SAIO Summer Research Grant for Current UM Graduate Students

The purpose of SAIO is to fund scholarly travel research and exchanges between the University of Michigan and countries in Africa especially South Africa. Since its inception numerous students and faculty have taken advantage of this program. The SAIO contributes to the support and growth of African Studies within DAAS in many ways including helping to fund visiting scholars from South Africa and other countries through the UMAPS-Moody Scholars program administered by the African Studies Center. It also assists U-M faculty and students (both graduate and undergraduate) to travel to southern Africa for the purposes of research creative collaborations internship opportunities and/or community-based or experiential learning projects.

DAAS currently administers one fellowship and several small grants from SAIO which are of interest to graduate students the SAIO Fellowship for an incoming graduate student from Africa and SAIO Grants for U-M graduate students wishing to pursue research or internships in Africa especially South Africa.

South African Initiative Office Grant

The SAIO provides small grants on a competitive basis for current U-M graduate students interested in African Studies. Each academic year funds will be available to support graduate students who are studying or researching in the field of African Studies to help cover research expenses. Applicants must indicate where they have applied for additional sources of funding and how much they have obtained from other sources for research activities.

Eligibility: Current University of Michigan graduate students are eligible to apply. Applicants must plan to embark on a course of study and research in the field of African Studies.

Funding: Students can apply for small grants to support summer thesis and dissertation research. The number of grants and amounts awarded are competitively based upon the strength of applications and required documents submitted by students.

Selection Criteria: Applications for the SAIO Grant will be reviewed by the DAAS Fellowship & Grant Committee. The committee is composed of DAAS faculty members. The following factors are taken into consideration when selecting grant recipients:

1. The applicants academic background (curriculum vitae and transcript).
2. The relationship of the proposed project to African Studies.
3. The significance of the proposed project to the applicants field and the potential for the project to have an impact on the field.
4. The viability for the proposed project and the likelihood that it will be completed in the time period specified.
5. The clarity of the research proposal.
6. Strength of the letters of recommendation.
7. The applicants participation in theDAAS Graduate Certificate Programand/or DAAS graduate-level courses.

Conditions of Awards: Recipients of the award are expected to be actively involved in the life of the particular they are expected to participate in DAAS Africa Workshop and make a presentation of their work or studies at the Department. Participation in activities in DAAS will be considered for applicants seeking funding.