The Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies Faculty Research Grants: In Support of Iranian Diaspora Studies and Anti-Racism Projects/Curricula

Author: Nazy Kaviani
April 6, 2020

Deadline to Apply April 30, 2021 (awards will be made fall/spring semester 2021-2022)

THE CENTER FOR IRANIAN DIASPORA STUDIES FACULTY RESEARCH GRANT

Faculty at SF State are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for an award in the upcoming academic year, faculty members

  1. must be tenure or tenure-track, or full-time SF State lecturer and not on leave for the academic year of the award;
  2. must actively be conducting research concerning the Iranian diaspora or a related field of Iranian studies or in the context of another diaspora context/community for comparative purposes.

The goal of these faculty research grants (2) and innovation grants (4) is to expand the field of Iranian diaspora studies, support new research and teaching at SF State, and engage with some of the pressing questions of this particular emerging field in a variety of disciplines including but not limited to fields such as Ethnic Studies, Middle East and Islamic Studies, History, Political Science, Humanities, Art, BECA, Cinema, Communications Studies, Anthropology, Journalism, English, Comparative and World Literature, Film and Media Studies, and Education.

Some examples of the issues and questions might involve research in a variety of fields in the Humanities and Social Sciences and ask a variety of questions:

  1. How are Iranian Americans identifying themselves in the context of broader questions of US society around race and racialization, ethnic identity, and political engagement?;
  2. How are Iranian Americans represented in the media and also challenging media representations?;
  3. What subcategories of identification are important to how Iranian Americans identify in US society in religion, gender, racial and national contexts today?;
  4. How are Iranian Americans affected by current US policy toward Iran and what are the domestic implications of those policies on Iranian Americans and their communities?;
  5. Where is there an absence of a documented history of Iranian immigration and the contributions that Iranian Americans have made to US society, history, or more locally in the Bay Area? How can it be addressed with some of the new technologies and disciplines of documentary storytelling?

ELIGIBLE FACULTY MEMBERS MAY APPLY FOR 1 OF 2 FACULTY RESEARCH GRANT OPTIONS SPONSORED BY THE CENTER FOR IRANIAN DIASPORA STUDIES:

Grant A – Research Grants in Iranian Diaspora Studies

This grant is designed for larger projects and will provide a one-course release as well as $3000 which can cover expenses such as travel for research purposes, student research assistance, transcription services, miscellaneous supplies, and specialized equipment (equipment purchased with Grant funds remains the property of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts after the grant period). The course release for this grant will only be awarded in Spring 2022 to accommodate department schedules for fall 2021 and spring 2022. Preference will be given to Iranian diaspora-related research projects.

Grant B—Innovation Grant with emphasis on anti-racism projects/research (impacts of COVID-19 related projects will also be considered)

This grant will consist of mini-grants (up to $5000) which can cover expenses such as travel/or research purposes, student research assistance, transcription services, miscellaneous supplies, and specialized equipment (equipment purchased with Grant funds remains the property of the College after the grant period). Eligible faculty members interested in interdisciplinary work may collaborate on a joint project, however, one of the faculty members must be from LCA. The team can apply for one faculty research grant not to exceed $10,000. Priority will be given to projects that include diaspora communities, anti-racism research, or projects that emphasize the impact of COVID-19 on specific communities.

MISSION

Drawing upon San Francisco State University's robust academic foundation of ethnic, racial, and social justice, the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies inspires interdisciplinary inquiry and exploration of Iranian diaspora experience and its impact on transnational identity. The Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies fosters innovative and collaborative scholarship between faculty and students and engages with complex and pressing subjects such as nationalism, immigration, xenophobia, gender, sexuality, and identity. The Center's research, programming, and projects examine overlooked and underemphasized narratives, advocate for new forms of scholarly engagement, and support collaboration between individuals and institutions.

