Kellogg Institute Seed Money for Graduate Students

Seed Money Grants support Notre Dame graduate students involved in overseas (or, if demonstrably appropriate, in the United States), initial, short-term, exploratory research in international studies, addressing the thematic priorities of the Kellogg Institute. The grant should help to determine the viability and better define the scope of the proposed project. The fund is not intended to be a substitute for foundation support of research projects but instead to give first priority to promising pilot projects or to the research necessary to prepare externally competitive research proposals.

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to support Notre Dame graduate students involved in overseas (or, if demonstrably appropriate, in the United States), initial, short-term, exploratory research in international studies, addressing the thematic priorities of the Kellogg Institute. The grant should help to determine the viability and define better the scope of the proposed project. The fund is not intended to be a substitute for foundation support of research projects but instead to give first priority to promising pilot projects or to the research necessary to prepare externally competitive research proposals.

Eligibility

Student applicants must be enrolled in graduate school at the University of Notre Dame and be in good standing. Preference is given to students in a doctoral program and with the equivalent of two years of full-time graduate study prior to the beginning date of their proposed research. Students applying for this award are not eligible to apply for the Institute's Dissertation Year Fellowship in the same academic year. Priority will be given to student proposals that show potential for external financial support, e.g., dissertation grants from foundations.

Levels of Support

Funding is available for a variety of project costs, including research materials and assistance as well as travel. Individual grants will not normally exceed $5,000, and proposals will be considered for any amount below this figure. Applicants are required to notify the Kellogg Institute of any funding received from another source; in most cases the Institute will adjust its award. Graduate

FLAD/Luso–American Development Grant

Each year one seed grant will be awarded to a graduate student who plans to conduct research in Portugal. Applicants from any department are eligible to apply. Up to $5000 is available for this grant. Funding for the grant is made possible by the Fundação Luso-Americana and the Kellogg Institute.

Application Procedure

A complete application consists of five copies of each of the following:

• A cover sheet
• A project description, of not more than 3,000 words (excluding bibliography and budget), that clearly identifies (1) the research question to be addressed, its background, significance within the researcher's field and relation to the thematic priorities of the Kellogg Institute; (2) the research methods to be employed to answer the question; (3) the body of materials to be used; (4) a statement of the applicant's expected accomplishments during the period for which Seed Money support is requested. Proposals that exceed the page limit may be downgraded.
• A list of other sources from which the applicant is or will be requesting funding.
• A short bibliography.
• A proposed budget.
• A curriculum vitae.

In addition, applicants must submit -

• An official transcript.
• Two letters of recommendation from a faculty advisor and another faculty member. The form should be forwarded to the recommenders. The reference letters should be sent directly to the Institute.

Click here (requires Microsoft Word) to see the Faculty Reference Form for graduate student applications.

Criteria for Evaluating Proposals

1. Quality of the proposal, including its potential for innovation, e.g., in research methodology.
2. Student's academic record
3. Relation of the research to Kellogg's priority themes: democratization and the quality of democracy; growth and development; religion and the Catholic Church; social movements and organized civil society; and public policies for social justice.
4. Potential for future support from foundations.
5. Potential for publication.
6. Budget appropriateness.

It is highly recommended that applicants read the article "On the Art of Writing Proposals: Some Candid Suggestions for Applicants to JCLAS Competitions" by Adam Przeworski and Frank Salomon. Copies are available in the office of the Academic Coordinator.

Deadline

February 20, 2009

Please submit your application to:

Juliana de Sousa Solis, Program Manager
Kellogg Seed Money Fund
University of Notre Dame
Kellogg Institute, 201 Hesburgh Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556-5677

Recipients