The Freeman Asian/Asian American Initiative Summer Research Grant Program supports student research in the study of Asia and the Asian Diaspora − the relations between the peoples and societies of Asia, and people of Asian heritage outside their ancestral homelands.  This program is funded by the Freeman Initiative in Asian/Asian-American Studies. 

         The Initiative welcomes proposals from sophomores and juniors for summer research on Asian American and Asian Diaspora topics, carried out in Asia, in the Americas, or elsewhere.  Priority will be given to senior thesis or essay projects.  Successful proposals will receive up to $5,000, depending on the availability of funds and project needs; additional funds may be available to help meet students’ financial aid summer earnings expectations.   Students going abroad to conduct research must attend the pre-departure orientation session organized by the Office of International Studies and complete the necessary paperwork. Upon return to campus, grant recipients will be required to submit a report (see below) to the Initiative’s steering committee and to give a public presentation on their project.

         Applications −  which are not to exceed five double-spaced, typewritten pages − must include: (1) a brief description of the proposed project, its objectives, its methodology, and its significance, including a discussion of the relevant scholarly literature; (2) a description of previous course work and scholarly activity related to the proposed project; (3) a timetable for completion, which may continue through the following academic year;  (4) a detailed budget; (5) a letter from the faculty member who will supervise the project, assessing its merit and the ability of the applicant to carry it out successfully; (6) a copy of the applicant’s academic record, and (7) a complete set of the 5 forms that are located at the bottom of this page.

         All applicants must also complete the submission process for the Human Subjects Research: Institutional Review Board in order to conduct any research. Please visit their web page to see their requirements and timelines.

         Criteria for judging applications include: the relevance of the project to the initiative’s focus on East Asia and the Asian Diaspora; the clarity of the proposal; the feasibility of the proposed project, including the realism of the budget; the applicant's academic record and language skills (where appropriate); and the evaluation submitted by the faculty member who has agreed to supervise the research project.  

Members of the sophomore and junior classes are eligible to apply.

Research paper requirements: 15-20 pages or 5 pages, if tied into a senior thesis.

Complete applications must be submitted to Stanford M. Forrester, Coordinator of the Freeman Asian/Asian American Initiative in the Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies/Room 204 no later than March 2, 2007. Applications received after the deadline or submitted incompletely will not be considered. Please plan accordingly.

Deadline: Applications will be due March 2, 2007.

form 1
form 2
form 3
form 4
form 5 

Click here to see this past summers' Summer Research Papers