Summer School - Research Laboratory on Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, 10 June - 2 August 2019, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

2019 SUMMER RESEARCH LABORATORY ON RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPE,
AND EURASIA

OVERVIEW

The Summer Research Laboratory on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia (SRL) invites applications for the upcoming 2019 session. This year’s lab will open on June 10 and continue through August 2. During this time, we encourage researchers to visit Urbana-Champaign, enjoy convenient housing on the Illinois campus, and use the unparalleled research collections and databases offered by our University Library. The skilled librarians of our Slavic Reference Service will be available for consultations, to make sure that you not only find everything Illinois has to offer, but also identify the most important sources elsewhere. Thus, whether you are beginning a new project or finishing an old one, a visit to the SRL provides a great opportunity to get important work done.

Established over four decades ago, the SRL has from its inception sought to make first-class research resources available to the broadest possible community of scholars. Our top-five research Library holds one of North America’s largest collections of contemporary and historical materials on the REEES region, in a broad range of languages and formats. For generations, scholars preparing for fieldwork have found a visit to SRL an invaluable way to exhaust US-based resources so as to make more efficient plans for their visits to libraries and archives abroad. In addition, each year we host a range of discussion groups, conferences, and training workshops during the first month of our Lab. These allow Lab participants to learn more about ongoing research in a variety of disciplines and create networks for their own  professional development.

A pleasant college town in East Central Illinois, Urbana-Champaign offers a peaceful work environment for the summer. Its amenities include numerous restaurants, cafes, and breweries, a vibrant weekly farmer’s market, and excellent recreational facilities on campus. Bicyclers love to ride in the surrounding countryside, while hikers and kayakers have access to Kickapoo State Park, a riverine landscape that is about a 45 minute drive away. Chicago, one of the world’s great cities, is a little over two hours away by car, with daily trains and buses making the connection as well.

SRL applicants are also encouraged to consider studying an area language at Indiana University’s Summer Language Workshop, located in nearby Bloomington, IN, whether immediately before or after their participation in the SRL. Funding in the form of Title VIII fellowships and other sources is available to eligible applicants. Those interested in overseas language study are particularly encouraged to pair SRL participation with an application for an IU Title VIII Portable Fellowship. More information and the application can be found at the Summer Language Workshop website.

FEATURED WORKSHOPS

• New Fields for Old: The Revitalization of Political, Diplomatic and Military History and its Implications for Research in Libraries and Archives (June 10-12, 2019)
• US – Russia – Future: A Foreign Policy and Security Studies Workshop (June 12-14, 2019)
• Teaching the South Caucasus: A Workshop for College and University Educators (June 18-21, 2019)

WHAT THE LAB OFFERS:

• Inexpensive housing in Presby Hall on the University of Illinois campus. Presby Hall offers private rooms connected to suites with shared bathrooms and kitchenettes; rooms with private bathrooms are also available at an additional cost.
• Short-term grants in support of your visit, made possible by generous support by the Department of State’s Title VIII program (see below).
• Full access to the physical and electronic collections of the University of Illinois Library.
• Supporting use of the Library’s technological resources, including advanced scanning equipment for the making of digital copies of books, microfilm, and other resources.
• Consultations with the Slavic Reference Service.
• Workshops, film nights, and other opportunities to meet other scholars and researchers.
• The help of REEEC staff and local scholars in answering logistical questions related to your stay.

FINANCIAL AID AND SHORT-TERM RESEARCH GRANTS

Due to a change in funding for SRL, we have revised our grant guidelines and eligibility requirements. Before submitting an application, please read the Grants page carefully. Please note that only U.S. citizens may apply for Title VIII housing and travel grants, and research stipends.

Housing Grants

Scholars participating in SRL may apply for up to 12 days of housing at Presby Hall at the shared rate (3-4 bedroom suite) of $46 per night.

Travel Grants

Scholars may apply for travel grants of up to $500 for their trip to Urbana-Champaign. Eligible expenses are restricted to travel to and from Champaign-Urbana. Award recipients must provide appropriate receipts to receive reimbursement.

Research Stipends

Scholars may apply for generous research stipends of up to $1000 for their trip to Urbana-Champaign. To be eligible for a research stipend, scholars must stay for at least 5 days.

Other Grants

A limited amount of funding may be available for international applicants.

Faculty and graduate students who are citizens of Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kosovo, Laos, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Palestine, Serbia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan may consider applying to the Open Society Foundation’s Civil Society Scholar Awards to secure additional funding.

For programming information, click on Lab Programs in the right sidebar.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All applicants are required to submit an online application, a research proposal and, if applying for Title VIII funding, a clearly formulated statement of policy relevance. For more details on application requirements, please select the SRL Application tab in the right sidebar.