2024-25 Past Competitions

September 4th: NEH Summer Stipend

Summary

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is offering a Summer Stipend program that "aims to stimulate new research in the humanities and its publication." Internal applications are due to WOSP@wm.edu by 4 PM on September 4th.

Full Description

The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Summer Stipends program aims to stimulate new research in the humanities and its publication. The program works to accomplish this goal by: 

• Providing small awards to individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both 

• Supporting projects at any stage of development, but especially early-stage research and late-stage writing in which small awards are most effective 

• Funding a wide range of individuals, including independent scholars, community college faculty, and non-teaching staff at universities 

The Summer Stipends program supports continuous full-time work on a humanities project for two consecutive months. NEH funds may support recipients’ compensation, travel, and other costs related to the proposed scholarly research. 

Application Process:

Applicants must be tenured or tenure-track at William & Mary and must not have previously received an NEH award in any of its programs for individuals. Details about the process can be found by visiting: https://www.neh.gov/grants/research/summer-stipends

Required Materials:

Please see page 11 of the Summer Stipends Notice of Funding Opportunity, 2024 for more information about the materials listed below. Please also note the name conventions and file type of application attachments (i.e. must be PDF format).

Timeline for Applications

October 15th: NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program

Summary

The Major Research Instrumentation program supports requests for up to $4 million from NSF for the development or acquisition of multi-user research instruments that are critical to the advancement of science and engineering. Interested applicants should submit the below list of materials via Box file upload by 10/15/2024. Full proposals are due to the NSF by November 15th at 5pm.

Synopsis of Program from NSF:

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (MRI Program Website) serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument that is commercially available through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel costs and equipment that are required for the development of an instrument with new capabilities, thereby advancing instrumentation capabilities and enhancing expertise for instrument design and fabrication at academic institutions. MRI instruments are, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to obtain next-generation research instruments by developing instruments with new capabilities that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

Funding Information

An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument.

Each performing organization may submit in revised “Tracks”. William & Mary may select up to 4 MRI proposals based on the Track as defined below. VIMS and WM will be counted as the same institution.

• Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1,400,000 – up to 2 submissions
• Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,400,000 up to and including $4,000,000 – up to 1 submission
• Track 3 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than or equal to $4,000,000 for requests that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium – up to 1 submission

Cost sharing requirements for new awards in the MRI Program are waived for a period of 5 years beginning with the FY 2023 MRI competition. When required, cost-sharing must be precisely 30%. Cost sharing is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for non-degree-granting organizations. Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Internal Submissions

NSF limits the number of applications a given institution may submit. The Faculty Research Committee (FRC) is responsible for reviewing the proposals and selecting those proposals that will move forward.

We request that interested parties inform the FRC (mssaha@wm.edu) and their OSP administrator if you plan to submit a proposal. It is possible for an institution to submit up to four proposals within specified "track" limits described in the program announcement. If you are not sure who is your OSP Administrator, visit https://go.wm.edu/wW34xb and click the drop-down “Department” to find your department’s assigned administrator.  

Interested applicants should submit the following list of materials via Box (see link below) by 10/15/2024. Please also reach out to frcgrantapps@wm.edu when you have submitted the documents so that we can ensure the application has the required elements. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Emma Gourdie and Steven Mamer (frcgrantapps@wm.edu) or Margaret Saha, FRC Chair (mssaha@wm.edu). 

APPLICANT SUBMISSION BOX PORTAl

Due Dates for Submission Process

1. Internal Applications due 10/15/24 by 11:59 PM
2. Committee Decisions by 10/22/24
3. Applicant(s) notified by 10/23/24
4. Applicant submits to grants.gov by 11/15/24

Required Materials for Internal Submission

All materials must be uploaded in PDF format with the last name of the uploading PI in the title. Please see the Box link below for specific naming conventions for each document.  

APPLICANT SUBMISSION BOX PORTAl

October 17th: VA Humanities – Fall/Winter Grant Opportunities Available for Internal Submission

Summary

The Virginia Humanities (VAH) Grant Program is offering a number of grants for those who work in the humanities field. The institution can only be awarded one of those opportunities at a time. W&M is hosting an internal competition for those who are interested in any of the awards offered by VAH. All internal submissions are due October 17th. Please view the full announcement for more details.

