Research Grant FAQ
What kinds of projects does the Nicholson Center fund?
The Nicholson Center funds projects in any discipline using any methodology or research method. While most applications come from students in the humanities and social sciences (History, English Literature, Comparative and Romance Literature, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Art History). However the Center would also support work in the creative arts or natural sciences. You can use your grant to work towards a dissertation chapter, thesis, article, paper, performance piece, exhibition, report, etc.
Does my project have to be about the British Isles to be eligible for funding?
No! Your project can be on any topic. However you must show a demonstrated need to examine materials located in the British Isles (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and The Republic of Ireland).
What kinds of research can I conduct with a Nicholson Center grant?
While most people use the grants to access archival materials, you can use it to visit museum collections, interview people, visit certain physical locations/sites, or digitize images and documents.
Can I apply for funding if I have already received a grant from the Nicholson Center during a previous application cycle?
Yes! However the Nicholson Center gives preference to applicants who are applying for the first time.
What makes for a successful project proposal and discussion of materials?
With the proposal, you should clearly articulate your central topic and the questions that guide your research. Further, you should seek to answer the following questions: what work has already been done on your topic? How are you engaging with that literature? What are some preliminary hypotheses you have about the directions of your research and how will a grant help you pursue those directions? What are the larger stakes of your project for your discipline and/or for those outside of your field?
In your discussion of materials, you need to show the committee that your research agenda is feasible and accessible in the timeframe you have proposed. Of course research agendas constantly evolve and change! But you need to show that you have put some thought into what you are going to do when you get to the British Isles. If you need to access archives: what documents, boxes, folders, or collections are you going to need? Have you attained the requisite permissions you need to view your materials of interest? Have you been in contact with the archives, archivists, or collection specialists? For museum collections and other repositories: have you contacted them to make sure you can access the materials you need? If you are interviewing people for your project, have you contacted them or have you made plans to do so? If necessary, have you obtained all necessary permissions to include human subjects in your study?
{For more information, please consult the UChicago IRB guidelines: https://sbsirb.uchicago.edu/about/}
Most importantly, you need to show the committee that you can successfully complete your research in your suggested timeframe. For example, if you are asking for two weeks of funding, make sure that your research plan reflects two weeks-worth of work.
What makes for an effective budget proposal?
With your budget proposal, you want to provide a portfolio of your major expenses while conducting research. This includes your travel itineraries (flights, modes of public transport, car rentals, etc.), your accommodations, and any other expenses you may face (digitization fees, registrations, etc.). You should also be able to provide evidence of how you have made your budget estimates (screenshots of airbnb or flight prices, the cost of a month-long tube pass, etc.). Please also keep in mind that the Nicholson typically gives researchers around $3,000 per month.