Faculty Recognition & Funding Opportunities – February 1, 2017
RECOGNITION
Maria Höhn, Professor of History, with her collaborators at Bard, Bennington and Sarah Lawrence colleges, received a planning grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support efforts by the developing Consortium on Forced Migration, Displacement and Education. Building on the efforts of the Vassar Refugee Solidarity initiative, this project will allow the Consortium and its partners to explore development of a comprehensive curriculumconcerning issues of forced displacement, its root causes, and its significance in the past and present. The planning phase will also enable the Consortium to envision a social justice engagement structure that offers students ample opportunity to work with displaced individuals, both here in the U.S. and abroad; and to advance a language-learning social network that connects students and faculty with displaced students and scholars across the globe for intellectual growth and greater understanding.
A significantly revised and expanded German-language version of Maria Höhn’s 2010 Breath of Freedom: African American GIs, the Civil Rights Struggle and Germany was recently published by transcript Verlag. Ein Hauch von Freiheit?- Afroamerikanische Soldaten, die US-Bürgerrechtsbewegung und Deutschland was released in 2016, and Höhn’s research on African American soldiers also informed documentaries made for the Smithsonian Channel and German public television.
Seungsook Moon, Professor of Sociology, was selected by ASIANetwork to participate in this year's ASIANetwork Faculty Enhancement Program. Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, this program introduces Asian Studies faculty to the on-site study of a country in Asia which lies outside their primary range of expertise. For 2017, the program has identified as its topic Contemporary Indonesia: Religious Diversity, Environmental Issues, and Political Transitions. Professor Moon was selected as one of only ten awardees for the seminar in a national competition open to ASIANetwork’s 160 member colleges.
Maria Höhn and Seungsook Moon are co-authors and co-editors of Over There: Living with the U.S. Military Empire from World War Two to the Present (Duke University Press), a volume that explores the social impact of America’s global network of military bases by examining interactions between U.S. soldiers and members of host communities in those places—South Korea, Japan and Okinawa, and West Germany—where more than-two thirds of American overseas bases and troops have been concentrated for the past six decades. Over There was newly published in Korean as 오버데어: 2차세계대전부터 현재까지 미군제국과 함께 살아온 삶 by Greenbee Press of Seoul in late 2016, translated by Jude Lee under the supervision of Seungsook Moon.
Cindy Schwarz, Professor of Physics, is author of A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo, published for 2017 (third edition) by Morgan & Claypool Publishers. A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo is an expedition into the remarkably simple ingredients of all the wonders of nature. With hardly a mathematical formula, Professor Schwarz explains the language and much of the substance of elementary particle physics for the 99% of students who do not aspire to a career in physics. College courses can be developed around this book and it can be used alone or in conjunction with other materials. Available in print and electronic formats, Professor Schwarz's book is part of the IOP Concise Physicsseries, co-published with the Institute of Physics, which provides readers with a snapshot of current research, an introduction to key principles, a look back at historical events and people, and even delves into issues surrounding effective teaching methods in more than 30 areas of physics. These books are aimed at researchers, students, teachers and anyone interested in physics at all levels; visit Morgan & Claypool online or contact Professor Schwarz directly at schwarz@vassar.edu.
*** EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE VASSAR COMMUNITY ***
FEBRUARY 9 Webinar for Faculty: How to Align Your Time with Your Priorities - Join Katherine Hite, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Director of Research Development, on Thursday, February 9 from 2:00-3:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room (College Center) to view and discuss this webinar by Dr. Rosemarie Roberts of Connecticut College. Sponsored by the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to kahite@vassar.edu by Monday, February 6.
FEBRUARY 20 Creative Arts Across Disciplines (CAAD) Summer Multi-Arts Collectives Under the auspices of the Creative Arts Across Disciplines project, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Vassar will offer opportunities this coming summer for multidisciplinary teams of two or more students to work together on creative arts or design-based projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor and artist in residence. For the upcoming summer of 2017, we invite collaborating students to initiate a proposal, which must include a faculty member willing to provide mentorship. This year, we are pleased to announce the participation of visiting artist, Courtney Starrett, who will be working with her collaborator, Susan Reiser on a CAAD-supported project relating to the theme of “touch.” Their collective experience and history of collaboration celebrates the interdisciplinary spirit of the Multi-Arts Collectives and their guidance adds to the richness of the mentorship of the program. For more details and application instructions, please visit CAAD online and see the application guidelines posted here.
