Carl J. Ekberg Research Grant

The Center for French Colonial Studies awards each year a $2,000 grant to further research related to the French presence in the swath of territory between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, the Illinois Country being pivotal, during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth centuries. Proposals may request support for any stage of a research project from initial fieldwork to the summary of results. This grant may be combined with other awards.
 
By accepting the award, recipients thereby agree to submit an abstract of their project (up to 1,000 words) to Le Journal, the Center’s quarterly publication, and may be invited to present a paper based on their research at the Center’s annual conference.
 
FIELD OF STUDY: All academic disciplines are eligible. 
 
ELIGIBILITY: The award is open to graduate students in their final years of doctoral study and junior scholars who recently defended their dissertation; applicants may be of any nationality. Priority will be given to doctoral students whose dissertation proposal has already been approved. Applicants should have the necessary language proficiency to conduct the project.
 
AWARD: $2,000.
 
DEADLINE:  March 31
 
APPLICATIONS: A completed application (in English or French) consists of the following:
From the applicant:

• a completed online application form (available HERE)
• a curriculum vitae
• a statement of purpose in which the candidate describes the following:

1. the nature of the project
2. potential sources
3. language competence as it pertains to the proposed research
4. the applicant's current degree status
5. how an award would aid in the completion of the project

From the applicant’s project/dissertation advisor:

• a letter evaluating the applicant’s proposal and promise

Applications are reviewed by an interdisciplinary committee. The name of the recipients will be announced in April. 

All communication can be directed to: frenchcolonialstudies@gmail.com