UNC’s Program in Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) announces a series of grants for graduate student development, which are supported with funds awarded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Graduate students whose research addresses cross-cultural or global issues are especially encouraged to apply. Graduate students may apply to more than one grant simultaneously.

There are three categories of grants:

• One-semester dissertation fellowships, up to 2 per year, ideally one in medieval, one in early modern. Click here to download form.

• Research awards, up to $4,000 each, ideally split between graduate students in medieval and early modern. Presentation of receipts is required. Click here to download form.

• Conference travel awards in amounts up to $1,000 for domestic conferences and $2,000 for international conferences. Ideally these awards will be split between graduate students in medieval and early modern. Preference will be given to applicants presenting papers. Award recipients will be reimbursed for actual cost of transportation, lodging, and meals-presentation of receipts is required. Click here to download form.

Application Procedures

Only completed applications will be considered. Please review the specific materials required to apply for each of the different MEMS Graduate Grants, including their respective deadlines for application.
ALL grant applications require a MEMS application form: Download & complete the MEMS form(s) for the grant(s) for which you wish to apply (available online at http://mems.unc.edu).
Send your completed application materials to: Prof. Marsha Collins, Director, MEMS, 513 Hamilton Hall, CB #3195, UNC-CH

DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP (1 SEMESTER)

Eligibility

Applicants should have completed all coursework toward the Ph.D. at the time of application and should have successfully completed their Ph.D. examinations no later than October 2008. Applicants must be working on a dissertation on a medieval or early modern topic. Amount of Award: $10,000 minus tuition and benefits (approx. $7500). The dissertation fellowship may be taken in spring or fall 2009.

Application Process

Please submit SIX collated copies of the following documentation:

• Statement of purpose (no longer than 1000 words, double-spaced, 12-point font). Indicate in your statement which semester you would prefer to receive the award.
• CV (no longer than 2 pages).
• Letter of recommendation, preferably from the student’s principal faculty advisor. Please provide your referee with the MEMS Faculty Recommendation cover sheet.

RESEARCH AWARD

Eligibility

These grants may be used to conduct research at libraries or archives in order to support scholarly projects (either the dissertation or a similar large-scale research project). They may also be used to purchase materials needed to complete research projects (microfilms, etc.). Applications from students working on cross-cultural or global issues are especially encouraged.

Students should have completed their MA degree at the time of application. Applicants must be Ph.D. candidates from any program working on a medieval or early modern topic. Preference will be given to applicants who make a strong case for their need to conduct research beyond UNC (and its library holdings) and who possess the necessary skills to conduct such research.

The amount of the award is up to $4000 (final amount TBD at the selection committee’s discretion and announced to the award recipient at the time of notification).

Application Process

Please submit SIX collated copies of the following documentation:

• Statement of purpose (double-spaced, 12-point font, and no longer than 1000 words).
  CV (no longer than 2 pages).
• Letter of recommendation, preferably from the student’s principal faculty advisor. Please
  provide your referee with the MEMS Faculty Recommendation cover sheet.

CONFERENCE TRAVEL GRANT

Eligibility

Students must already have a paper or papers on a medieval and/or early modern topic accepted for delivery at an academic conference. Applicants must be graduate students working on a medieval or early modern dissertation topic. Amount of Award: up to $1,000 for domestic conferences, $2,000 for international conferences (Students will be reimbursed for actual cost of transportation, lodging, and meals-presentation of receipts will be required, and will determine the final amount awarded to the recipient).

Application Process

Please submit SIX collated copies of your application, including the following documentation:

A brief (300 word) statement of purpose (double-spaced, 12-point font), including a description of the conference; your role in that conference; and the ways in which participation will contribute to your professionalization.