What is the Cross-Generational Research Initiative (CGRI)? 

The Center for the Humanities Cross-Generational Research Initiatives (CGRI) supports collaborative research projects in the humanities conducted by research teams of faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students. Research team members, who may be from different departments, come together to work on a proposed publication, collaborative submission of an application for external grants, an event, exhibition, performance, or other scholarly or creative output.  

Why CGRI?  

Rather than imagining students as intellectual consumers, the Center for the Humanities engages them as intellectual producers and helps them identify the broader impacts and social contributions of their research. The CGRI aims not only to support collaborative research but also to provide opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to engage in meaningful, immersive research work, project management and team building that will contribute to their intellectual development and diverse professional ambitions. 

Program details & application 

The Center for the Humanities invites proposals for Cross-Generational Research Initiatives (CGRI). $15,000 awards will be made to support collaborative research projects. Research teams of at least one TT faculty PI, one graduate student or postdoc and one undergraduate student. Research team members may be from different departments and may also include ranked NTTs. Possible project outcomes may include a proposed publication, collaborative submission of an application for external grants, an event, exhibition, or performance, or other scholarly or creative output.   

  After projects have been selected to receive funding, each team will meet with Center for the Humanities colleagues to discuss their budgetary needs and cost-sharing plan, and they will receive assistance in locating additional resources to support their work. Please direct any questions to Julie Elman. 

  During the funding period, the research team will commit to delivering a public lecture about their research. 

  Apply here with the following elements: 

The summary should clearly describe the project for educated non-specialist readers, identifying primary research questions or aims and describing state of existing scholarship, methods to be applied and the project’s potential contribution to MU’s research, teaching and service mission.

Project timelines should cover at least one and no more than three academic years with prospective project phases, internal deadlines and outcomes clearly described. Student team members are not generally expected to conduct work outside of the regular 9-month academic year, so summer travel, internships and work with other programs is possible. However, if specific time-sensitive activities are to be performed, with compensation, over the summer, this should be made clear in the timeline.

An itemized budget must list reasonable cost estimates for materials, services, travel and personnel expenses, as well as any other expenses necessary for the project’s completion. PIs are encouraged to work with departmental leadership to explore possibilities for supplementing project budgets with partial matching funds. This could include using departmental endowment and gift funds (including existing scholarships and fellowships if appropriate) to supplement or entirely offset salaries for undergraduate and graduate participants; or drawing on faculty’s personal E&E or other departmental funds to support project costs, including travel for team members to present research. The chair’s letter of support should articulate a clear commitment to making any investments described in this budget document.

Award funds used for participant compensation must meet the following minimum standards:

  • Undergraduate participants are expected to work approximately eight hours per week for the academic year. Funds should be budgeted at an hourly rate of $15/hr. Students should remain in residence for the duration of the research/creative project.
  • Graduate students may be released from teaching duties for one semester (with up to $8,000 in award funds eligible for use in replacing them in the classroom) and/or provided extra compensation for on-campus or on-site research work performed in summer or winter breaks, with award fund.

This document should contain a detailed description of responsibilities for each project participant (undergraduate, graduate/postdoc and faculty team members) that clarifies how the project’s faculty leader(s) will provide both task- and goal-oriented mentoring to incorporate student efforts and ideas into the project’s success.

Undergraduates will have a fillable form asking for relevant information. Graduate students can attach a CV. Faculty CVs should highlight relevant teaching, mentoring and service accomplishments in their field of proposed research.

A letter of support from the PI’s departmental chair (or, in the case of joint appointments, chair of the primary department) is required for all applications; up to three additional letters of support may be submitted as PDF documents (not as copies of emails).

  • In addition to committing to all investments described in the budget document (see above), the chair’s letter should confirm the availability of faculty and graduate participants to complete the work described, confirming any release from service or teaching duties necessary for the project and agree that the department’s business support personnel will assist the faculty PI in administering and disbursing project funds.
  • Depending on the nature of the project, representatives of non-MU institutions (e.g., museums, archives, galleries, parks, libraries, or theatres) should submit letters of support on letterhead, and where committing resources or support personnel, should clearly detail those commitments (e.g., nature of facilities, equipment, or archivalia provided; start and end dates of staff availability, etc.).