New Storytellers: The Research Institute in Digital Ethnic Studies

Jeannette Eileen Jones Announcement
Location
Nebraska, United States
Subject Fields
Digital Humanities, Ethnic History / Studies, Race Studies, Public History

We are excited to invite applications for the Research Institute in Digital Ethnic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative two-week program will bring together scholars from Minority Serving Institutions who seek to advance their research and teaching using digital humanities approaches. We envision these two weeks being a transformative experience for all participants, as we build a vibrant intellectual community during the institute and beyond.

 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants need not have prior digital humanities experience or expertise.

 

This ACLS summer institute is designed primarily for full-time or part-time humanities faculty at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) who teach undergraduate students. Advanced graduate students attending MSIs, and scholars/staff employed by museums, libraries, historical societies and other organizations associated with MSIs are also eligible. All applicants must demonstrate that their participation in the institute aims to advance ethnic studies in the digital realm.

 

Applicants must be United States citizens, residents under US jurisdiction, or foreign nationals residing in the United States who are currently faculty, staff, or a graduate student at an accredited or acknowledged MSI (e.g., Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Native Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and other designated MSIs).

 

This institute allows 25 participants (ACLS Summer Scholars) to pursue a two-week (July 26-August 8, 2020) intensive program of study with a team of digital humanities scholars who are experts in and committed to the critical study of race and ethnicity. As the name implies, "digital ethnic studies" refers to the use of computational and new media tools to expand, recalibrate, and extend the impact of interdisciplinary work on race and ethnicity, with particular attention to how these categories intersect with other markers of identity.

 

Application

Prior to applying to this institute, please study the project website and carefully consider the project’s expectations and requirements.

 

The application consists of four elements: (1) a cover sheet, (2) a 2-page curriculum vita or resume, (3) an application essay, and (4) a letter of reference. You must submit all elements of the application as one PDF via email to digitalethnicstudies@unl.edu.

 

Cover Sheet

 

Please fill out the attached downloadable cover sheet.

 

Resume or Curriculum Vita

 

Please submit a 2-page resume or curriculum vita that highlights your publications, research interests, and teaching as they relate to race and ethnicity studies, and digital humanities skills (if applicable).

 

Application Essay

 

The application essay should be no more than four double-spaced pages. It should address:

 

  • your interest in digital ethnic studies, clarifying how your intellectual interests relate to the goals of the institute
  • qualifications and experiences that equip you to do the work of the institute and to make a contribution to the learning community, highlighting any special perspectives or talents you would contribute to the program
  • a statement of what you want to accomplish by participating in the institute, explaining how participation in the institute would advance your long-term scholarship or teaching
  •  a description of a potential digital or new media teaching or research project to explore and develop at the institute, explaining its relation to your professional responsibilities and any barriers you face in attempting to realize that project

 

Letter of Recommendation

 

Provide one letter of reference from your department chair or other appropriate academic official that explains your suitability for participating in this institute. The letter should also explain the benefits of the institute to your scholarly trajectory as a researcher and/or teacher.

 

Stipend, tenure, and condition of awards

The institute covers expenses for economy travel, lodging, and food. In addition, each participant will receive an honorarium of $2,000. The honorarium is taxable, so participants will be responsible for claiming the stipend on their income tax returns.

Institute participants must attend all sessions, adhere to the institute’s Code of Conduct, and engage fully as professionals throughout the duration of the institute. During the institute, participants may not undertake teaching assignments or professional activities unrelated to their participation in this project. Those who, for any reason, do not complete the full tenure of the institute will receive a reduced stipend.

In order to continue working with the cohort of participants, we will set up a mutual mentoring program following the institute. In addition, we will host a fully funded two-day "refresher" in the spring term 2021.

At the end of the project’s residential period, ACLS Summer Scholars must submit an online evaluation of the institute.

Selection Criteria and Process

The criteria for selection will include the significance of the research question / pedagogical approach, demonstrated critical engagement with ethnic studies, and the project’s trajectory, creativity, and feasibility.

 

A selection committee comprising the project directors evaluates all complete applications to select a group of 25 ACLS Summer Scholars and identify alternates.

November 15, 2019, is the deadline to submit your application.


You must email your application to digitalethnicstudies@unl.edu. We will not review applications sent to ACLS.

 

The project directors will notify successful applicants of their selection on Monday, December 2, 2019. Those selected will have until Monday, December 16, 2019 to accept or decline the offer.


Note: Once you have accepted an offer to attend the ACLS Summer Institute, you have committed to becoming one of the 25 summer scholars.


For questions, please contact Jeannette Eileen Jones (jjones11@unl.edu) or William G. Thomas, III (wthomas4@unl.edu).

Contact Information

For questions, please contact Jeannette Eileen Jones (jjones11@unl.edu) or William G. Thomas, III (wthomas4@unl.edu).

Contact Email
digitalethnicstudies@unl.edu