Tinker Field Research Grant

Fall 2023 Competition Deadline for Winter Break and Spring Break Research: Sunday November 5th (end of day)

Since 1979, the Tinker Field Research Grant (FRG) program has provided support to graduate students in U.S. universities to conduct exploratory research in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America. Through its funding, matched by universities, the Foundation has supported more than 9,000 individuals to conduct field research in Latin America. CLACS is fortunate to be one of 15 centers to have won the inaugural Tinker Field Research Collaborative for 2020-2025.

Funds are for MA or pre-dissertation PhD field research (ABD students are ineligible) in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking Latin American country or countries.  Students pursuing professional degrees are also eligible. The amount of the individual awards will depend on project design and budget.  The maximum amount for an award is $3,500, which is to be applied only to research-related travel expenses. Students are expected to undertake at least two weeks of research, and attending conferences does not count towards the research period.  Airline tickets can be purchased pre-trip, but other expenses are reimbursed upon submission of receipts.

Applications should include: 

• Proposal, not to exceed 4 double-spaced pages, which describes the student’s current research project and its significance; 

• Estimated, detailed budget; 

• Unofficial transcripts from graduate work (KU Advising Report); 

• Applications should also include two letters of recommendation, emailed directly to Assistant Director Mary Raple mraple@ku.edu by the recommender. 

Please email your applications to mraple@ku.edu or clacs@ku.edu 

If you have questions, please contact Brent Metz at bmetz@ku.edu