BSP Funding Opportunities
Academic Fellowships
Dayo Gore Dissertation Fellowship
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Due date: Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 11:59PM (Pacific Time)
We are pleased to announce that UC San Diego’s Black Studies Project is soliciting applications for its 2026-27 Dissertation Fellowship. The BSP Dissertation Fellowship is intended to provide one academic quarter of support to a student in the dissertation research or writing stages of their doctoral program. The 50% appointment includes fees, benefits, and a monthly stipend for one academic quarter of the awardee’s choice.
In addition to advancing their research and/or writing, the BSP Dissertation Fellow is expected to: attend at least two (2) BSP events within the 2026-27 academic year; participate in the 2026-27 BSP Graduate Seminar, which will convene at least twice during the academic year; and attend at least one (1) BSP Graduate Writing Collective session during their funding quarter. Eligible applicants may be in any discipline, but supported research should be situated within African American, African, and/or African Diaspora Studies. Preference will be given to projects that engage the critical themes and key questions of the Black Studies Project (see below), as well as to students without other sources of funding.
Black Studies Project @ UCSD
Black Studies Project (BSP) is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional formation for collaborative and innovative research, intellectual exchange, and student engagement in the field of Black Studies. By convening faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates from across campus and throughout the UC system, BSP creates opportunities for expansive and trenchant conversations at the intersections of Black feminist and queer studies, transnational and Diasporic studies, and the study of Black social movements. Through our programming, research funding, and sponsored intellectual collaborations, BSP explores how contemporary social, political, cultural, and economic shifts in the US and globally require scholars, community activists, and campus leaders to collectively reimagine the field of Black Studies.
An eligible recipient must:
- Be a registered UCSD graduate student, enrolled for the 2026-27 academic year
- Be a doctoral student who has advanced to candidacy by the application deadline
- Be in residence during their funding quarter and available to attend at least two (2) BSP events throughout the academic year (please note that BSP Graduate Seminar and Writing Collective sessions and most BSP events throughout the 2026-27 academic year will be in person only events)
- Accept that the award precludes instructional employment in graduate academic titles for the recipient during their ONE QUARTER TENURE as a BSP dissertation fellow. Additionally, supplemental Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or research fellow appointments will be considered by exception request provided the research supports the Fellow’s research work.
All eligible students are encouraged to apply. The Sara Clarke Kaplan Dissertation Fellowship does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the application and selection process.
Application Materials
Please complete the application form online at bit.ly/bspdissertation and upload a combined PDF with the following materials:
- Project description (no more than 1200 words), including timetable for completion
- Curriculum vitae
- UCSD transcript (unofficial)
Notification and Acceptance: The BSP Dissertation Fellowship recipient will be notified in early November 2026 by email.
Please address questions to: Lorraine Makone, Associate Director, Black Studies Project, bsp@ucsd.edu
Sara Clarke Kaplan Predoctoral Fellowship
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Due date: Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 11:59PM (Pacific Time)
We are pleased to announce that UC San Diego’s Black Studies Project is soliciting applications for its 2026-27 Sara Clarke Kaplan Predoctoral Fellowship. The BSP Predoctoral Fellowship will provide a 50% appointment for one academic quarter to a student in the earlier phases of dissertation project development. The fellowship award includes fees, benefits, and a monthly stipend for one academic quarter of the awardee’s choice. Students who are in the advanced writing stages of their dissertation should apply to the BSP Dissertation Fellowship instead.
A BSP Predoctoral Fellow must have completed their first two years of coursework in good standing. We recognize that milestones for doctoral students vary across departments as do funding strategies to support students as they prepare to advance to candidacy. In that spirit, the BSP Predoctoral Fellowship may support a student in the late qualifying stage or in the early stages of launching their dissertation study. If you have questions about your eligibility for this fellowship, please contact us. A successful application will involve a research project that shows promise for a sustained and substantive engagement with Black Studies and/or Black communities in Africa and the African Diaspora. The goal of this fellowship is to provide a PhD student with academic guidance and support during the crucial period of conceptualizing their research topic by providing them with an intellectual cohort of students and faculty through which they can strengthen their foundational knowledge and hone their critical analysis in the field of Black Studies. Priority will be given to PhD students in departments where faculty in Black Studies are underrepresented, to provide them with a firm foundation in the field as they begin their dissertation planning and research.
In addition to advancing their research and/or writing, the BSP Predoctoral Fellow is expected to: attend at least two (2) BSP events within the 2026-27 academic year; participate in the 2026-27 BSP Graduate Seminar which will convene at least twice during the academic year; and attend at least one (1) BSP Graduate Writing Collective session during their funding quarter.
Black Studies Project @ UCSD
Black Studies Project (BSP) is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional formation for collaborative and innovative research, intellectual exchange, and student engagement in the field of Black Studies. By convening faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates from across campus and throughout the UC system, BSP creates opportunities for expansive and trenchant conversations at the intersections of Black feminist and queer studies, transnational and Diasporic studies, and the study of Black social movements. Through our programming, research funding, and sponsored intellectual collaborations, BSP explores how contemporary social, political, cultural, and economic shifts in the US and globally require scholars, community activists, and campus leaders to collectively reimagine the field of Black Studies.
