INSITE Middle East and Islamic Studies Small Grant Awards

The Middle East and Islamic Studies Small Grant Awards support faculty and student research, conference participation, language study, and experiential learning opportunities related to the Middle East and Islamic Studies. These awards are intended to advance scholarship, language acquisition, interdisciplinary research, and professional development across the University.

Award Opportunities

Faculty Travel & Research Awards

Open to all UNC-Chapel Hill faculty. Funding may be used to support:

• International conference travel for research presentations
• Research travel related to Middle East and Islamic Studies

Award Amount: Up to $800
Number of Awards: 5

Graduate Student Awards

Open to graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Funding may be used to support:

• Conference travel for research presentations
• Summer research activities
• Advanced summer language study

Award Amount: Up to $650
Number of Awards: 6

Undergraduate Summer Research Awards

Open to undergraduate students pursuing research related to the Middle East and Islamic Studies. Funding may be used to support:

• Summer research projects
• Research projects that include a language-study component

Award Amount: Up to $1,050
Number of Awards: 2

Eligibility

Applicants must be current UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, graduate students, or undergraduate students. Proposed activities must demonstrate a clear connection to Middle East and/or Islamic Studies. Applicants may submit only one application per funding cycle.

Application Requirements

Faculty Applicants

• Conference paper abstract or research project description
• Statement describing the contribution to Middle East and/or Islamic Studies
• Expected outcomes
• Preliminary budget
• Information regarding other funding sources
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)

Graduate Student Applicants

Applications require:

• Degree program and advisor information
• Project, conference, or program description
• Academic and professional impact statement
• Preliminary budget
• Information regarding other funding sources

Supporting materials may include:

• Conference acceptance letter
• Language program information
• Research proposal
• Letters of support
• Other relevant documentation

Undergraduate Applicants

• Research project description
• Educational impact statement
• Statement connecting the project to Middle East and/or Islamic Studies
• Preliminary budget
• Information regarding other funding sources

Required supporting materials include:

• Research proposal
• Faculty mentor letter of support
• Unofficial transcript

Additional materials may include:

• Affiliate or partner letters of support
• Language program information
• Research approvals or other project documentation

Selection Criteria

• Relevance to Middle East and Islamic Studies
• Academic and scholarly merit
• Potential impact on research, teaching, language acquisition, or professional development
• Feasibility of the proposed activity
• Appropriate use of requested funds

Recipient Responsibilities

Award recipients may be asked to acknowledge support from the Middle East and Islamic Studies Program and INSITE in presentations, publications, reports, or other project outcomes. Recipients may also be required to submit a brief summary of activities and accomplishments following completion of the funded activity.

Apply

Applications are submitted through the online application form.

For questions regarding eligibility, award categories, or application requirements, please contact mideast@insite.unc.edu.