The Black Studies Collaboratory in the Department of African American Studies at UC Berkeley is currently accepting applications from undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff for financial support for research up to $5,000. We will provide small grants for research, teaching, curriculum development, and related projects to faculty, undergraduates students, graduate students, and staff, either as individuals, teams, or as representatives of a UC Berkeley program, department, or unit. We welcome proposals from across campus that center blackness, especially teaching and research endeavors that are collaborative, and that move beyond what is defined as traditionally “academic.”

Eligibility 

Applications can be submitted by faculty affiliated with UC Berkeley, any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at UC Berkeley, or a staff member employed by UC Berkeley. Proposals that support dissertation or thesis research are strongly encouraged. Additionally, to encourage sustainable demographic transformation of the institution, we encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds. 

While awardees of this grant are encouraged to apply for additional funds for expansions of their existing project or new projects, no previous awardee or team can receive more than a lifetime total of $15,000 in grants.

Grant Period for Spring 2022 Cycle

Grants will be awarded for a period of eight months, from December 1, 2021 through July 1, 2022. Grand funds must be used by July 1, 2022. Grant payments will be managed in the following ways: 

• For undergraduate and graduate students: You will receive a stipend payment for the total amount of your award. You will be expected to spend the total award by July 1, 2022. 
• For faculty: You will receive a research award via a funding transfer, to be made available in your research funding account. You will be expected to spend the total award by July 1, 2022. The BSC reserves the right to pull back any funds not spent by July 1, 2022.  
• For staff: You will receive project funding in the form of a funding transfer to your home department. You will be expected to spend the total award by July 1, 2022. The BSC reserves the right to pull back any funds not spent by July 1, 2022.  

Application Requirements

Faculty Application – Requirements

• Project abstract 200 words
• Project description  (up to 750)- written or video (3 minutes) – describe nature of the collaboration 
• Project budget 
• Timeline for project completion

Grad/Undergrad Student Applicant – Requirements 

• Name of Faculty sponsor/mentor who will fill out a recommendation questionnaire in support of your application
• Project abstract 200 words
• Project description  (up to 750)- written or video (3 minutes) – describe nature of the collaboration 
• Project budget 
• Timeline for project completion
• Questionnaire for the recommendation to be filled out by faculty sponsor/mentor  

Staff Application – Requirements

• Project Abstract 200 words
• Project description  (up to 750)- written or video (3 minutes) – describe nature of the collaboration 
• Project budget 
• Timeline for project completion

For additional questions about the application please email:

blackstudiescollab@berkeley.edu

Staff and Faculty apply here

Students Apply here