UCHRI Manuscript Workshop and Research Development Program, 2025-26

The UCHRI Manuscript Workshop and Research Development Program supports the publication goals of early- and mid-career faculty members in the humanities and qualitative social sciences while helping them build strong networks of support in their fields and across the University of California. Each participant convenes an online workshop with five experts in their field, including at least three UC faculty, who read and comment on their book manuscript. Based upon successful national models, this workshop provides faculty with quality feedback from experts in the field on a full draft of a pre-promotion book manuscript in preparation for submission to a publisher for a contract or for publication. To accommodate participants’ availability, the workshop can be divided into one or more separate online sessions.

The program also provides quarterly research development sessions and culminates in a writing retreat with a press editor. In addition to supporting the publication goals of individual faculty, these workshops build new communities of concern around particular research topics, including areas that may not be fully supported by traditional departmental structures.

This opportunity is open to all UC faculty at the assistant and associate levels in the humanities and qualitative social sciences. Faculty who have contributed substantively to building a culture of inclusive excellence on their campus, have encountered unexpected obstacles in completing their research, and/or are working in emergent or underserved research areas are especially encouraged to apply.

This program is funded by and supports the goals of the Advancing Faculty Diversity Program run by the Office of the Vice Provost of Academic Personnel and Programs at the UC Office of the President.

Eligible Applicants: UC early- and mid-career ladder rank faculty (Assistant and Associate professors) in the humanities or humanistic social sciences who are currently completing their first or second book project
Maximum Award: Up to $2,500. UCHRI will also cover travel costs associated with the in-person writing retreat.
Application Deadline: Monday, February 3, 2025
Award Announced (Expected): April 2025
Funding Source: UCHRI/UCOP

Final awards for all of our grants are contingent upon available funding. Funding must be spent in accordance with all applicable UC rules and regulations.

Applications must be submitted online via Submittable by 11:59 PM (Pacific time) on the deadline date.

Application Details

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their respective campus representative on the UCHRI Grants Review Committee for guidance in the application process.

Applicants must apply online via Submittable. Required documents include:

• Project Title and Manuscript Abstract (200 words max)
• Project Description (2,000 words max, see details below)
• Proposed Budget (see details below)
• One to Two Chapters from the book project (up to 30 pages, double spaced, per chapter)
• Letter of Support from the applicant’s department or program chair
• Curriculum Vitae (2 pages max)

Successful applications include faculty participants from at least three UC campuses, though greater multi-campus engagement is encouraged.

Project Description

The project description should be a maximum of 2,000 words and include the following elements:

• Project Overview, including a summary of the project, its current stage in the revision process, and why the workshop(s) will be helpful at this particular time.
• Timeline for Publication, including when the draft will be completed, when the workshop(s) will be held, and when the final manuscript will be submitted to a publisher for a contract or publication. The manuscript workshop(s) must take place between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026.
• List of Proposed Participants, including each participant’s name, campus, department, brief biography, and relevance/contribution to the workshop(s). One or two participants may be from a non-UC campus, and one expert editor may be invited as a discussant.

Proposed Budget

The proposed budget, showing the honorarium or research fund breakdown per participant, should be based on the Applicant PROPOSED Budget Template.

Please note that restrictions on UCHRI funding do not allow honoraria to be paid to UC faculty. Compensation should be in the form of a direct contribution to the faculty member’s research fund, and is limited to a maximum of $500 for UC-faculty presenters/panelists. Honoraria may be paid to non-UC presenters/panelists, and should also be capped at $500.

Campuses are prohibited from charging indirect costs on funding from the Office of the President.

For program related questions, please contact grants@hri.uci.edu. Please include the name of the grant for which you need assistance.

For technical assistance, please contact Submittable at support@submittable.com.