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Digital Humanities Research Grant

The Digital Humanities Research Grant (DHRG) is intended to enable PhD students in the humanities to access specialized humanities-based training in various digital modes, methods, and tools. The grant supports PhD students in the humanities whose work involves digital technologies. 

Awards up to $2,000 will be granted to assist PhD students to obtain training in digital technologies (e.g. text encoding and analysis, data visualization,​ programming and coding languages, games and gaming, multimodal narrative and platforms, etc.) 

Deadlines

  • Monday, October 17, 2022 (11:59 pm)
  • Monday, January 23, 2023, (11:59 pm)
  • Monday, April 17, 2023 (11:59 pm)

Eligibility

  • Humanities PhD students in Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communication and Bienen School of Music programs are eligible to apply.
  • Prior to the beginning of the award period, the applicant must have completed no fewer than 3 and no more than 19 quarters of full-time registration toward the PhD degree in TGS.
  • Awards will not be granted for retroactive payments.
  • Feasibility of the project goals and Northwestern’s ability to supply necessary technical knowledge, facilities and support pre- and post-award supported training are crucial considerations. Applicants are urged to consult the Digital Humanities Library Guide or Multi-Media Learning Center.
  • A student may receive only one grant equivalent to $2,000 (or multiple grants whose cumulative total may not exceed $2,000) under this program during the graduate career at Northwestern. Applicants who have applied before and have not received an award may apply again.
  • Students may utilize grant funds only while students in The Graduate School at Northwestern.  Should students graduate or otherwise depart the University prior to completion of the project and/or expenditure of funds, funds will no longer be available. Funds must be expended with the fiscal year they are awarded.

Award

Maximum award amount is $2,000. Funds must be expended by the end of the fiscal year in which the award is granted (August 31, 2023). Unused funds do not roll over into the next fiscal year. Please see The Graduate School's Expense Guidelines for additional information.

Review process

Decisions are based on the evaluation of the application and the availability of funds.

Application instructions

The materials described below must be collected into a single PDF file and submitted by the Director of Graduate Studies of the student's program (or their designee). Applications must be submitted via email to gradfund@northwestern.edu by the deadline.

  1. Cover sheet: List the following information.
    • Student Name
    • Student ID number (7-digit numerical ID number)
    • Program of study
    • Northwestern email address
    • Amount requested: ($2,000 Maximum)
    • Research/project title or topic
    • Brief description of the training opportunity (1-2 sentences)
    • Adviser name
    • Admit term and year
  2. Description of the research project and related training opportunity: Not to exceed three double spaced pages. It should include:
    • An overview of the dissertation research project.
    • A description of the training opportunity.
    • An explanation of how the training opportunity will result in the necessary proficiency/skills/knowledge and how it relates to the dissertation project. 
    • A statement about Northwestern’s ability to supply the necessary technical knowledge, facilities, and/or support in order to make the project feasible.

    Endnotes, references, or pictures do not count toward the page limit, but may not exceed two additional pages.

  3. Itemized budget: List estimated expenses and total amount requested using the budget worksheet. The itemized budget should not be used to circumvent the project description page limitation. Allowable expenses include:
    • Instructional or consultative opportunities.
    • Access to software, databases, or collections.
    • Costs such as tuition or workshop fees to obtain training in digital technologies (e.g. text encoding and analysis, data visualization,​ programming and coding languages, games and gaming, multimodal narrative and platforms, etc.) 
  4. Curriculum vitae
  5. Unofficial Northwestern transcript
  6. Letter of recommendation: Should be from a Northwestern-based research adviser (a member of TGS’s graduate faculty) that addresses:
    • The quality of the research project.
    • The relevance of the proposal to the applicant’s research project and/or trajectory.
    • The skills needed for research and how this training experience will be instrumental and well timed. 

Award process

Awards are announced at the end of the quarter and funds are available for use thereafter.

Contact

Email gradfund@northwestern.edu for more information.