Faculty Research Fellows
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2025-26 | Faculty Research Fellow Application is OPEN!
Humanities Institute | 2025-2026 Faculty Research Fellowship (FRF):
The Faculty Research Fellows Program at the Humanities Institute within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin is offering the Faculty Research Fellowship (FRF) for the 2025-26 academic year. This program provides faculty members with course release, research funds, and various support tools to advance their research projects.
Participants will benefit from one-on-one meetings to explore external funding opportunities, participation in accountability groups and workshops to enhance grant-writing skills, and can attend dedicated writing hours to boost productivity.
Consider applying for the upcoming year!
If you have questions, contact Assistant Director of Research Development, Jeff Meserve.
The Application and Selection Process Overview:
- Course Release: You will be given time off from teaching to focus on your research.
- Research Funds: Up to $2500 is available for research-related expenses, such as travel, fieldwork, research tools, or hiring research assistants. These funds will be managed by your department’s administrative staff.
- Year-Long Program: The program spans the entire academic year.
- External Funding Opportunities: You will have a one-on-one meeting to explore options for external research support.
- Accountability Groups: Collaborate with peers to stay on track with your research goals.
- External Funding Workshops: Attend workshops to enhance your grant-writing skills.
- Shared Writing Hours: Participate in dedicated time slots for writing and productivity.
- Project Description: Provide a 1-2 page description of your major project, book, or study for the year. Explain how the $2500 research funds will support your work.
- Past Funding: Describe your funding, leave, or support from the past 3 years.
- CV: Include a current CV.
- Chair/Dean Documentation: Get pre-approval from your Chair or Dean for a course release in Spring 2026.
Note: Most course releases will NOT be reimbursed by HI or COLA. - Eligibility: Faculty from any college or unit are eligible to apply. Note: Most course releases will NOT be reimbursed by HI or COLA.
- Working Plan: Outline your goals/milestones from August 16, 2025, to May 15, 2026.
- Application Deadline: March 21, 2025.
- Decisions Communicated: April 17 -18, 2025.
- Course Release: The course release can be taken in Spring 2026.
- Combination with Humanities Research Awards (HRA): HI Faculty Fellows and the Humanities Research Awards (HRA) are now combined into the HI Faculty Research Fellows awards.
- Eligibility: If you have previously been an HI Faculty Fellow or HRA awardee, you are eligible to reapply after a 5-year period. The FRF is available exclusively to Tenure/Tenure-Track faculty with 100% full-time appointments. Faculty from any college or unit are welcome to apply.
Apply Now! --- We’re excited to see your application.
Follow the link below to get started.
2024-25 Faculty Research Fellows
The Humanities Institute is thrilled to announce the selection of 12 outstanding projects for the 2024-2025 Faculty Research Fellows program. These projects span across five schools/colleges and twelve departments/units at The University of Texas at Austin.
We invite you to explore the innovative projects of our 2024-2025 Faculty Research Fellows.
For detailed information about each project, please visit the 2024-2025 Faculty Research Fellows Page.
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The Humanities Institute Faculty Research Fellows (FRF) Program History
The Humanities Institute is proud to introduce a revitalized Faculty Research Fellows (FRF) program, designed with a renewed focus on accountability, research support, and the cultivation of external funding opportunities. This program is dedicated to fostering both individual and collaborative research projects, inspiring and reimagining research careers in the humanities.
Program Evolution and Genealogy
The Faculty Fellows was originally conceived as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. The Faculty Fellows program has a rich history of bringing together humanities scholars from diverse fields. Over the years, it has provided a unique space for faculty to engage in deep, communal thinking and to explore innovative research across disciplines. In response to the evolving landscape of humanities research, we have adapted the program to better support the needs of today’s scholars.
The new structure emphasizes:
[Enhanced Accountability]: Clear milestones, dedicated time to write in community, and accountability groups.
[Research Support]: Resources and guidance to assist fellows.
[External Funding Opportunities]: Strategic support to help fellows explore funding opportunities, enhancing the sustainability and reach of their research.
[Collaborative Research Options]: Recognizing the value of collaborative efforts, the Humanities Institute encourages team projects. Applicants can now indicate if their project is collaborative by checking a designated box on the application form. Each team member must submit a separate application, ensuring that all contributors are fully integrated into the program.
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