy
• Social attitudes and responses to diversity
• Criminal justice, policing, and the legal system
• Racial justice in science, technology, engineering mathematics (STEM) and medicine
• Race and racism in the fine arts

Currently enrolled graduate students (doctoral and masters) in good academic standing. Students must be enrolled in a U-M graduate program during the time of the grant period. 

Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded during the 2021 spring and/or summer term.

Candidates must submit the online application form and include the following documents by May 3, 2021:

• 100-word (or less) abstract of the project 
  
• Project narrative (no more than 5 pages), including:
  • The nature of the research project and how/why the project is important to the applicants’ research program/goals
    
  • The objectives and scope of the proposed project
    • How does the project illuminate and address issues of racism, racial inequality and racial justice?
    • How might the research likely inform practice, public engagement, and action to advance anti-racist principles and organizing?
• CV
• U-M Faculty advisor letter of support that includes information on how the project may forward the students’ progress toward degree
• Proposed budget, including other sources of funding

Projects awarded will include a clear description of how the research will: 

• Address issues of racism, racial inequality, and racial justice in novel ways (e.g., theoretically and/or methodologically)
• Advance the mission and priorities of the NCID’s Anti-Racism Collaborative
• Inform practice, public engagement, and/or action to advance anti-racist principals and organizing

Funding decisions will take place in May 2021 and funds must be used within one year of receipt.

The recipient is responsible for coordinating with NCID staff and their home department to arrange for good stewardship of the funds. Funds will be transferred to a specified project grant within the students’ home department. Note: recipients must adhere to any applicable policy and procedures established by their departments. All activities must be done in accordance with any COVID-related spending restrictions at the time of the project.

Budget proposals may include:

• Stipend for living expenses
• Funds may be used for travel to research or action sites, supplies, and other expenses related to the research needs (no more than 50% of the budget should go towards travel)

Budget proposals should NOT include:

• Travel expenses not directly related to research/scholarship activity
• Hosting expenses not directly related to research/scholarship activity

Applicants who receive funding must agree to submit a two-page final report within 60 days of the end of the funding period (report template will be provided). Grant recipients will be expected to participate in NCID organized activities focused on disseminating information on their funded research projects (e.g., give a talk based on a project at an Rackham/NCID/Collaborative event, participate on a panel, lead informal coffee discussion, contribute to an NCID publication). Any changes in budget items or project period must first be approved by the NCID.

Please direct questions to ncidgrants@umich.edu