Fund Details
ICGC: Predissertation Fieldwork Grant Application 2022 - 2023

Brief Description:

Predissertation Grants support current ICGC Scholars undertaking short-term exploratory research in preparation for dissertation research related to the goals of the ICGC Program.


Description:

ICGC Pre-Dissertation Research Grants provide support for ICGC Scholars at the University of Minnesota undertaking short-term exploratory research in preparation for dissertation research related to the goals of the ICGC Program. The awards will enable students to conduct preliminary research —typically between the second and third years of graduate study—to investigate research facilities and fieldwork conditions, check availability of archives and other sources of information, test project ideas and methodologies, make contact with scholars and informants, determine skills needed for field research, improve language competency, and adjust their proposed dissertation topic. Please note that these grants are not intended to provide support for the candidate's final dissertation research.
The ICGC Program approaches global studies from an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective. Its focus is on developing societies, particularly in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East, and on minority communities within North America. It emphasizes study and research on four broad dimensions of world society: global governance and transnational norms; environmental sustainability and social justice; war and peace in historical context; and production, performance, and representation of identities. This involves examining processes in developing societies affecting:
  • Economic, political, environmental, and social change and conflict and their consequences for national and international peace and security
  • The sustainability of ecosystems, human-environment relationships, and development processes
  • The capacity of institutions to undergo redesign and reform to cope with tensions caused by political, economic, cultural, environmental, and technological change
  • Popular empowerment and the enhancement of human rights, justice, and freedoms
  • The role of disaffected and disadvantaged sectors experiencing change and conflict
  • The significance of race, class, ethnicity, and gender
  • Transnational linkages and informal networks

Award Description

Awards will vary based on the applicant's original ICGC Scholar fellowship terms. Grants will help with travel, maintenance, and research expenses for trips of at least one month. Notification will be given by the end of March. Applicants are encouraged to apply to other funders for additional support if needed.

Notification will be given by the end of March/early April. 

Travel Approval

University policy requires approval for student travel to locations designated as Travel Advisory Level 3 or 4 by the U.S. Department of State. If your project involves travel to one of these locations, you must seek special permission from the International Travel Risk Assessment and Advisory Committee. You should apply as soon as possible, as the committee review process commonly takes several weeks. ICGC cannot release your funds until you have received approval from ITRAAC.

Human Subjects Approval

In addition, if your project includes research involving human subjects, you must apply to the University's Institutional Review Board for approval before commencing your work. This process can also take several weeks to complete, so if your project needs approval you should start your application as soon as possible. ICGC must receive notification of your IRB approval status in order to release your funds.

Reporting Requirements

The grant recipient will submit a 2-3 page report on the field trip to the Director of the ICGC Program within a month after return to campus. The report is to describe the activities undertaken, significant discoveries made, and the impact the trip will have on the eventual dissertation research project. The student will attach a brief account of how the grant moneys were spent and a list of other support received.


Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact ICGC UMN at icgc@umn.edu

Search Filters:

Type of application
  • ICGC