Norm and Sibby Whitten Research Fund 2023-2024

Application deadline: November 30, 2023
Extended until December 6, 2023

The Norm and Sibby Whitten Research Fund supports pre-project travel grants for master and doctoral students in the early formulation of their field research. This Grant-in-Aid is to initiate contact and collaborative working relationships with host institutions and scholars, as well as with Indigenous societies and local communities and organizations. It can both facilitate contacts for the purpose of building new collaborations and acquiring any necessary permissions for the future research and fieldwork.

Preference is given to research projects in lowland South America that reflect the work and themes of Norm and Sibby Whitten, including, but not restricted to, topics such as Indigenous knowledge-production, aesthetics and arts, Indigenous cosmologies, health, gender, interculturality, cultural transformations, and histories of the present.

Eligibility

• Funding is restricted to full-time master and doctoral graduate students. Indigenous anthropologists and early-stage doctoral students will be given preference.
• While membership of SALSA is not a requirement for application, preference will be given to applicants who are members of SALSA and/or whose primary advisor is a member of SALSA.
• Eligibility is open to citizens of all countries. Indigenous and Latin American students are specifically encouraged to apply.

Fundable Expenses

• National and international travel to potential research.
• Local transportation, lodging, and per diem.
• Visa and/or permit.
• Neither the Norm and Sibby Whitten Fund nor SALSA is responsible to secure travel insurance, permits, and other legal requirements needed in the country of origin or in the host country.

Funding Amount

Grant amounts range from US$ 600 to US$ 2,000, and will vary depending on travel costs to the research site, the availability of funds, and funding from other sources. It is the intention of SALSA to allocate approximately US$ 8,000 for this call.

Submission Deadlines

• Applications are accepted through November 30, 2023 — extended until December 6, 20239, for projects initiating after January 1, 2024.
• Applications are accepted electronically through 12:00am (midnight) Eastern Standard Time (http://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/est).
• All materials, including the letter of recommendation, must be submitted via email to WhittenFundApplications@gmail.com by the deadline (see Application Requirements below).
• Proposals are reviewed and ranked by an international committee of SALSA members with expertise in lowland South American (see Selection Committee below).
• Funding decisions will be announced by e-mail in January 2024.

Application Requirements

1. Completed application form: English, Español, Português
2. Completed budget form: English, Español, Português
3. Please send following documents as a single PDF to: WhittenFundApplications@gmail.com:
   • Abstract (200 words or less) describing the proposed project and its significance in a style that is clearly understandable to a non-specialist.
   • Proposal (1000 words or less) including: i) Overall aim, research area, scientific background, and key objectives. (ii) Relevance and significance of the proposed project. iii) Envisioned collaboration and capacity building; iv) Methods and Feasibility.
   • Timetable.
   • References to the relevant literature (maximum 15 references).
   • Evidence of support or e-mail communication demonstrating initial contact with a host country scholar is appreciated though not required.
   • Curriculum vitae.
   • University transcript (an unofficial copy is sufficient).
4. Letter of Recommendation from the applicant’s principal advisor should be sent directly to WhittenFundApplications@gmail.com by the deadline (November 30, 2023 by midnight EST).

Reporting Requirement

Within one year of receiving the grant, the grantee must submit the following items:

1. Final report summarizing the travel and work carried out during the grant period (maximum of three pages).
2. Abstract of the final report for the SALSA website (maximum of 200 words, written in a style that is clearly understandable to a non-specialist).
3. We invite any photograph, film or other material created that could be posted on the SALSA website to publicize this project.

Acknowledgement

The Whitten Fund requests acknowledgement of support in all publications resulting in whole or in part from this grant.

Selection Committee

Chris Jarrett (chair), Giovanna Bacchiddu, Artionka Capiberibe, Paul Codija

Contact information

Chris Jarrett
Andes-Amazon Program, Keller Science Action Center, Field Museum
WhittenFundApplications@gmail.com