Summer Research Fellowships

Taft Summer Research Fellowships are available on a competitive basis for research on a specific project during any quarter of leave without pay or any non-teaching quarter without pay. For most faculty, research grant applications will be for the summer quarter. The current fellowship is $6,500 full quarter award. In addition, the applicant may receive a supplement for research expenses based on availability of funds. The supplement may not be used for travel to academic meetings.  Not more than one summer research fellowship may be awarded in any 24-month period.

The Committee will consider awards in two pools. The first will be only for untenured junior faculty in tenure-track positions who have never been awarded and/or used a Taft Research Grant, hereby denoted the set-aside pool.  The second is for all Taft full-time faculty, regardless of rank, hereby denoted the open pool.

The set-aside pool will provide up to 25% of available funds.  In all cases, if an eligible faculty member does not receive an award from the set-aside pool, the faculty member will still be considered for an award from the open pool.

The open pool will include at least 75% of the available funds. Tenure-track faculty at any rank are encouraged to apply.


Applications

Applications should be submitted at the regularly scheduled deadlines. Applications should be sent to the Taft secretary, ML 0369.

Six Collated Copies of the application packet should contain the following:

1. Cover sheet
   
2. A proposal of 800 to 1200 words that outlines the project in detail, including but not limited to the following:
   1. the focus
   2. the theoretical framework
   3. methods and sources
   4. preliminary results
   5. the significance of the project to your discipline
   6. the significance of the project to your professional development

   Throughout, you should use language that will enable a multi-disciplinary review committee to evaluate the merit of your proposal.

3. A brief budget outline with explanation of costs, if research supplement is requested.

4. Two page curriculum vitae that has been updated within the past month.

5. A letter of reference from the applicant's head of department, program director, or dean sent directly under separate cover to the Chair of the Taft Faculty Executive Board at ML 0369.

Criteria for Selection

1. The quality of the specific research project and proposal is given the highest priority.
2. Evidence that the applicant will successfully complete the project in the time frame proposed along with the applicant's scholarly promise and achievements to date.
3. Evidence of the applicant's willingness to seek non-Taft funding and/or travel expenses for this research project.

Obligations of Grant Recipients

1. A faculty member may not teach during a school quarter, a leave, or a summer in which a Taft research grant is received.
2. Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received, both inside and outside the university, is required. The Taft grant may not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when a deficit in the project budget is anticipated even with such non-Taft funds. For example, Taft Travel Grants may supplement funds from non-Taft sources in cases where the necessary and reasonable costs exceed the established Taft limits.
3. If there are any changes in plans from the originally approved application, the Taft grant recipient must notify the Chair of the Taft Executive Board in writing and receive written approval for the changes. Failure to comply with this rule will nullify the grant and require return of the award.
4. A final report should be submitted to the Chair of the Taft Executive Committee within 30 days of the end of the period for which the grant was awarded. Copies should be retained for submission with future applications for Taft grants.
5. Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft grants should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center. Copies of such publications should be sent to the Chair of the Taft Executive Board.
6. Fellowship recipients are expected to contribute to the annual Taft Research Symposium. Each year, the Executive Board will select a set of Fellows to be highlighted at the symposium.

Reimbursement Procedures 
The following procedures should be followed in order to insure reimbursement of research expenses:

• As you will be required to present receipts to obtain payment, please be sure to obtain receipts.  If you are using an e-ticket for air travel, please request a receipt from the airline which clearly indicates the travel points and dates, and the fare.  When in doubt, request a paper ticket.

Upon Return:  The grant recipient should complete an expense envelope (A113 for travel expenses) or Request for Payment (A114 for non-travel expenses). Relevant receipts should be enclosed. The envelope should be sent to the Taft secretary at ML 0369 no later than three months following the completion of your project. Please note that:

• Original receipts (including the boarding stub from your plane ticket) must be included in the envelope. ALL receipts for any expenses pre-paid by the university must be included.
• The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized.
• The expense envelope must be sent to the Taft secretary for processing and signature, even if other campus agencies are also funding the travel and or research. Department level processing to reimburse using department funds should be completed first and A113/A114 should then be sent to Taft.