The Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI) funds a number of Dissertation Research Grants up to $3,000 each. The intent of this grant is to support the research enterprise leading to successful completion of the dissertation or some significant component thereof. In general, applicants should be doctoral candidates (completed all requirements for the degree except for the dissertation); but RESI will consider applicants who have a scheduled defense date within 30 days of the grant application deadline (and whose advisor will attest to a high likelihood of successful defense at the scheduled meeting). As this award is also intended to provide students with grant-writing experience, students are expected to work closely with their advisors on a project description, the rationale for the grant, and budget. Advisors are expected to provide feedback on a draft proposal and write a confidential letter directly to RESI.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, applicants must be full-time doctoral students in good standing at Texas A&M University. In general, applicants should be doctoral candidates (completed all requirements for the degree except for the dissertation); but RESI will consider applicants who have a scheduled defense date within 30 days of the application deadline (and whose advisor will attest to a high likelihood of successful defense at the scheduled meeting). Students may apply for both the Dissertation Research Grants and Graduate Small Research Grants; but if a student is offered both, the student may only accept one or the other. If a student applying for the Dissertation Research Grants has previously had a project funded through another RESI program, they must have completed all requirements of that program, including reporting. Students must have the approval of their Director of Graduate Studies.

STIPENDS AND FINANCIAL AID: The Race and Ethnic Studies Institute annually funds a number of Dissertation Research Grants up to $3,000 each. There will be two competitions – one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Please check with the financial aid office to confirm that your financial aid will not be affected by receipt of this or other awards.

FUND DISBURSEMENT: By default, the awards run for roughly one calendar year. We expect Fall awards to be announced in October and Spring awards to be announced in May. Funds will be set to expire and be returned to RESI one year after the funds have been awarded. Exceptions can be made; we just ask that any such requests are communicated to us in a timely manner (ideally as part of the application process). Funds will be given as a bursary to be managed by the student’s home department.

BUDGET CRITERIA: The budget might include (but not be limited to) fieldwork, travel to archives, research materials, data sets, survey instruments, and participant incentives. The budget may not include equipment. The grant is not intended solely as a small grant to attend a conference, although proposals that include (or will lead to) presentations at conferences and workshops are strongly encouraged. The budget may not include stipend/salary, publication support (for which there are separate programs at places like the Glasscock Center), or tuition of any sort. For any questions about how the funds may be used, please contact RESI well before the deadline.

GRANT EXPECTATIONS: The primary outcome should be a dissertation or a significant portion thereof. Awardees should acknowledge the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute in any resulting publications, presentations, or other work products funded; and will be asked to submit updates on their progress and products. Awardees will also be expected to become RESI graduate student affiliates and participate in the Works-in-Progress Workshop the semester following the award.

FUNDING PRIORITIES: The Race and Ethnic Studies Institute is dedicated to fostering, celebrating, and producing world-class cutting-edge research related to race and ethnic studies among the community of scholars at Texas A&M University and beyond. A wide range of research projects that examine the salience of race and ethnicity are of interest to RESI.