Through the generous support of University benefactors, Notre Dame International is providing funding to build, sustain, and encourage academic and research collaboration (research projects, faculty and graduate student exchange, conferences, seminars, etc.) with universities in Asia. Funding is allocated for proposals that involve research collaborations with universities in China, Hong Kong, India and Taiwan. Preferred universities in greater China include the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Yuan Ze University (Taiwan), Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Zhejiang University. For research collaborations involving universities and research institutions in India, preference will be given to those NDI can support through the Mumbai Global Center. Proposals for collaborations with universities in other parts of Asia are, however, also accepted and encouraged.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and projects will be offered administrative and logistical support through the Beijing Global Gateway and/or the Hong Kong Global Center and Mumbai Global Center. At the Beijing Global Gateway a seminar room (maximum seating capacity of forty) is available for faculty to present lectures, workshops, or seminars.

This grant program supports the University’s broader strategy to promote academic cooperation in Asia by building upon existing partnerships and creating new opportunities for research and scholarly exchange.

ELIGIBILITY/GRANT REQUIREMENTS

Full-time regular members of the Notre Dame faculty, library faculty, and special professional faculty are eligible to apply. Staff members leading programs relevant to the goals of increasing collaboration with institutions in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and India may also submit a proposal.

FUNDING

Funding is available for a variety of collaborations, but preference will be given to those that promote ongoing relationships between Notre Dame and Asia and will have a measurable impact both on the local academic community and in increasing Notre Dame’s engagement in the region.

The types of collaborations might include but are not limited to the following:

• Initiating collaborative research projects (travel, research costs, etc.)
• Sponsoring or attending research conferences and workshops
• Supporting educational ventures (faculty and staff exchanges, workshops, etc.)

Individual grants will not normally exceed $10,000, although large team-based proposals or proposals that include Notre Dame graduate students may request up to $20,000. The Grants Review Committee will consider proposals for any amount up to these figures. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate other sources of funding or cost sharing which will complement the Asia Research Collaboration Grant funding. Other sources of funding may include funds dedicated to the proposed research collaboration by the international collaborators’ universities. Cost sharing must ensure that covered expenses are mutually exclusive.

Awards will not support clerical or secretarial help. Awards may support expenses incurred only at Notre Dame or by Notre Dame faculty and staff (e.g. hiring of research assistants employed by and working at Asian universities will generally not be funded through the Notre Dame grant program).

EXPENSES

Full details of all anticipated costs/activities must be clearly itemized. Budget justification is required.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include but are not limited to:

• Travel: Travel expenses associated with the international collaboration and/or conducting the proposed research. This includes airfare, ground transportation, accommodation and per diem.*
• Personnel: Notre Dame graduate student stipend and benefits and undergraduate research assistant support (graduate and undergraduate student assistants must be involved in the faculty fellow’s collaborative research and writing in ways that contribute to the student’s intellectual formation). Please note that you must allow approximately an additional 25% for fringe benefits for graduate students
• Participant Support: Program participation incentives; modest honoraria.
• Research Administration/Supplies: Includes costs associated with research administration (e.g., interviews, surveys, on-line collection of data), research materials, computer software (not hardware), books, manuscripts.

*PLEASE NOTE:  Reimbursement for meals and incidental travel expenses will be made in accordance with these per diem allowances:

• 1-14 days - UP TO 75% of US State Dept per diem
• 15+ days - UP TO 50% of US State Dept per diem

Ineligible Expenses

• Clerical or secretarial help
• The hiring of research assistants employed by and working at Asian universities will not be funded through this grant program
• Publication costs
• Faculty salary
• Conference attendance costs

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

To request funding from the Asia Research Collaboration Grants program, please submit a proposal written in clear, non-technical language. Each proposal must include the following items:

Proposal title, project director (PD) name, department/center/institute affiliation, phone, email, co-PD name(s) if appropriate.

Abstract of the proposed project (one paragraph)

Description of the proposed project (three-page maximum, single spaced), including:

• The objective of the project
• Background, previous work and/or motivation as appropriate
• Project approach and methods
• Anticipated outcomes, including how the project will promote collaboration between Notre Dame and institutions in Asia
• Anticipated time schedule

Budget and budget justification: supply detailed budget identifying and explaining all anticipated expenditures

• Fully justify any proposed travel
• Description of other funds secured or applied for
• Budget Template

Letter from collaborator (located in Asia) indicating their willingness and ability to participate in the proposed collaborative initiative

Curriculum vitae: (2-page maximum, current) for each faculty member listed on the cover sheet as project director; if postdocs, graduate students and/or undergraduates are included in the project as collaborators, describe their qualifications

Criteria for evaluating proposals

A faculty-led review committee will use the following criteria to evaluate proposals:

• Quality of the proposal, including its potential for new or sustainable collaboration between Notre Dame and Asia, on research, and/or on the education and training of students
• Potential for academic publication
• Reach: breadth and depth of impact of the proposed project
• Consistency with Notre Dame strategic goals and mission
• Budgetary appropriateness and cost-sharing with other universities

FOLLOW-UP REPORT

Successful applicants are required to submit a final report no later than one month after the end date of the award. The report should include:

• A summary of the activities funded by the award and significant results achieved, including evidence that the project contributed to the collaboration between Notre Dame and Asia
• Any publications or manuscripts resulting from the award
• Make a brief oral presentation, on the outcome of the research and collaboration with the Asian university following the end of the grant period, at an event hosted by NDI
• Submit brief updates (and pictures, if applicable) of any development related to the grant funding that is newsworthy (e.g. conference, launch of new program), including any relevant feedback from collaborators in greater Asia
• Reference the Notre Dame International Asia Research Collaboration Grant, and the Beijing Global Gateway, the Hong Kong Global Center, and the Mumbai Global Center as applicable, in any relevant publications

Contact

For more information about NDI’s faculty engagement and research programs, please contact:

Geraldine Meehan
Director, Faculty Development and Global Gateways
Notre Dame International
 Email: gmeehan@nd.edu
 Phone:  574 631-7742

The Italian Studies Library Research Award is a grant awarded by the Center for Italian Studies and Notre Dame International to support scholars who travel to use the Italian Studies collections within Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Libraries.

Funding between $1,500 and $4,000 will be awarded to help defray the costs of travel and accommodation for a research visit of 1 - 3 weeks. The amount of the award will be based on the length of the research visit and specific travel and accommodation expenses.

Grants are competitive. Please complete this application and submit by 11.59 pm EST on December 12 , 2023. You will receive notification when your application has been received, and applicants will be notified of the award decisions in late February 2024.