The DKU Humanities Research Center (HRC) invites proposals from all DKU faculty and affiliates working on humanities-related projects. Projects should be based at DKU and/or connect Duke and DKU faculty. Proposals should be sent to Fei Xu at fx20@duke.edu by June 1, 2025.
All approved projects should be completed by June 30, 2026.
- Small Events
- Large Events
- Humanities Labs
- Book Manuscript Workshops
- HUM Space Exhibits
- Duke-DKU Collaborative Research Initiatives
Small Events
The HRC is soliciting proposals for small-scale events, which could take the form of workshops, reading groups, film screenings and discussions, excursions, and so forth. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU faculty affiliates may apply. The maximum contribution from the HRC for each small event is $5,000.
Large Events
The HRC invites proposals for large-scale events, which could take the form of a workshop, a lecture series, a curatorial project, etc. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU faculty affiliates may apply. The maximum contribution from the HRC for a large event is $15,000.
Humanities Labs
The HRC invites proposals from faculty interested in hosting a Humanities Lab. The Lab will receive funding of up to $15,000 per year, to fund activities relevant to the Lab’s theme. The Lab will start in Fall 2025 and will initially be funded for one year, with a possible renewal for a second or third year.
Modelled very loosely on science labs, Humanities Labs are relatively small-scale and short-term entities that permit faculty to organize activities and research initiatives around a specific theme. The theme may be a contemporary concern that is currently receiving significant attention, or it could be an interdisciplinary topic that touches on a variety of different fields. Each Lab will be given an annual budget with which to organize activities and sponsor research initiatives relevant to the lab’s theme. Each Lab should involve both students and faculty. Research initiatives that involve cooperative work between students and faculty that can lead towards signature work projects are particularly encouraged.
Each Humanities Lab will have:
- Two or three co-directors (though other faculty may also be involved)
- A theme that will appeal to a significant number of DKU students and faculty
- A plan to involve both students and faculty.
All DKU and Duke faculty and affiliates are eligible to apply, but all Labs must have at least one director who is a DKU faculty person. The Lab must be based at DKU, and should emphasize disciplines associated with the humanities, interpretive social sciences, and/or the creative arts.
Book Manuscript Workshops
The HRC invites proposals for faculty book manuscript workshops, which provide a structure for generating constructive, informed criticism on near-final book manuscripts. The objective of a manuscript workshop is to take a book manuscript that is already in very good shape, and to offer suggestions on how to take it to the next level. The HRC will provide up to $5,000 to organize a workshop that will include experts in the field, and potentially an editor from a major scholarly press. During the half-day workshop, participants will offer constructive advice on how improve the manuscript. The HRC will handle relevant logistics for each workshop. DKU faculty who expect to complete a book manuscript by Spring 2026 may apply.
HUM Space Exhibits
The HRC invites proposals for exhibits to take place in the HUM Space (AB1075A). The Center can provide funding between $1000 and $3000 per exhibit, which will cover the costs of student curators and exhibit material. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged, and applications may be submitted by either individuals or by groups of collaborators. All DKU and Duke faculty affiliates may apply. Please feel free to reach out to the HRC co-directors for advice on the budget proposal, if needed.
Initiatives
The HRC invites proposals for other Humanities-related initiatives that do not fall neatly into any of the preceding categories. Each Initiative must include at least one DKU faculty affiliate as co-director, and the annual budget should be under $10K (and, in most cases, significantly less). Please contact HRC co-directors to discuss potential ideas.
Duke-DKU Collaborative Research Projects
The HRC invites proposals for collaborative research projects involving a combination of Duke and DKU faculty and which engage with the Humanities, broadly understood. Projects must include both Duke and DKU faculty, and ones that also involve students are encouraged. Applicants may request up to $10,000 per project.
Proposal requirements, for all categories: Each proposal (max 5 pages, single-spaced) should include a title, a description of the topic/research question, a summary of the activities to be undertaken, a list of the applicants and collaborators to be invited (with brief bios), a description of anticipated outcomes, and a budget. Please specify if you have applied—or anticipate applying—to any other source for funding for the proposed project (please identify the source and the amount of funding requested).
Additional instructions for book manuscript workshop proposals: A complete proposal should include a title, a synopsis of the book project, a draft of the introduction, a short CV of the applicant, a list of suggested invitees (including both scholars, local participants, and press editor, if any).
Please submit proposals by June 1, 2025 to Fei (Faye) Xu: fei.xu1@dukekunshan.edu.cn.
