Brandeis University USA Scholarships

The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute awards grants to support research or artistic projects in Jewish women’s and gender studies across a range of disciplines. The HBI Research Awards are funded by gifts from the HBI Board of Advisors. The M. William Levin and Janice Metz Levin Research Awards on Gender and Jewish-Black Relations supports junior scholars whose work explores gender and Black-Jewish relations, and the Ilse Hertha Strauss Rothschild Research Awards on Women, Gender and the Holocaust supports scholarship on women, gender and the Holocaust.

The stated purpose of the HBI Research Award is to support work that has the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of Jewish gender studies in one of the following ways: using the lens of gender to inform the field of Jewish studies; bringing insights from Jewish studies to the field of women’s and gender studies; or exploring interreligious collaborations between Jewish women and women of other faiths. Awards are made to graduate students, early career, and established researchers, with eligibility open to applicants regardless of gender or religion and applications in English from outside the United States welcome.

Research awards are given on the basis of excellence. All proposals are confidential and carefully reviewed by at least two outside experts, with further review from members of the HBI Academic Advisory Committee and the HBI Research Awards Selection Committee. HBI Research Awards are considered taxable income, and taxes may be deducted from awards made to non-resident aliens and award recipients who do not file a US tax return.

• Open to applicants regardless of gender or religion.
• Graduate student applicants must be enrolled in either a PhD or MFA degree program.
• Junior grants are awarded to graduate students enrolled in recognized PhD programs and new scholars.
• Senior grants are awarded to established scholars and professionals.
• Applications (in English) from outside the United States are welcome.
• Graduate student applicants must meet the stated “Junior grants” description to be considered.
• Applications relating to performance arts, visual arts and film do not require a writing sample.

• Junior grants up to $2,000.
• Senior grants up to $5,000.
• Budgets may include Salary; Travel Expenses; Supplies; Outside Services; Other Items; and a Total Cost.

• Abstract (250 word maximum), including a succinct statement of the research question and aims, contribution to the field, overview of methodology, if appropriate initial findings, and a statement explaining what makes the project unique.
• Project description (1500 word maximum), including background, specific objectives, working hypothesis, methodology, and a statement detailing the specific component of the project to be funded by the HBI Research Award.
• If the project includes interviews, interview questions attached to the project description.
• Statement of contribution (500 word maximum), discussing relevant literature and explaining how the project will make an original contribution to the field of Jewish Gender Studies.
• Timeline (200 word maximum), including a start date, benchmarks for progress, and estimated completion date.
• Budget with a summary of how the funds will be used, including Salary; Travel Expenses; Supplies; Outside Services; Other Items; and the Total Cost.
• An explanation of the reasons for the requested budget allocation (in a text box).
• Other grants: list any other grants currently being applied for to support the project (if applicable).
• Other grants: list the name and date of any other grants received for this project, including previous support from HBI for this project (if applicable).
• HBI affiliation for this or any other project (if applicable).
• Curriculum vitae or resume for each person working on the project (4 pages maximum per file), with the option to star work or publications of particular relevance.
• Writing sample in English (required for all proposals except those relating to performance arts, visual arts and film), which can be published or unpublished.
• If the application relates to creative writing, a 10–20 page writing sample.
• Survey: if the project includes a survey, a sample copy.
• Letter of recommendation: junior grant applications only; exception that all creative arts proposals, both junior and senior, must submit a reference.
• Additional required information for creative arts proposals (creative writing, film and video, performance arts, and visual arts), including a referee statement addressing artistic excellence and artistic merit.