Collaborative Research Cluster Application

These Research Clusters are opportunities to bring together scholars and practitioners from different disciplines, both within and beyond the University community, around a common issue of humanistic import. The purpose is to facilitate productive discussions and collaborations among the participants, with a view toward the development of joint projects, conferences, publications, and/or grant applications.

For the 2022-23 academic year, Research Clusters will be funded for up to $2,000 each. Continuation of funding beyond the first year is possible upon successful reapplication in response to the spring call for applications and contingent upon submission of a year-end report that describes successful research outcomes of the group as a whole as well as the impact of those activities on the research progress of its individual members.

Funding should be used to support the completion of the group’s measurable objectives. Appropriate expenses include speaker travel expenses or marketing materials for an event. We appreciate that each Research Cluster will have unique expenses. Expenses related to an individual faculty member’s research or travels are not allowable. Food and beverage expenses may not exceed 25% of the total budget.

Group members may include Northeastern faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and staff. Since these Research Clusters are interdisciplinary collaborations, participants should be from more than one department within the University, and we encourage each cluster to have at least one faculty member and one graduate student. Although these Research Clusters are housed within the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, we also encourage participation from members of other Northeastern colleges. Convener(s) may seek out participation from other universities and organizations in Boston and beyond. The primary convener, and lead name on the application, must be a full-time faculty member in CSSH or in a humanities field in another college; the convener need not hold tenure or be on a tenure track.

The Humanities Center will fund a wide range of themes and topics. Past topics have included critical social theory, sexual citizenship, urban environmental governance, and race and visual culture studies.

As a Humanities Center program, each funded Research Cluster may have access to several resources. The Humanities Center lounge, located in 450 Renaissance Park, as well as two conference rooms located in the CSSH Dean’s Office (424 and 426 Renaissance Park), are excellent spaces for groups to convene.  There are also additional conference rooms on the 2^nd and 3^rd floor of Renaissance Park that may be available if booked early. All Research Clusters may potentially utilize these conference rooms and the Humanities Center lounge for small-to-mid-size activities, such as meetings, lectures, or workshops.  Upon request, the Humanities Center may be able to provide Research Clusters with limited staff support for technological assistance, the creation of marketing materials, event promotion, or limited event coordination.

We ask that you acknowledge “the Northeastern Humanities Center” on all of your publicity materials.  We will post your Cluster’s major events on our website.

Project Reporting and Evaluation:

End of Year Report

• A list of the group’s activities (i.e. meetings, lectures, conferences, publications, and major grant applications, etc.);
• A list of group members;
• A description of the group’s major accomplishments (up to two pages);
• Publicity or other materials associated with any activities (i.e. marketing materials for an event, a copy of the publication etc.);
• An itemized list of expenses;
• A brief description of how the group’s activities affected the research progress of its individual members.

If you have further questions regarding Research Clusters, feel free to contact Ángel David Nieves, Director of the Humanities Center at  a.nieves@northeastern.edu.

Thank you. We look forward to receiving your proposal.