Engaged Research Grants support research partnerships that empower those who have historically been among those researched in anthropology, rather than researchers themselves. Designed in alliance with individuals who have born the impact of various kinds of marginalization, these partnerships bring together scholars and their interlocutors in the mutual production of anthropological knowledge aimed at combatting inequality and promoting the flourishing of human and more than human worlds. The program supports projects that promise to make a significant contribution to anthropological conversations through collaborations in which engagement is a central feature of a project from the very start.
All anthropological research involves the forging of ethical relationships. At a minimum, researchers should acknowledge the contributions of interlocutors and compensate them appropriately for their labor and time. Projects funded under the Engaged Research Grant go further. Interlocutors are not simply participants in this research; they have an active role in determining the problems explored. The program targets research that has more potential when done together. The partnerships funded through it begin with the formulation of research questions and can extend to data gathering, skill sharing, scholarly communication, and public mobilization. The engaged research occurs in a broad range of settings, from communities to courtrooms, government offices, and laboratories. It results in findings that are meaningful and potentially transformative for research participants and others with a stake in the collaboration. Through this program, the Foundation seeks to demonstrate how engagement can foster innovation and further anthropological thought.
This program is open to applicants with postdoctoral researchers in anthropology and students enrolled in a doctoral program (or equivalent, if applying from outside the United States) at the time of application. There is no preference for any methodology or subfield. Individuals of all nationalities pursuing doctorates in anthropology or equivalent fields are eligible to apply.
The maximum amount of the Engaged Research Grant is US $20,000. Grants are non-renewable. Funding may be requested to cover distinct research phases (for example, two summers) if this is part of the research design. The research must be completed within four years of the starting date of the grant.
Deadline: August 1.