Program Specifics
Online Application
New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities
Deadline: January 17, 2012 (revised)
To: Indiana University Faculty Members
From: Vice President for Research Jorge José
CC: Associate Vice President and Vice Provost for Research (IUB) Sarita Soni; Associate Vice President for Research and Vice Chancellor for Research (IUPUI) Kody Varahramyan; Associate Vice President for Research (Collaborative Research Programs) Michael Stefanek
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the 2011-2012 New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities internal funding program. The goal of New Frontiers is to enable Indiana University faculty members to expand their creative and scholarly work in transformative ways.
As was the case last year, we will distinguish between major New Frontiers grants (up to $50,000) and Exploratory Travel Fellowship grants (up to $2500). Major New Frontiers grants are designed to assist in the development of innovative and transformative works of creativity or scholarship by individuals or by teams of faculty members from two or more departments, units, schools or disciplines. Recipients of major New Frontiers funding in 2008-2009, 2009-2010, or 2010-2011 are not eligible for New Frontiers grants in 2011-2012. All faculty members are eligible for Exploratory Travel Fellowships, which are designed to enable faculty members to travel as part of new research or creative projects in the arts and humanities.
We will again reserve a portion of the overall budget for use as discretionary New Frontiers funding. Recognizing that inspiration does not always strike according to grant deadlines, we hope that reserving some funds for ad hoc allocation, always based on a consultation, review and recommendation by subject experts, will enable IU to support special transformative initiatives and opportunities in the arts and humanities that arise throughout the academic year.
Associate Vice President for Collaborative Research, Michael Stefanek will work with members of the review committee to facilitate revision and same-year resubmission of selected proposals. In the past, proposals that required relatively small revision nonetheless had to wait a full year for resubmission, a delay which risked derailing creative and scholarly innovation. AVP Stefanek and members of the review committee will work with faculty members whose initial proposals were close to being recommended for funding to address concerns and receive a second review, enabling us to respond quickly to faculty members’ energy and enthusiasm for their projects.
The New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities Program is a unique and important element of Indiana University’s overall support for outstanding research, scholarship and creative activity. . I am committed to continuing this remarkable program, while looking for ways to use IU’s resources as effectively as possible to support your efforts. I invite you to bring to our attention any suggestions or ideas you have for improving the program in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Jorge José
Vice President for Research
James H. Rudy Distinguished Professor of Physics
Professor of Integrative and Cellular Physiology, IU School of Medicine
Indiana University New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities
Indiana University is pleased to announce the 2011-12 New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities funding opportunity. The objective of this opportunity is to help Indiana University faculty members pursue innovative and transformative directions in artistic creativity or scholarship in their fields of endeavor by supporting the initial stages of path-breaking and transformative programs of investigation or creative activity.
New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities funding is intended to support innovative creative work which will transform the field of study, generate an innovative trajectory in a recipient’s creative or scholarly development, or foster collaborations that cross disciplinary boundaries. The primary goal of New Frontiers is to support the initial stages of research and creative activity, providing seed funding for longer-term efforts.. In 2011-12, there will be two funding programs: New Frontiers [major] grants of up to $50,000 and Exploratory Travel Fellowships of up to $2,500.
New Frontiers funding up to $50,000 is available to:
- Assist in the development of innovative works of scholarship and creative activities in the arts and humanities. Projects should display potential for having a significant impact one’s field, for instance, through employing new methodologies or technologies.
- Foster new collaborations among faculty members from different disciplines, units or campuses so as to transform the boundaries of the arts and humanities at Indiana University.
Exploratory Travel Fellowship funding up to $2,500 is available to support national and international travel for scholars and researchers pursuing new and innovative projects in the arts and humanities. The grants will allow travel to museums, libraries, laboratories, art galleries, and cultural sites; travel and participation in conferences, workshops, symposia, and performances; and visits to collaborators. Travel to conferences or other venues to present or support work that is already well advanced is not eligible for support.
Eligibility: All Indiana University tenured and tenure-eligible faculty, and those employed at IU but not on the tenure-track whose evaluation criteria include research or creative activity, are eligible to submit proposals. Visiting and adjunct faculty members and post-doctoral fellows are not eligible. Those who have been awarded a New Frontiers, New Directions, New Perspectives or Visiting Visionary grant since January 2009 are eligible only for Exploratory Travel Fellowship grants.
Submission Deadlines and Requirements:
New Frontiers (major) funding: Proposals for major grants must be submitted by the close of business day on January 17, 2012 at http://research.iu.edu/funding/newfron/ . All proposals must include a project description (4 page maximum), budget and budget narrative, up-to-date c.v.(s) of proposer(s) (3 page maximum), and 3 letters of support: 1 from department or unit head, 1 from the Dean, and an additional letter from an expert in the field, not necessarily from Indiana University, assessing the significance and innovation of the project and the likelihood of its success. We expect that proposals will be reviewed within twelve weeks of the deadline.
Exploratory Travel Fellowships: There are six annual deadlines for submission of exploratory travel grant proposals: October 15, December 15, February 15, April 15, June 15, and August 15. Proposals must be submitted by the close of the business day at http://research.iu.edu/funding_newfrontiers.shtml. Proposals will be reviewed within six weeks of the deadline. All proposals must include a project description (4 page maximum), budget and budget narrative, up-to-date c.v. of proposer (3 page maximum), and two letters of support: 1 from the department or unit head and 1 from an expert in the field, not necessarily from Indiana University, assessing the significance of the project for which travel is proposed or the appropriateness of the proposed travel for the project. [For instance, if a faculty member requests funding to attend a conference or workshop, the second letter might address why this particular workshop will advance significantly the project.]
Budget Restrictions: Funds may not be used for hosting conferences, workshops, or similar symposia. Up to $11,000 may be used to obtain a one-course release from teaching, pending approval of one’s department chair and dean. It is expected that the normal figures for applicants' campuses or schools will prevail if they are lower than the maximum. Funds not spent within 12 months of award can be considered for a one time 6 months extension after which time all remaining funds will be returned to the funding pool.
Application Format:
All proposals must be submitted on-line, at http://research.iu.edu/funding_newfrontiers.shtml. All proposals must include:
- project description (12 point font, single-spaced, 4 page maximum for major funding, 2 page maximum for Exploratory Travel Fellowships) comprised of the following:
- background and significance of the project
- potential impact of the project on the field
- potential private or government funding agency if it exists to continue work on the project
- goals of the project
- work plan and timeline to accomplish goals
- project budget with justification for funds requested
- a letter of support from the school dean (not required for Exploratory Travel Fellowship)
- a letter of support from the head of the applicant’s department, division, center or institute. This letter should assess the transformative nature of the proposed project in the field of expertise of the applicants as well as the applicant’s ability to complete the project. Applicants from schools that do not have departments, as well as applicants who are the heads of their units, should request a letter from the appropriate dean or equivalent supervisor.
- a letter of support from an expert in the field, not necessarily from Indiana University, assessing the significance of the project in the field of expertise and the likelihood of its success.
- Biosketch or brief C.V. (3 pages maximum) for each P.I. and co-P.I.
Recipients of funding are required to submit a progress report six months after receipt of the award, and a final report twelve months after receipt. Failure to do so will preclude eligibility for future internal funding from the programs.
