Graduate Student Research Grant Competition

Please submit the following to lasc@umd.edu.

Applications for the 2012 competition are due by 8:00 am on Monday, November 5, 2012.

The LASC Research Grant competition is open to graduate students seeking support for field research for MA theses or dissertation projects related to Latin America and the Caribbean. The research should take place before January 1, 2014. The purpose of the award is to provide students the opportunity to gather data, make contacts, map topics, and increase competitiveness of future proposals for funding. Awards of up to $2,500 will cover travel and related expenses for research abroad or in the United States.

The awards are competitive and proposals are judged on the basis of quality of research, organization, appropriateness and feasibility in relation to student qualifications. Prior recipients may reapply but preference will be given to students who have not received prior LASC funding.

Award recipients will be required to submit a brief report (no more than 1000 words) of research activities within three months after fieldwork is completed, including a brief account of expenditures. Upon invitation, they may be asked to give a research presentation to LASC and should acknowledge the LASC Graduate Student Research Grant Program in scholarly publications and presentations that result from the award.

Items #1-4 should be submitted in one MS Word or PDF file. Item #5 should be sent directly to lasc@umd.edu.

1. A title page that includes the following:

            Your name and UID #

            Your department and degree program

            Mailing address

            Email

            Cell phone number

            Project title

            Your advisor's name

            The duration of the project

            Amount requested from LASC

2. A 500 word description of the proposed research.

This statement should describe the research project for which funds are sought. The statement should present an overview of the intended dissertation/thesis project, its contribution to relevant scholarship, and work completed to date. The work plan should include a description of methods to be used and of bibliographic, archival and other sources to be consulted and their location. A list of references may add a page to the 500 words of text. Though the Evaluation Committee does not encourage it, in very rare cases in which unusual contextualizing is necessary, or in which a unique method must be explained, you may attach a 250-word-maximum appendix.

3. A curriculum vitae

4. A detailed budget that may include international and local travel, living expenses, and costs related to book/data/software purchases, survey design and administration, research fees, and so on. Equipment is not eligible for inclusion in the budget. Please provide a budget justification. List other funds you have or will seek for this project, including those granted or pending, the date of notification, and the period those funds will cover.

5. One letter of endorsement focused on the research you propose from a current University of Maryland faculty advisor. Include the advisor.s name in your proposal, and ask that person to send his/her letter to the email address below.

Completed applications must be received by Monday, November 5, 2012.

Graduate Student Research Grant Recipients 2010-2011
Graduate Student Research Grant Recipients 2011-2012

Deadline: Monday, November 5, 2012

Send applications by email to:
lasc@umd.edu
Please write in the subject line: GS Grant 2012 (YOUR LAST NAME)

For further information, please call (301) 405-8961.