FEBRUARY 24 Catwalk Institute (Catskill, New York) welcomes proposals from artists, scholars and collaborative teams for residencies of up to 8 weeks at Catslair and Catwalk. This residential complex is situated on a magnificent historic site of 70 acres on the Hudson River across from Olana, the home of Frederic Edwin Church, America's first environmentalist and just north of Thomas Cole’s home, Cedar Grove. Residencies are available to artists, writers and scholars in all media and disciplines exploring subjects related to place, landscape and environment investigating universal aspects of nature embedded in the Hudson Valley landscape and ecology. Residencies are space/time grants fully outfitted lodging, but note that stipends are not available and visitors must have access to a car during their stay. Participation is exclusively for faculty and alumni from Columbia University, New York University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Vassar College. Applications are by recommendation through each institution; if you are interested, please contact Gary Hohenberger (gahohenberger@vassar.edu , x7092). Deadline is February 24 for April-October 2017 residencies.
SOME UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR EXTRAMURAL FUNDING
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS
FEBRUARY 10 The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation is accepting nominations for its Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program. The annual program supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences at undergraduate institutions. Based on institutional nominations, the program provides discretionary funding to faculty at an early stage in their careers. The award is based on accomplishment in scholarly research with undergraduates as well as a compelling commitment to teaching, and provides an unrestricted research grant of $75,000. The program is open to academic institutions in the states, districts, and territories of the United States that grant a bachelor's or master's degree in the chemical sciences, including biochemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering. Nominees must hold a full-time tenure-track academic appointment; be beyond the fourth and not after the twelfth year of their independent academic careers; and be engaged in research and teaching primarily with undergraduates. For complete program guidelines and nomination instructions, see the Dreyfus Foundation website: http://dreyfus.org/awards/camille_dreyfus_teacher_award.shtml
FEBRUARY 13 The Hudson River Foundation for Science & Environmental Research, Inc. (HRF) has issued its 2017 request for proposals for the Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship, a student research program conducted through the HRF in cooperation with the NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. The program provides a summer grant ($3,800 for each Fellow) and research funds (up to $1,000) for 8 college students to conduct research on the Hudson River. Program goals are to gather information on all aspects of the River and train students in conducting scientific studies and public policy research. Due to the program’s training and educational aspects, each potential Fellow must be sponsored by a primary advisor who must commit sufficient time to supervise the summer research and to attend the orientation and final report meetings with their students. Advisors receive a stipend of $500. For more information and application details, visit the Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship page at www.hudsonriver.org/? x=polgar See also HRF’s Mark B. Bain Fellowships announcement, below.
FEBRUARY 21 National Science Foundation (NSF) Algorithms for Threat Detection (ATD) program supports research on new ways to use spatiotemporal datasets to develop quantitative models of human dynamics. The objectives include improved representation of complicated group dynamics and the development of algorithms that can process data in near real-time to accurately identify unusual events and forecast future threats indicated by those events. The ATD program will support research projects that aim to develop novel mathematical and statistical algorithms for analysis of large geospatial datasets. Means to quantify confidence levels are desired, as are insights into new spatiotemporal datasets and valuable means of assembling them. Models may range from those that address activities of individuals to those applicable to small groups or entire nations. These models may leverage mathematical research areas including, but not limited to, point processes, time series, dynamical systems, partial differential equations, and optimal control. Models that depend almost entirely on the spatial and temporal aspects of the data are of greatest interest. General applications of interest include threat detection, predictive analytics, human mobility, and human geography. DMS and NGA recognize the needs and opportunities for the mathematical sciences community to develop methodology for reducing threats from a variety of sources. This program seeks ambitious and creative research proposals from individual investigators and collaborative groups in the mathematical sciences community. Research collaborations among mathematical scientists and social, behavioral, and economic scientists are encouraged. For details and application guidelines, visit NSF online: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503427&WT.mc_id=USNSF_48&WT.mc_ev=click
Multiple NSF funding opportunities now open!