REQUIREMENTS

The faculty member will provide to Persis Karim (Director of the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies) a report of grant activity within sixty days of the conclusion of the grant period. This report should include an explanation of progress toward intended outcomes, plans for publications and/or presentations, and benefits to the faculty member and College. This report will be included in the final RSO report submitted to the Dean’s office. Recipients of both grants will be expected to share the results of their efforts with the College community in the form of a public presentation in either fall or spring semesters in coordination with the Center director.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Criteria Applications will be evaluated based on the following review criteria:

Grant A & B:

Clarity of description and explanation of the project concerning the following areas:

  1. the specific research question, hypothesis, or aim of the project;
  2. the research methods or creative practice methodologies that will be used;
  3. the expected outcomes and significance of this research;
  4. how the project will contribute to the applicant’s specific discipline;
  5. how this will contribute to the Center’s mission to expand and promote Iranian Diaspora Studies or comparative diaspora studies or anti-racism projects
  6. the applicant’s qualifications to pursue this project
  7. feasibility of work plan.

Overall value in:

  1. the potential advancement of the applicant’s scholarship; and
  2. the development of the applicant’s career (tenure, promotion, and beyond)

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE

Upon the recommendations by a combined faculty review group from the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies Faculty Advisory Committee will award up to four Faculty Research Grants in Iranian Diaspora Studies. Funds will be available for use during the following fiscal year only, starting July 1 and through the following June 30. Unspent balances from internal research grants will be used as additional funding for the awarding of future Faculty Research Grants. Any course releases must be approved by the faculty member’s department chair.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES FOR GRANT A

(Proposals not conforming to guidelines may be rejected without review. Please use the following structure.)

Cover Page

  1. Name
  2. Date
  3. Department/Program
  4. Title of the Project
  5. Abstract (250-word limit)
  6. Amount of grant requested (up to $10,000) and detailed budget
  7. Term requested
  8. A term proposed for a presentation to share research
  9. Department Chair/Program Director’s signature
  10. Dean’s signature for course release request
     

Project Description (not to exceed 2500 words), to include

  1. the specific research question, hypothesis, or aim of the project;
  2. the research methods or creative practice methodologies that will be used;
  3. the expected outcomes and significance of this research;
  4. how the project will contribute to the applicant’s specific discipline;
  5. the applicant’s qualifications to pursue this project; and
  6. work plan to include: what will be done, and by whom (specify who: PI(s), collaborator(s), or student assistant(s))
  7. when the project will be completed
  8. what resources will be used or required
  9. timeline (including the date for the public presentation of findings)
     

CV (emphasizing your qualifications to pursue this specific project, including educational background, recent publications, presentations and/or performances, and activities; CVs will not be reviewed beyond the first three pages)

Budget Summary and Justification (to include both acquisition and maintenance of any items purchased through the grant process; not to exceed one page)

Acknowledgment of IRB Need and Intent to Submit Proposal for IRB Review (if applicable; completion of review necessary before awarding of funds)

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES FOR GRANT B

Cover Page

  1. Name
  2. Date
  3. Department/Program
  4. Title of the Project
  5. Abstract (250-word limit)
  6. Amount of grant requested (up to $10,000)
  7. Term requested
  8. A term proposed for a presentation to share research
  9. Department Chair/Program Director’s signature

Project Description (not to exceed 2500 words), to include

  1. the specific research question, hypothesis, or aim of the project;
  2. the research methods or creative practice methodologies that will be used;
  3. the expected outcomes and significance of this research;
  4. how the project will contribute to the applicant’s specific discipline;
  5. the applicant’s qualifications to pursue this project; and
  6. work plan to include: what will be done, and by whom (specify who: PI(s), collaborator(s), or student assistant(s))
    1. when the project will be completed
    2. what resources will be used or required
    3. timeline

CV (emphasizing your qualifications to pursue this specific project, including educational background, recent publications, presentations and/or performances, and activities; CVs will not be reviewed beyond the first three pages)

Budget Summary and Justification (to include both acquisition and maintenance of any items purchased through the grant process; not to exceed one page)

Acknowledgment of IRB Need and Intent to Submit Proposal for IRB Review (if applicable; completion of review necessary before awarding of funds)

DEADLINE

Please submit all materials as a single PDF document by April 30, 2021, to iraniandiasporastudies@sfsu.edu.

Candidates will be informed on June 10, 2021. For all other inquiries please contact the Center’s chair, Dr. Persis Karim, persiskarim@sfsu.edu.