Home : Research and Creative Collaboratives : Application Procedures

Research and Creative Collaboratives: Application Procedures

Each year, the Institute supports a limited number of research/creative collaboratives. These collaboratives promote the type of synergistic interdisciplinary activity not possible within current institutional configurations. Collaborative activities vary: some collaboratives meet regularly for works-in-progress discussions or public workshops and other programs, others work together on projects. Some collaboratives incorporate a public component that encourages connections with the community. The Institute seeks participation from all colleges and schools at the University and encourages graduate student participation in collaboratives.

Each research/creative collaborative will be provided with space in the Institute and a research budget of up to $15,000. These funds may be used to bring in scholars from other institutions to participate for brief periods in the work of the collaborative. Research/creative collaboratives are expected to meet in the Institute and members are expected to participate in the intellectual life of the Institute. Funds are provided for a period of one year and may not be carried over; successful collaboratives may apply for additional years of funding. Collaborative conveners who envision needing a research assistant are encouraged to apply for a Graduate School Grant-in-Aid of Research for RA funding; those proposals are due February 2, 2009.

Please note that we have changed procedures for applying for a second year. We are also now allowing for funding beyond a second year for collaboratives which have exceptional records of achievement and which can demonstrate that they have sought other funding.

Faculty wishing to propose a new Research/Creative Collaborative should provide six copies of the following:

1. A description of the project, including its significance (1,000-2,000 words).
2. An abstract of your proposal, which should not exceed 200 words.
3. A tentative list of activities that the collaborative intends to carry out (one page).
4. A budget, including the duration of the collaborative. Maximum amount is $15,000. Faculty salary may not be included. Please ask only for funds actually needed; we welcome proposals for any amount up to the maximum. Include information on any other funding requested or received for the project.
5. A list of faculty members participating in the collaborative, with a two-page curriculum vitae for each.
6. Completed cover sheet (pdf).

Faculty wishing to apply for an additional year of funding for an existing or former Research/Creative Collaborative should provide six copies of the following:

1. A copy of your collaborative’s application for the most recent year in which it was funded by the IAS. (Do not include short CVs of the participants here, just the original proposal narrative and budget.)
2. A report on your collaborative’s activities and accomplishments to date and discussion of future plans for the project (1,000 words). If your aims or goals have changed from those proposed in your initial application, explain how and why. Your discussion of the significance of the proposal may refer to your original proposal. Please note that in the past, selection committees have rejected requests for refunding when they found the applications to be perfunctory in their descriptions of the project.
3. A short statement from 3-5 collaborative members explaining how participation in the collaborative has benefited their work.  Each statement should be no more than one page.
4. An abstract of your proposal, which should not exceed 200 words.
5. A tentative list of activities that the collaborative intends to carry out (one page).
6. A budget, including the duration of the collaborative. Maximum amount is $15,000. Faculty salary may not be included. Please ask only for funds actually needed; we welcome proposals for any amount up to the maximum.
7. Information on other funding requested or received for the project.
8. A list of faculty members participating in the collaborative, with a two-page curriculum vitae for each.
9. Completed cover sheet (pdf).

Collaboratives applying for an additional year of funding will be required to make a brief report on the Collaborative’s activities and plans to the IAS Advisory Board at one of the Board’s meetings early in Spring semester.

Note:  If your collaborative is related to one of the Quadrant publication and research groups (Design, Architecture and Culture, Environment, Culture and Sustainability, Global Cultures, and Health and Society) or to the University Symposium (Body & Knowing), please so indicate in the project description.  It is not necessary that a collaborative be related to one of the Quadrant groups or to the Symposium, but if you see such connections, we want to know about them.

Applications for Research/Creative Collaboratives should be submitted to Ann Waltner, Director, Institute for Advanced Study, 131 Nolte Center, 315 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009. Campus mail should be addressed as follows or delivery will be delayed: 131 NCCE, mail code 0095. Please submit six copies of your application. Ann Waltner may be reached at waltn001@umn.edu or 626-5149. We hope to make decisions by March 23, 2009.