MARCH 1 Research Corporation for Science Advancement’s Frontiers in Research Excellence and Discovery (FRED) Award supports the early stages of exceptional high risk/high reward research that will potentially transform a field of scientific research. These competitive awards are given to highly creative Cottrell Scholars whose ideas and potential solutions address major current challenges in their areas of research expertise. By developing unique perspectives for solving key research challenges, FRED awardees create new approaches that accelerate basic science research for the benefit of society. Award size is $250,000. Applicants must be tenured Cottrell Scholars who received their initial Cottrell Scholar Award (CSA) within the past five to ten years. For the 2017 competition, eligibility will be limited to Cottrell Scholars who received their awards during the 2007-2012 time period. FRED proposals should contain a five-page research plan to be conducted in a period of three years. Proposed projects may build upon on-going research in the principal investigator’s laboratory, but new directions must be clearly delineated. Successful proposals must convince external reviewers and the Science Advisory Committee that the applicant is a highly creative researcher and that the proposed project is poised to have a transformative impact in the specific research field. While CS SEED awards support testing new ideas, FRED Awards are for fully developed proposals, expected to lead to top-level publications in scientific journals of high impact. For details and application instructions, visit Research Corporation online: http://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/fred-award
MARCH 13 The Hudson River Foundation for Science & Environmental Research, Inc. (HRF) has issued its 2017 request for proposals for the Mark B. Bain Graduate Fellowships, which offer up to six full-time research fellowships to advanced graduate students conducting research on the Hudson River system. A fellowship awarded to a doctoral student will include a stipend consistent with the policy of the student’s graduate institution, in an amount up to $15,000 for one year, and an incidentals research budget of up to $1,000. A fellowship awarded to a master’s level student will include a stipend consistent with the policy of the student’s graduate institution, up to $11,000 for one year, plus an incidental research budget of up to $1,000. For more information and application details, visit the Mark B. Bain Graduate Fellowship page at http://www.hudsonriver.org/?x=graduate_fellow. See also HRF’s Tibor T. Polgar Fellowships announcement, above.
Rolling The Simons Foundation invites Letters of Intent for its new Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences program, intended to support high-risk projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis. For projects with principal investigators at different institutions, the LOI should be submitted by the lead PI and his/her institution. Applicants will be notified within two months of the submission of the LOI. See the Simons Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application instructions: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities/mathematics-physical-sciences/targeted-grants-in-mps/
Rolling The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation believes that a carefully reasoned and systematic understanding of the forces of nature and society, when applied inventively and wisely, can lead to a better world for all. The Foundation makes grants to support original research and broad-based education related to science, technology, and economic performance; and to improve the quality of American life. The Foundation is unique in its focus on science, technology, and economic institutions. It believes the scholars and practitioners who work in these fields are chief drivers of the nation’s health and prosperity. In each grant program, the Foundation seeks proposals for original projects led by outstanding individuals or teams.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is interested in projects that it expects will result in a strong benefit to society, and for which funding from the private sector, the government, or other foundations is not widely available. For areas of interest and application instructions, visit the Sloan Foundation online: http://www.sloan.org/major-program-areas/?L=0%3FcHash%3D3abefb807773927e5a962594e662c143
SOME UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR EXTRAMURAL FUNDING
ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
MARCH 1 The Ucross Foundation Residency Program provides uninterrupted time, work space, and living accommodations to competitively selected visual artists, writers, and composers. Nearly thirteen hundred individuals from every state in the U.S, as well as Germany, France, Scotland, England, Poland, Egypt, the Netherlands, Canada, and Thailand, have spent time at Ucross since it first opened its doors in Sheridan, Wyoming. The foundation currently is accepting applications for its 2017 Fall Residency program. Residencies vary in length from two weeks to six weeks. At any one time, there are up to nine individuals in residence, a mix of visual artists, writers, and composers. In most cases, studios are separate from living quarters. Lunch and dinners are prepared Monday to Friday by a professional chef with ample provisions on hand for breakfasts and weekends. In addition, there is cell phone service on the property and several wireless Internet connection sites for resident use. Residents are responsible for providing their own working materials and for their travel to Sheridan, Wyoming. There is no charge for a residency. Artists, writers, and composers from the United States and around the world, in any stage of their professional career, are invited to apply to work on an individual or collaborative project. For complete residency information, information about previous artist residents, and application guidelines, see the Ucross Foundation website: http://www.ucrossfoundation.org/residency-program/
