Taft

Research Groups

Taft sponsors open, interdisciplinary Research Groups that bring together a wide array of experiences to focus on complex, cutting-edge issues in Taft fields. All are welcome to join and engage in group activities.

Research Groups receive $3,000 annually, renewable for up to 3 years. In the past, Research Groups have focused on themes including visual studies, medical humanities, human rights, urban and public humanities, global studies, and digital humanities. Each of these groups includes primarily field experts and graduate students, but all are welcome to join.

Applications for Research Groups are currently closed.

Learn More About Current Research Groups

Eligibility

The goal of these groups is to go beyond what is supported by other Taft award categories (e.g., groups cannot only organize lectures). Additionally, these research groups are not intended to be funding bodies but rather interdisciplinary research groups that work together collaboratively to decide upon group activities. The Taft Research Group review committee will prioritize groups that propose deliverables.

To qualify for renewal, groups must provide evidence of advancing the group’s research goals.

Application Procedures

Applications must be submitted by 5pm on the specified date to taft@uc.edu.

Complete applications are limited to 1,500 words and must include the following:

  1. Interdisciplinary orientation—groups are lead by Taft-eligible faculty and must include faculty from at least two different departments, both if whom commit to the following:
    1. Including participants from at least three departments, at least two of which must be from Taft departments
    2. Holding regular, open meetings at Taft Research Center at least once per semester
    3. Providing an annual report summarizing group activities
  2. Be collaborative: Groups are intended to be inclusive, open to others joining the group
  3. Demonstrate potential public impact (e.g., addressing publics in and beyond UC, potential for leveraging external funding, among other possibilities)
  4. Include a budget and timeline of possible activities
  5. Work toward a final product, e.g.: edited volume; research result dissemination into public discourse via op-eds, social media platforms, etc.; other activities that promote dialogue within and/or beyond the proposed research group.