Summer Research Fellowship

The Taft Summer Research Fellowship provides $8,000 in faculty pay for sustained research activity on a specific project, during the otherwise unpaid summer semester. Awardees are encouraged to use this opportunity to seek external funding for their research.

Applications for Summer Research Fellowship are due no later than 5pm on February 15.

Applications are limited to faculty who are tenured or tenure-track with primary appointments in either a Taft member unit or the College of Arts & Sciences with a terminal degree in a Taft member field. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, faculty in other colleges, and non-tenure track faculty (part-time, educator, research, visiting, and adjunct) are ineligible for this program. 

One quarter of the awards are set aside for junior faculty who have never been awarded a Taft Research Award. The remaining awards are awarded without preference to rank

Projects may not be mere editing, expansion, or readying for publication of a dissertation—successful applicants will have demonstrated the ability to undertake and complete significant research/creative projects beyond a thesis or dissertation before the time of their application. Proposals may include the development of external grant or fellowship applications.

Awardees remain eligible for other awards.

Applications must be received through the online portal no later than 5PM on the day of the published deadline. Applicants may not bypass any component of the system or ask the committee to instead view an uploaded document for the project narrative.

A complete application must include the following: 

1. Abstract (150 word maximum)
2. A narrative/project statement including:
   1. context for understanding the projects contributions to the applicant's field and the applicant's professional development
   2. a project schedule
   3. an account of the proposed final publication, performance or grant/fellowship sought
3. Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae
4. A letter of support from the applicant's supervisor (typically department head), submitted independently of the applicant, assessing the merits of the proposed project and the prospects for completion within the applicant’s proposed research schedule.
   1. Letters of support will be treated confidentially. Support letters that arrive after the close of the posted deadline may not be considered by the committee.

Proposals will be judged according to the following criteria:

1. The quality of the specific research project and proposal is given the highest priority
2. Evidence that the applicant will successfully complete the project in the time frame proposed along with the applicant's scholarly promise and achievements to date
3. Evidence of the applicant's willingness to seek non-Taft research and/or travel funding for this project
4. Evidence of productivity from previous Taft awards

• No more than one summer research fellowship may be awarded in any 24-month period
• A supplement award may not be used for travel to academic meetings
• A faculty member may not teach during the period of award
• All award funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the award and all expenditures of award funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. University Rule 3361:10-17-03 (D).
• Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received for the proposed project, both inside and outside the university, is required. The award must not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when a deficit in the project budget is anticipated even with such non-Taft funds.
• Where deviations from the approved application occur, the awardee must notify the Taft Faculty Chair in writing and receive written approval for the changes. Failure to comply with this rule may result in the revocation of award.
• A final report should be submitted to the Taft Faculty Chair within 30 days of the end of the award period
• Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft award should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center
• Payment is processed through payroll and subject to standard withholdings (taxes and fringe benefits)