Date: June 1, 2018
To: U.S.-Based, Pre-Tenure, Tenure-Track Poverty Scholars from Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Populations
From: Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP), University of Wisconsin–Madison
Re: 2018–2019 Emerging Poverty Scholars Fellowship Call for Applications
The Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison invites applications from junior scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations for its inaugural 2018 to 2019 Emerging Poverty Scholars Fellowship program. The JPB Foundation has generously funded this initiative.
Terms
Proposals are invited from Ph.D.-holding poverty scholars from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in academia.[1] Applicants must currently hold a tenure-track university appointment in any discipline or field, but have not yet earned tenure. They must show evidence of research experience in areas relevant to poverty, low-income populations, or related social policy, as well as the potential to produce rigorous research to inform policies and programs to combat poverty and/or its effects.
The proposal deadline is August 1, 2018.
Awards
IRP anticipates providing two fellows with $20,000 in flexible funding over a one-year award period beginning September 1, 2018. IRP will also match each fellow with a senior poverty scholar mentor.
Goals
IRP’s Emerging Poverty Scholars Fellowship aims to support the career development and success of promising emerging poverty scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations by
- enhancing the resources available to them,
- providing high-quality mentoring from nationally renowned senior poverty scholars, and
- fostering interaction among a diverse set of scholars in order to broaden the corps of U.S. poverty researchers.
Beyond providing Fellows with flexible funding and opportunities for expanding their networks and receiving feedback on their research and career trajectories, the program intends to establish long-term relationships between Fellows and other poverty scholars, which may lead to future collaborations.
Funding
Fellowships may be used for a wide range of professional development activities, including
- engaging in substantive and methodological training;
- travel for data collection, collaboration, or research presentation;
- securing release time from teaching; or
- summer salary support.
IRP will separately provide travel funding for Fellows to visit IRP, other institutions from the U.S. Collaborative of Poverty Centers (CPC), and/or their mentor’s home institution twice during the one-year funding period.
Expectations
Fellows will be invited to attend and may be asked to present their research at a variety of IRP events. They are also expected to participate in follow-up activities such as program evaluation of this initiative and efforts to support future Fellows.
Application Requirements
Applicants should provide the following materials as a single PDF file:
- a letter (no more than three single-spaced pages) that: (a) describes your poverty research interests, as well as your professional goals in this area, progress toward them, and accomplishments to date; (b) specifies how your scholarly and career development will be aided by the award, including how you plan to use the funds and how you might use your experience in the program to benefit others in the future; and (c) explicates that you are a member of an eligible racial or ethnic population1;
- your curriculum vitae; and
- two examples of your poverty-related written material.
- Applicants are also welcome, though not required, to suggest potential mentors.
Application Submission
Application materials should be submitted through the following online form.
References (Required)
Two letters of reference from senior scholars attesting to your potential to make an impact in poverty-policy research and how you would benefit from the Fellowship are also required. Letters of reference must be received by the application deadline, August 1, 2018.
Deadline
The application deadline is August 1, 2018.
Notification
Applicants will be notified of their application outcome on or about September 1, 2018.
[1] Includes the following racial/ethnic groups: (a) African American or Black; (b) American Indian or Alaskan Native; (c) Hispanic/Latino; (d) Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, or Hmong; and (e) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Preference will be given to those who are also of the first generation in their family to achieve a college degree.