Competition for the 2009–2010 Faculty Interactive Research Program
The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) invites proposals for our Faculty Interactive Research Program. The purpose of the program is to encourage University faculty members to carry out research projects that involve a significant urban-related public policy issue for the state or its communities, and that include engagement with groups, agencies, or organizations in Minnesota involved with the issue.
Following are several examples of projects that have been supported in the past few years and the home departments of the faculty who conducted those projects:
- bidding for MnDOT highway repair contracts (Economics)
- community re-entry for juvenile offenders (Sociology)
- private-sector delivery of public services (Humphrey Institute)
- persistence of antibiotics in Minnesota surface water (Civil Engineering)
- making Minnesota schools more affordable in the marketplace (Political Science)
- using local mineral resources to store wind energy with hydrogen (Physics)
Regular faculty members are invited to apply. Each award will provide support for one month of the faculty member’s time in the summer of 2009 and a half-time graduate research assistant for the 2009–2010 academic year. Where appropriate, limited support for miscellaneous research expenses can be provided.
Faculty members who are selected will be expected as part of their project to: (a) interact or engage with appropriate community organizations or agencies, (b) prepare a report for the organization or agency where appropriate, and (c) prepare a 3500-word manuscript for publication in the CURA Reporter, our quarterly report of faculty research.
Research projects should focus on issues and concerns important to Minnesota, such as communities of color, the criminal justice system, demography, state or local economic development, education, employment, energy, the environment, health, housing, state and local government, welfare and poverty, human and social services, transportation, or land use and development.
Eligibility: Applications are invited from all University faculty members who, in conformity with the tenure regulations, are classified as “regular” (tenure code = P,N,C) members of the faculty. The program is designed particularly for faculty who hold nine-month appointments (appointment term not equal to “A”), although we have frequently supported projects of regular faculty on twelve-month appointments. In special cases we can support joint projects.
Terms of the Award: During the period of support for the faculty member, the recipient of the project award is expected to be devoted to the project full-time; accordingly, those receiving awards may not accept other employment. This provision does not preclude acceptance of additional supplementary support for the same project, except for that portion allocated to the faculty member’s salary.
Application Procedure: Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:
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A completed application form (download as an MS Word file or a forms-enabled PDF file).
The application form should include a short (150 words maximum) abstract that clearly and succinctly describes the nature of the problem or issue the project will address, the mission of the community partner(s) (if identified), the research strategy you will employ, and the expected outcome(s) of the project. Please be aware that this abstract may be used in CURA publications, press releases, or promotional materials to describe your project.
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A letter that explains in more detail the nature of the project to be supported. The letter should include a discussion of the problem or issue the project will address; a description of the research methods to be used; an indication of the applicant’s background in and familiarity with the topic; an indication of consultation with the agencies, groups, or organizations that will be involved with the project; and a consideration of the potential public policy implications of the research.
- A current curriculum vitae.
Application materials may be mailed to Faculty Interactive Research Program, CURA, 330 HHH Center, 301—19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455, e-mailed to egoetz@umn.edu, or faxed to (612) 626-0273.
Deadline: Applications must be received in the CURA office by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Grant recipients will be notified by mid-April.
Please contact Ed Goetz at (612) 624-8737 or egoetz@umn.edu if you have questions.
The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, University of Minnesota, 419 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, (612) 624-9547, eoaa@umn.edu. Website at www.eoaffact.umn.edu. This website is available in alternative formats upon request.
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