An eligible recipient must:
- Be a registered UCSD graduate student, enrolled for the 2026-27 academic year
- Be a doctoral student who has completed their first two years of coursework in good standing
- Be in residence during their funding quarter and available to attend at least two (2) BSP events throughout the academic year (please note that BSP Graduate Seminar and Writing Collective sessions and the majority of BSP events throughout the 2026-27 academic year will be in-person only events)
- Accept that the award precludes instructional employment in graduate academic titles for the recipient during their ONE-QUARTER TENURE as a BSP predoctoral fellow. Additionally, supplemental Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or research fellow appointments will be considered by exception request, provided the research supports the Fellow’s research work.
Application Materials
Please complete the application form online at bit.ly/bsppredoc and upload a combined PDF with the following materials:
- Project description (no more than 1200 words), including timetable for completion
- Curriculum vitae
- UCSD transcript (unofficial)
Please address questions to: Lorraine Makone, Associate Director, Black Studies Project, bsp@ucsd.edu
Faculty Fellowships
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Due date: Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 11:59PM (Pacific Time)
In addition to advancing their research and/or writing, the BSP Faculty Fellow is expected to regularly attend BSP events. The BSP Faculty Fellow will be responsible for organizing one seminar event for participants to give feedback on their written work. The BSP Faculty Fellow will also have the option to organize a second workshop event with an invited scholar. BSP directors will assist the fellow in planning the event(s) with financial and organizational support. The BSP Faculty Fellow must be in residence during the fellowship term. While the award provides teaching release, it does not exempt the awardee from service and advising responsibilities. The award only releases faculty from one course during the 2026-27 academic year; it does not provide release from summer teaching, nor does it provide a salary supplement.
Black Studies Project @ UCSD
Black Studies Project (BSP) is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional formation for collaborative and innovative research, intellectual exchange, and student engagement in the field of Black Studies. By convening faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates from across campus and throughout the UC system, BSP creates opportunities for expansive and trenchant conversations at the intersections of Black feminist and queer studies, transnational and Diasporic studies, and the study of Black social movements. Through our programming, research funding, and sponsored intellectual collaborations, BSP explores how contemporary social, political, cultural, and economic shifts in the US and globally require scholars, community activists, and campus leaders to collectively reimagine the field of Black Studies.
Application Materials:
Please complete the fields in the application form and upload a combined PDF with the following materials:
- Project description (1200 words maximum), including:
- The significance and contribution to existing scholarship in Black Studies;
- Any engagement with Black Studies Project's three areas of focus (Intersectional Analysis of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality; Transnational and Diasporic Studies; Social Justice Movements);
- Your research and/or writing aims for the term of the fellowship.
- Workshop proposal, including:
- A brief description of the specific work you plan to share with an interdisciplinary group of Black Studies scholars;
- Potential scholars on or off our campus who you would be interested in inviting to read and give feedback on your work at your BSP Faculty seminar. You will also have the option to organize (with BSP support) an additional workshop/talk with one of these invited scholars.
- Curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum)
- Letter from the applicant's department chair, indicating approval of release time if an award is made and attesting to the timeliness of writing seminar and course release in helping applicant to complete the project in order to further their career goals.
Research and Event Grants
Faculty Research Grants
CLOSED
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The BSP faculty research support program typically issues grants of up to $3,000 usuable within a two year academic period. BSP faculty research grants are intended to support work distinct from other grant-supported aspects of an applicant’s research. Proposals are evaluated according to the potential for impact on an applicant’s research and professional advancement and the proposal’s alignment with BSP’s intellectual mission.
Examples of topical areas supported include—but are not limited to—social or ethical issues and opportunities related to intersectional analyses of race, class, gender, and sexuality; transnational and African diasporic studies; and social justice movements. Projects that are beneficial to establishing or sustaining relationships with the broader San Diego and UC communities are encouraged.
Likewise, projects that support teaching, mentorship, and/or efforts to enhance a thriving community of scholars and students who can connect with the Black Studies Project mission and aims are considered. Some allowable expenses for project support include the following: honoraria for visiting speakers, allowable equipment costs, funding to support the hire of hourly undergraduate student assistants, costs associated with holding workshops and/or a small speaker series or conference on campus, research travel expenses. The BSP faculty research grant program does not solicit applications to fund faculty salary or travel to academic conferences.
Eligibility. Applicants must be internal UC San Diego faculty or research scientists. Applicants who receive funding agree to support the BSP community by attending at least one (1) BSP event within their funding period. All eligible faculty are encouraged to apply. The BSP Faculty Research Grant program does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the application and selection process.
Dates. The BSP Faculty Research Grant program is currently closed.
Questions about the program can be addressed to Lorraine Makone at bsp@ucsd.edu
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Faculty Summer GSR Fellowship
CLOSED
To receive funding call notifications in the future please subscribe to the BSP listserv at the banner below.
