Call for Applications: UNDERGRADUATE THINK TANK TO ADVANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN RUSSIAN, EAST EUROPEAN & EURASIAN STUDIES

The Undergraduate Think Tank, coordinated by Howard University and made possible by the US Russia Foundation, invites applications for its 2021 program. The think tank facilitates a series of seminars, workshops, and collaborative research for undergraduate students to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across disciplines in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.  

Application Deadline: Midnight, April 25, 2021

Learn more and find the application form here. 

Program Details: 

Think tank scholars will work with faculty mentors and a research team on a digital humanities project of their choice,

Think tank scholars will take a guided tour of Moscow or St. Petersburg with the School of Russian & Asian Studies (SRAS).

Think tank scholars will receive remote access to the rich research collections and scholarly databases of the University of Illinois Library. They will join in thematic seminars, training workshops, and professional networking sessions as part of the Summer Research Laboratory on Russia, East Europe, and Eurasia. These research programs are supported by the US Dept. of State and co-hosted by the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center (REEEC) and the Slavic Reference Service (SRS) at Illinois.

Think tank scholars will participate in an online digital humanities 1-day workshop with the Princeton University Slavic Digital Humanities Working Group.

Think tank scholars will present at the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) virtual national convention in November 2021.

Think tank projects will be published on the think tank website upon completion.

Each think tank scholar will receive a stipend of $900.

We will consider applications from all undergraduate students and strongly encourage students of color to apply.

Program Requirements: 

Program duration: May-December 2021

Think tank scholars must be able to:

Be available for occasional Friday Zoom meetings from 4-6 PM (EST).

Join in remote thematic seminars, training workshops, and professional networking sessions organized by the Summer Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois.

Participate in a 1-day digital humanities workshop provided by the Princeton University Slavic Digital Humanities Working Group.

Present at the virtual ASEEES Convention in November 2021 and attend professionalization panels.

Complete collaborative digital research projects that will be published on the think tank website.

Russian language knowledge is NOT required. We only ask that participants have a desire to learn more about this region!

How Can I Apply?

The application requires students to write short essays on the following topics:

Share with us what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why they are important.

Explain how this program will help advance your academic and professional goals.

Describe how you would empower and support members of your research team.

Tell us if you already know what you might want to research about Russia, Eastern Europe, and/or Eurasia, If you're not sure or think you'll need help picking a topic, that's OK!

Have a professor, teacher, employer, or coach complete a recommendation form on your behalf. Click here for a link to the form.

Submit an unofficial transcript.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON APRIL 25. READY TO APPLY? CLICK HERE.

For other questions or to discuss becoming a mentor, partnerships, and collaborations, contact: Dr. Krista Goff at kgoff@miami.edu

This program is coordinated by Howard University and is made possible by a generous grant from the US Russia Foundation.

Project led by: Dr. B. Amarilis Lugo de Fabritz, Dr. Colleen Lucey, Dr. Kelly Knickmeier Cummings, Dr. Krista Goff