Full Description

The Virginia Humanities (VAH) Grant Program defines the Humanities as the following:
The humanities are the stories, ideas, and words that help us understand our lives and the experience of being human. They introduce us to people we have never met and take us to places we have never been. From an academic standpoint, the humanities include the study of history, philosophy, religion, language, literature, art, and culture. By showing us how others have lived and thought about life, the humanities help us better understand people whose lived experiences are different from our own. By connecting us with other people, the humanities foster the empathy, compassion, and understanding that is necessary to build a more just and equitable world. Put simply, the humanities are anything that helps us understand and interpret the human experience.

The term “humanities scholar” may include:

• Teaching or research college faculty
• Local historians or independent scholars who have a strong record of scholarship
• Professional museum curators
• Librarians, writers, and others whose work is strongly grounded in the humanities
• Persons representing various cultural traditions—a Native American tribal chief, for example—if they are recognized as spokespersons for their traditions.

The VAH offers many funding opportunities, but the institution can only be awarded one of those opportunities at a time. If W&M received an award from VAH, the institution can apply for an award once the active award is completed.

Funding opportunities include:

*If cost share is required, you must confirm with your department the ability to match your request

Internal Selection Process

If you are interested in applying for any of the opportunities, please prepare the following materials and submit to the Box link by October 17th. The selected applicant chosen by the committee will be notified by October 24th.

Internal Application Materials

Once files have been submitted. please email frcgrantapp@wm.edu to confirm your documents have been processed:

• Documentation confirming 1:1 cost share by the department (if required – see table above)
  • Must have written confirmation from department chair
  • Can be an email chain, formal letter, etc.
• 1-page: Project Description/Plan for Research
• 1 page: Project Personnel and Qualifications
• 1 page: Budget Plan

SUBMIT FILES TO BOX LINK

Dates to Keep in Mind

1. October 17th - Internal Submissions Due
2. October 23rd - Committee member decision due
3. October 24th - Selected applicant notified
4. October 31st - Rapid Grant due to VAH
5. November 30th - LOI Due for regular grant to VAH
6. January 10th - Regular Grant App. Due to VAH

November 11th: NEH Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence

Summary

The Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence program aims to support a more holistic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) in the modern world through the creation of new humanities research centers on artificial intelligence at eligible institutions. As part of this award opportunity, only one applicant per institution can move submit to the NEH for this award. William & Mary will be holding an internal competition for interested applicants to submit materials to be reviewed by FRC. Internal competition closes NOVEMBER 11TH.

Full Description

What is a "center" as defined in the context of this opportunity?

"Centers must focus their scholarly activities on exploring the ethical, legal, or societal implications of AI.  In your application to this program, you must propose to create a Center with a specific research focus related to the ethical, legal, or societal implications of AI. A Center is a sustained collaboration among multiple scholars focused on exploring the humanities implications of AI through two or more related scholarly activities. Competitive Centers typically identify a specific topical, methodological, or disciplinary lens through which to focus their efforts. NEH particularly encourages Centers interested in equity, privacy, and civil-rights topics. Centers should aim to advance humanities research on their chosen topic beyond the period of the grant."

For more information, read the full solicitation here.

Internal Competition Guidelines

Interested applicants should prepare the following materials (in a PDF format) for the internal competition by Monday, November 11th. Materials can be submitted at this Box link.  

The selected applicant will be notified November 19th. Selected applicants will receive a letter of support from the Provost. 

Required Materials

• Project Team
  • Names of core team with the project director and any co-directors defined 
  • Define each members role on the team 
• CVs of core team members 
• Narrative (2 to 3 pages) 
  • Concise description of your proposed project including: 
    • Project Overview 
    • Thematic research focus and significance 
    • Proposed activities  
    • List of proposed deliverables 
    • Institutional context and collaboration 
    • Future plans 
• Budget and Justification 
  • Describe how each item supports your proposed objectives, detail how you calculated all costs, and provide supporting documentation. 
  • If you will have a voluntary cost share, please confirm with your department chair the ability of your department to support the project. (Cost share is not required unless applicant requests federal matching funds.) 
• Bibliography 
  • Primary and secondary sources that relate directly to the project. Include works that pertain to both the project’s substance and its theoretical or methodological approaches 

(Note: Some of these materials and stipulated criteria differ from what the selected applicant will submit to the NEH. If you are selected to apply to the NEH, please make sure to the full solicitation.)  

SUBMIT MATERIALS HERE.  

Important dates

1. November 11th - Internal Competition Closes
2. November 18th - Committee decision due
   
3. November 19th - Selected applicant notified
   
4. December 11th - Submission due to grants.gov

Questions? Email frcgrantapp@wm.edu