Faculty Summer GSR fellowship awards are designed for two purposes. They provide support for faculty to hire a graduate student to work with them for one to two months at 50% time on ongoing research projects that materially advance the faculty member’s career. Funds can be used to hire graduate students to assist with project development in any number of capacities. These might include:
- research and data collection
- producing bibliographies, assistance with indexing or proofing manuscripts
- assistance with grant applications, symposia development, etc.
These awards are also designed to provide UCSD graduate students with vital funding during the summer months and an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member in ways that provide mentorship opportunities and hone critical research skills.
Awards cover one to two months of summer GSR employment at 50% (up to 20 hours of work per week). Graduate students must be in good academic standing to be eligible for employment. BSP transfers funds to the faculty applicant’s home department and the home department processes hiring.
Applicants are typically notified of award in early May and funds are transferred within the month of June. Applications should include:
- A brief description of the research project and an overview of the tasks that the GSR will be asked to work on (1-2 pages).
- The name of the student who you would like to propose for the position, and whether the student is eligible for additional summer GSR funding.
Please direct any questions to Lorraine Makone at bsp@ucsd.edu.
Graduate Student Research and Travel Grants
CLOSED
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BSP’s Graduate Student Research and Travel Grants awards are intended to partially offset research and travel expenses incurred in the U.S. or abroad. Supported research must examine some element of the black experience and/or the social, political, cultural, or economic factors that have shaped conceptions of blackness in relation to racialized structures and phenomena. Although preference is given to dissertations/final projects that center such questions and themes, applications are accepted from any project that contains at least one chapter/a main focus in a creative project that falls under the category of Black Studies. Priority is given to applicants who have not received previous BSP research and travel grants.
Awards of up to $1,500 are typically issued in the spring and are intended for research travel before Decemeber 30 of the award year. Funds may be used for travel, accommodations, meals, research assistance, copies, and in some cases supplies such as cameras or recording devices.
Criteria for Selection.
- A research project that will increase knowledge about topics and themes of importance to Black Studies
- Intellectual originality and breadth
- Clarity and strength of the research plan, design and methodology
Eligibility. Applicants must be currently registered UCSD graduate students. If funds will be used after the calendar year of award, applicants must also be enrolled at that time. All eligible students are encouraged to apply. The BSP Research and Travel Grant program does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the application and selection process.
Please direct any questions to Lorraine Makone at the Black Studies Project:
bsp@ucsd.edu.
To receive funding call notifications in the future please subscribe to the BSP listserv at the banner below.
BSP Graduate Student Researcher
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Due date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 11:59PM (Pacific Time)
As part of BSP's intellectual community, the GSR is required to attend BSP seminars and forums, except when a scheduling conflict is communicated in reasonable advance of the forum. The BSP GSR is also required to hold in-person, weekly office hours. Familiarity with Black Studies scholarship, strong writing skills and experience presenting materials visually and on websites is preferred.
Students appointed to this job code must meet the graduate student academic eligibility criteria, as outlined on the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs' (GEPA) website here: grad.ucsd.edu/financial/
To apply please complete an application at bit.ly/yearlonggsr and upload a combined PDF containing:
- A CV (2 pages max)
- A brief letter of interest describing your experience relevant to the position. Please detail any experiences you have working with on-campus organizations (e.g. the BRC, BGPSA, BGELLC, etc.) and/or off-campus community groups.
Harriet Tubman Undergraduate Advocacy Awards
AY 26-27 NOMINATION WINDOW OPENS NOVEMBER 23, 2026
Every spring BSP awards stipends to undergraduates who have served the UCSD community as student leaders. If you would like to nominate a student for an award, please send an email to bsp@ucsd.edu between November 23, 2026 and May 7, 2027. Please refer to the “Harriet Tubman Undergraduate Advocacy Award” in the subject line. Staff and faculty may nominate undergraduate students in any year* of study and should include a short letter explaining how the student has been a community and/or research advocate among their peers in promoting goals related to BSP’s mission.
*Important - If the undergraduate student being considered for nomination is a senior, they must be registered and enrolled for summer courses with UCSD in order to receive an award.
Nominations for all eligible students are encouraged. The Harriet Tubman Undergraduate Advocacy Award program does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the nomination or selection process.
Grants for Co-Sponsorships
CURRENTLY OPEN
BSP provides small grants (from $150-$500) to co-sponsor events on campus. Want to bring a speaker? Host an event? These grants run throughout the year while funding is available, and support activities that correspond with BSP’s mission. Please direct any inquiries to bsp@ucsd.edu. Please include “Co-sponsorship grant request” in the subject line. Requests should include the name of the event, projected date, format (remote or in-person), potential audience, and organizing committee information. Faculty, staff and student organizations may apply.
All eligible faculty, staff, or student organizations are encouraged to apply. The BSP Event Co-Sponsorship program does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the application and selection process.
Support BSP
We appreciate every gift, regardless of the amount. Please enter keyword "Black Studies Project," or fund number E7051 to donate to the BSP. Questions? Send queries to the BSP team at bsp@ucsd.edu.
