CFP: Employing & Amplifying Rhizomes (EAR) Fellowship
The call for proposals has closed. If you're interested in learning more about the Rhizomes Initiative, contributing, or otherwise participating, email rhizomes@umn.edu
Project Directors Karen Mary Davalos, University of Minnesota, and Constance Cortez, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, propose the creation of an intellectual Latinx Digital Humanities (DH) community through monthly virtual meetings and one-on-one conversation with the intent of creating materials that employ and amplify Rhizomes: Mexican American Art since 1848, specifically our portal.
Mexican American Art Since 1848 is a new portal that aggregates state and national collections of visual art and related documentation. Launching in Sept. 2021, the portal will harvest visual information and documentation from the Digital Public Library of America (11,000+ assets), Calisphere (6,000+ California murals and prints), The Portal to Texas History (2,000+ assets), and the Smithsonian Collections Search Center (24,000+ assets).
Nominations and queries should be submitted to gsec@umn.edu. Self-nominations are welcome.
Eligibility
Applicants must
be enrolled in a PhD, MFA, or Library/Archival Sciences program or have a PhD, MFA, or IMLS officially conferred between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2021.
not hold a tenured faculty position at time of application. The tenure status of provisional awardees will be confirmed before finalizing the fellowship award.
Cohort of Latinx individuals who are interested in digital humanities
The seven-month fellowship culminates in the dissemination of new knowledge that aligns with the Digital Humanities (DH) career goals of each EAR Fellow. Our regular meetings create a cohort of Latinx individuals invested in DH, providing mentorship to emerging Latinx DH scholars to enhance their career goals while fostering awareness about Rhizomes and gathering user feedback about the portal. As EAR Fellows they will literally lend us an ear and evaluate the functionality of the portal. EAR Fellows will facilitate and determine the agenda for regular one-hour, virtual meetings that support their perspectives, goals, and proposed projects.
Outcomes
Each fellow will produce and disseminate knowledge about the portal by writing a 800- to 1,000-word product, including but not limited to a review of Mexican American Art Since 1848, a research essay using the portal, or a lesson plan for elementary, middle school, or high school teachers that is informed by the portal. The final project will align with the EAR Fellows’ career goals and objectives and will be determined in consultation with the Project Leaders. We are open to emergent scholars’ ideas and support exploration of the portal beyond our own disciplinary backgrounds.
Purpose
In addition, the fellowship supports amplification of Rhizomes through social media and other DH venues. The EAR Fellowship has multiple purposes:
to demonstrate the portal to graduate students and early career scholars
to form a cohort among emerging Latinx DHers
to provide mentorship to support their professional development
to disseminate work informed by and/or about the portal, Mexican American Art Since 1848
Terms of Award
Each EAR Fellow will receive $1,000 for their work and participation, which is paid in two equal installments at the start and end of the fellowship.
800-1,000 word publishable product
Attend the regularly scheduled fellow meetings and one-on-one sessions with the assigned Project Director.
Fellowship Schedule
Six cohort meetings, three one-to-one meetings with project directors, and additional activities
June 21, 2021 Extended to July 12, 2021
Application deadline.
July 2021
Announce fellows.
Organize collaborative online spaces for sharing ideas, “writing hunker” and social media networking.
Aug. 2021
1st One-on-one meetings with fellows & Project Director to map individual work plans & goals
Early Sept. 2021
1st virtual meet and greet, learn about EAR Fellows' proposed projects, and to demonstrate capabilities of the portal
Consultation and user feedback (beta-testing)
Social media exchanges regarding experiences with the portal
Mid Sept. 2021
2nd virtual meeting facilitated by two fellows
Social media exchanges between fellows regarding experiences with the portal
Oct. 2021
3rd virtual meeting facilitated by two fellows
Social media exchanges between fellows regarding experiences with the portal
Nov. 2021
4th virtual meeting facilitated by two fellows
Social media exchanges between fellows regarding experiences with the portal
Nov. 2021 - Jan. 2022
Fellows focus on preparation of written product
Finalize beta-testing about user-experience
2nd one-on-one meetings with fellows and Project Directors
Social media posts regarding writing process for DH
Jan. 31, 2022
5th virtual meeting facilitated by two fellows
Submission of product to DH venue including journals and blogs
mid-Feb. 2022
6th virtual meeting facilitated by Project Directors
3rd one-on-one meetings between fellows and Project Directors for feedback and to discuss goals and experiences
Application Guidelines
Nominations and queries should be submitted to gsec@umn.edu. Self-nominations are welcome. Deadline for applications: July 12, 2021 11:59 pm local.
Application components
Nomination letter indicating endorsement from someone familiar with the applicant’s work. The nominator should send their letter directly to gsec@umn.edu.
Proposal of no more than 300 words to describe how the applicant will engage with Rhizomes or how the portal connects to their research or future goals.
Concise curriculum vitae, no more than five pages in length.
Brief writing sample or excerpt (no more than five pages total, single or double spaced, including footnotes or endnotes, in Times New Roman 12-point font), including a brief description of context.
Evaluation criteria
Reviewers are mindful of inclusive excellence and of how equity and diversity are integral components of merit. We are especially interested in supporting scholars who hail from diverse institutions and groups that are underrepresented in the academy.
Potential of the project
to advance the field or fields of study in which it is proposed and make an original and significant contribution to knowledge.
to employ and amplify the diverse research and teaching opportunities made possible through the portal.
to benefit underserved populations or privilege the diverse perspectives of underserved populations.
The quality of the proposal with regard to its clarity of vision, methodology, scope, theoretical framework, or grounding in the relevant scholarly literature. We welcome applications that challenge scholarly conventions.
The feasibility of the project and the likelihood that the applicant will execute the work within the proposed time frame.
The scholarly record and career trajectory of the applicant, taking into account relative advantages and constraints on resources for the proposed project and over the course of the applicant's career.