MARCH 13 (letters of inquiry) The Russell Sage Foundation is the foremost American Foundation devoted exclusively to research in the social sciences. Currently, the Foundation dedicates itself exclusively to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of improving social policies. The Foundation is a research center for a select group of Visiting Scholars each year, a funding source for studies by scholars at other academic and research institutions, and an active member of the nation's social science community. At this time, the Foundation invites letters of inquiry (due 13 March) for its Social Inequality, Future of Work, Race, Ethnicity & Immigration and Behavioral Economics programs, as well as for Integrating Biology and Social Science Knowledge. Grants will support data analysis and the writing-up of results. For projects that address questions of particular importance to the Foundation and in which existing data are insufficient, the Foundation will consider providing support for new data collection. Russell Sage is particularly interested in innovative projects that collect or analyze new data to illuminate issues that are highly relevant to the foundation's program goals, and encourages projects that are interdisciplinary and combine both quantitative and qualitative research. For more details and application instructions, visit the Foundation online here: https://www.russellsage.org/how-to-apply
APRIL 12 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowships 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 in the humanities. Projects may be at any stage of development. Fellowships support continuous full-time work for a period of six to twelve months via a monthly stipend. For details and application instructions, visit NEH online: https://www.neh.gov/grants/research/fellowships
Multiple NEH grant opportunities are available! See the full list here.APRIL 21 The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Department at Yale University invites applications for the Yale LGBT Studies Research Fellowship. The annual fellowship is designed to provide access to Yale resources in LGBT studies to a scholar who lives outside the greater New Haven, Connecticut, area. The program supports scholars from any field interested in pursuing research in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer studies using faculty resources, manuscript archives, and library collections available at Yale. The one-month fellowship, which must be taken up between September 1, 2017, and April 30, 2018, provides an award of $4,000 to pay for travel to and from New Haven and act as a living allowance. The fellowship recipient is expected to be in residence for a minimum of twenty days during the period of his or her award. Graduate students conducting dissertation research, independent scholars, and all faculty are invited to apply. Scholars residing within a hundred miles of New Haven are ineligible. For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Yale LGBT studies website: http://lgbts.yale.edu/research
AUGUST 21 The Russell Sage Foundation is accepting applications for its Social, Economic and Political Effects of the Affordable Care Act Program. The program supports innovative social science research on the social, economic, and political effects of the Affordable Care Act. The foundation is especially interested in funding analyses that address important questions about the effects of the reform on outcomes such as financial security and family economic well-being, labor supply and demand, participation in other public programs, family and children's outcomes, and differential effects by age, race, ethnicity, nativity, or disability status. The foundation also is interested in research that examines the political effects of the implementation of the new law, including changes in views about government, support for future government policy changes, or the impact on policy development outside of health care. Funding is available for secondary analysis of data or for original data collection. Projects that propose novel uses of existing data and projects that propose to analyze newly available or underutilized data are welcome. The foundation will not fund research on the effects of the ACA on healthcare delivery or health outcomes (e.g., barriers to implementation, changes in the quality of care and health status, or trends in enrollment and affordability), as other funders already do that. Grant requests are limited to no more than a two-year period, with a maximum of $150,000 (including overhead) per project. LOIs must be received no later than August 21, 2017. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application that must be returned no later than November 15, 2017. http://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/affordable-care-act
Rolling Mellon Slavic Studies Initiative Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies are the focus of this joint publishing initiative supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in offered in partnership with Northwestern, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin university presses. Northwestern seeks studies of Slavic literature, art, and culture; Pittsburgh is looking for projects in the social, political, environmental, urban, and cultural history of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia; Wisconsin is especially interested in cultural and intellectual history, literary and film studies, anthropology, and human rights, with a focus on Russia and Eastern Europe. For program details, please visit: http://www.mellonslavicstudies.org/submissions.htm
Questions about funding for research and scholarship? Contact us:
Judith Dollenmayer (5376, judollenmayer), Associate Director, Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations
Katherine Hite (7661, kahite), Professor of Political Science & Faculty Director of Research Development
Gary Hohenberger (7092, gahohenberger), Director, Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations
Lori McElduff (5490, lomcelduff), Grants Office Specialist
Patricia Pritchard (5893, papritchard), Director, Grants Accounting
Amanda Thornton (5309, amthornton), Director of Grants AdministrationPosted on