Language Teaching and Learning Research Grants (University of Pittsburgh)

Deadline: February 10, 2021

The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES) at the University of Pittsburgh will award up to two Language Teaching and Learning Research (LTLR) grants for scholars to conduct research projects on-site or remotely at Pitt’s Slavic, East European, and Near Eastern Summer Language Institute (SLI) in June–July 2021. Funded projects must focus on the teaching and learning of one or more of the following priority languages: Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Polish, Russian, Turkish, and Ukrainian. Other languages that are taught at the SLI may be included in a project proposal in addition to these priority languages; see sli.pitt.edu for the complete list of language courses offered.

Applicants may propose to be in residence in Pittsburgh for all or a portion of the two-month duration of the SLI, according to the needs of their projects. However, please note that applicants should be prepared to conduct their projects entirely remotely in the event that pandemic conditions prevent the 2021 SLI from offering in-person instruction, and/or if University of Pittsburgh restrictions on non-essential travel prohibit the use of grant funds to cover travel expenses in Summer 2021.

Applicants should propose projects that will take advantage of the unique environment and resources available at an intensive summer language institute, while not placing excessive demands on the time of SLI instructors or students. Projects involving the development of online language instructional materials are of particular interest, but other types of projects that make significant contributions to language teaching and learning will also be considered.

Eligible applicants must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in an academic field related to foreign language education or be enrolled in a relevant graduate degree program. As REEES and the SLI are unable to provide mentors to supervise research projects, applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct self-directed research by presenting evidence of academic publications or other documentation of their capacity for independent work.

Applicants may request a total of up to $4,000 for housing, food, and other living expenses; round-trip travel to Pittsburgh, if applicable; and research-related costs such as materials or software purchases, statistical or technology consulting services, etc. (Please note that hardware purchases are not eligible for LTLR funding.) REEES will require budget requests that include travel expenses to be revised if pandemic conditions prevent in-person SLI instruction and/or grant funding of travel costs in Summer 2021.

Applications will be processed via the Submittable online system at ucis.submittable.com/submit/48081. Priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by February 10, 2021. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required documentation is submitted by the deadline. Award notifications will be made by March 19, 2021. For questions about the LTLR program, please contact REEES Assistant Director Gina Peirce at gina.peirce@pitt.edu.