Call for Applications: IUPLR/UIC Mellon Fellows Program, 2022-23

The Inter-University Program for Latino Research is now accepting applications for the IUPLR/UIC Mellon Fellowship Program for 2022-23. This is a comprehensive program that provides financial, writing, and professionalization support to doctoral candidates in the humanities who are writing dissertations in Latino Studies. The fellowship includes a $25,000 stipend, participation in an intensive summer institute and an academic conference, a year-long structured writing program, outside faculty mentorship, and ongoing professionalization support. Please read more about the mission of the fellowship here: https://mfp.lals.uic.edu.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Affiliation with one of the six designated research centers listed below.
• ABD status with significant writing progress made toward the dissertation and with the intention to complete their dissertation by the end of the fellowship year or shortly thereafter.
• Research and professional goals are in the field of Latino Studies and the humanities.
• Applicants should be planning to pursue an academic career in teaching and/or research.
• During the fellowship year, students must be enrolled at their home institution. Fellows must forego other employment during the year and plan to work full-time on the dissertation.
• Applicants must meet with and receive approval from the IUPLR director at their home institution before applying.
• Selected fellows are required to participate in a virtual summer and in-person fall series of workshops and intensives (dates and structure TBD), attend and present in a Latino Studies conference (pending), and take part in a year-long structured mentorship, professionalization, and writing program. Failure to participate in all aspects of the program may result in the loss of funding.

IUPLR will select fellows affiliated with the following six designated research centers:

• The Center for Mexican American Studies and the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at the University of Texas at Austin (Karma Chávez)
• The Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Houston (Pamela Quiróz)
• The Chicano Studies Research Center at UCLA (Veronica Terriquez)
• The Dominican Studies Institute at CUNY (Ramona Hernández)
• The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at CUNY (Yarmimar Bonilla)
• The Latin American and Latino Studies Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (Jonathan Inda)

To apply, please submit the following materials by February 15, 2022 to the online portal at https://mfp.lals.uic.edu/call-for-applications/

• CV
• Cover Letter that includes 1.) a description of your dissertation and its contributions to Latino Studies and the broader humanities 2.) your progress to completion with a detailed description of what you have finished already and your plan for finishing during the fellowship year. 3.) how the fellowship will help you achieve your goals.
• All completed or advanced in-progress chapters compiled into a single PDF. This must include an annotated outline with chapter titles, brief chapter summaries, and percentages of each chapter completed. If you do not have any chapters completed, you may just submit the projected outline.
• Two recommendation letters (one from the applicant’s dissertation chair) due by Feb. 20. We will send your recommenders forms to upload their letters when you submit.
• Email of recognition by the IUPLR director of your home institution stating they have met with you and approve your intention to apply sent to jlboles@uic.edu before the February 15 deadline.
• UCLA doctoral candidates interested in applying for the fellowship are to contact Rebecca Epstein, Assistant Director, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, repstein@chicano.ucla.edu