RIG funding available for interdisciplinary gender research, apply by May 1

Posted by Jenee Wilde on
Funding
Research Interest Groups
Apply for RIG grants by May 1.

The Center for the Study of Women in Society (CSWS) invites faculty and graduate students to apply for Research Interest Group (RIG) funding for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Since the 1990s, CSWS has offered grant funding to interdisciplinary RIGs that explore and examine the complexities of women’s lives and the intersecting nature of gender identities and inequalities. These groups provide participants with opportunities to discuss emerging and established feminist research across disciplines, invite scholars to campus, and develop and share their own cutting-edge projects, among other potential outcomes. Applications are due May 1. 

Below are some FAQs about the RIG program and how to apply: 

What are RIGs? 

  • CSWS Research Interest Groups are collaborations among faculty members, staff, graduate students, and community members at the University of Oregon.
  • A primary goal of our RIGs is to bring people together for a shared project, idea, or vision around CSWS’s mission: to generate, support, and disseminate intersectional research on gender. 
  • Read about past CSWS RIGs here. 

What do RIGs do? 

Goals of RIGs include: 

  • Facilitating collaborative research and inquiry. 
  • Assisting RIG members in preparing and submitting grant proposals. 
  • Building links between scholars and community activists. 
  • Supporting innovative thinking about curricula and pedagogy. 
  • Creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary discussion among scholars. 

Notable outcomes of RIGs include: 

How much funding is available? 

  • CSWS offers grants of up to $1,000 to faculty and graduate students to organize interdisciplinary RIGs that contribute to the center’s mission. 
  • Additional funding is available for ongoing RIGs for Special Projects and Innovations that that have the potential for external funding and/or that may become sustainable parts of CSWS. 

What is RIG funding for?

  • RIGs are encouraged to use working groups as the foundation for developing conferences, symposia, courses, and publications. 
  • Funding may be used to pay for reading materials, catering, visits by scholars, and other academic outcomes.  
  • Funding does not cover non-academic expenses. 
  • CSWS also provides staff support for some RIG activities, such as creation and distribution of promotional materials and assistance with event planning. 

How do I apply? 

  • Those interested in organizing a RIG should submit a funding application by May 1 for the following academic year. 
  • Applications must include the following: RIG name and interdisciplinary subject areas, list of coordinators (and members), overview and purpose, activities and potential outcomes, and an itemized budget. 
  • Graduate student RIGs MUST have a faculty member as one of the coordinators at the time of application.  
  • Where possible, proposals should draw scholars from different departments and ranks.  
  • Preference will be given to proposals that strengthen the intellectual themes and mission of the center. 

What are my responsibilities? 

  • Approved RIGs must adhere to their proposed activities and budget. Any changes must be approved in advance by CSWS or expenses will not be reimbursed. 
  • All RIGs report annually on their activities and outcomes, to be published online and in the Annual Review.  
  • RIG reports are due by the end of the academic year (July 1) for which funding was received.  

For more information, contact Jenée Wilde, CSWS research dissemination specialist, at jenee@uoregon.edu.