BSP Funding Opportunities
Academic Fellowships
The Dayo Gore BSP Postdoctoral Fellowship
CURRENTLY CLOSED
During this time of social unrest, state-sanctioned and vigilante-led violence, health and education inequality, and emergent forms of data-driven and algorithmic bias, Black Studies scholarship remains vitally important. BSP focuses on sustaining faculty and student intellectual life at UCSD, while building active relationships with local organizers, artists, and community groups. As such, we seek a postdoctoral fellow whose work attends to public-facing community work and/or intersections of Black Studies with fields that impact contested framings of public life.
The Dayo Gore BSP Postdoctoral Fellowship invites applications from emerging scholars addressing research areas that may include fields and disciplines in the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, or STEM fields with a focus in Black Studies and/or Black communities in the African Diaspora. We particularly look forward to supporting scholars addressing topics in one of the following three areas:
- Work grounded in black feminist studies, gender studies, and/or queer studies
- Critical analyses at the intersection of black studies and STEM fields
- Analyses of historical periods pre-1900 that shed light on present-day concerns
The Dayo Gore BSP Postdoctoral Fellowship is a residential postdoctoral fellowship. This position comes with full benefits through the University of California, San Diego, research funds, shared office space and work equipment. The actual appointment salary step will be based on previous postdoctoral experience. Fellows will work with a dedicated UCSD mentor, present their work in a public forum, and form part of the BSP intellectual community. The fellow will teach one practicum course for the UCSD Black Diaspora and African American Studies (BDAAS) major.
Sara Clarke Kaplan Dissertation Fellowship
TO OPEN WINTER 2025
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: TBA
Due date: TBA (Pacific Time)
BSP Dissertation Fellowships are intended to provide one academic quarter of support to students 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, BSP Dissertation Fellows are expected to: attend at least three (3) BSP events within the 2025-26 academic year; participate in the 2025-26 BSP Graduate Seminar which meets approximately twice per quarter; and attend at least one (1) BSP Graduate Writing Collective session per quarter within the 2025-26 academic year. 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.
Eligible Recipients must be:
- Registered UCSD graduate students, enrolled for the 2025-26 academic year
- Doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy by the application deadline
- In residence during their funding quarter and available to attend events throughout the year (please note that BSP Graduate Seminar and Writing Collective sessions and most BSP events throughout the 2025-26 academic year will be in person only events)
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: Fellowship recipients will be notified by email by TBA 2025.
Please address questions to: Lorraine Makone, Associate Director, Black Studies Project, bsp@ucsd.edu
Sara Clarke Kaplan Predoctoral Fellowship
TO OPEN WINTER 2025
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: TBA 2025
Due date: TBA 2025 (Pacific Time)
Predoctoral fellowships provide a 50% appointment for one academic quarter to students in the earlier phases of dissertation project development. Each 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 the dissertation should apply to the BSP Dissertation Fellowship.
Fellows 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 predoctoral fellowship may support students in the late qualifying stage or those who are in the early stages of launching dissertation studies. If you have questions about your eligibility for this fellowship, please contact us. Successful applications will involve research projects that show 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 PhD students with academic guidance and support during the crucial period of conceptualizing their research topic by providing them 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, BSP Predoctoral Fellows are expected to: attend at least three (3) BSP events within the 2025-26 academic year; participate in the 2025-26 BSP Graduate Seminar that meets approximately twice per quarter; and attend at least one (1) BSP Graduate Writing Collective session per quarter within the 2025-26 academic year.
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.
Eligible Recipients must be:
- Registered UCSD graduate students, enrolled for the 2025-26 academic year
- Doctoral students who have completed their first two years of coursework in good standing
- In residence during their funding quarter and available to participate in events throughout the year (please note that BSP Graduate Seminar and Writing Collective sessions and the majority of BSP events throughout the 2025-26 academic year will be in person only events)
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)
Notification and Acceptance: Fellowship recipients will be notified by the end of TBA 2025 by email.
Please address questions to: Lorraine Makone, Associate Director, Black Studies Project, bsp@ucsd.edu
Faculty Fellowships
TO OPEN WINTER 2025
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: TBA 2025
Due date: TBA 2025 (Pacific Time)
BSP Faculty Fellowships are intended to help faculty make significant progress on a major research project by providing one course release and the opportunity to share their work with an interdisciplinary cadre of colleagues in the field of Black Studies. Eligible applicants must be ladder-rank, Senate faculty conducting research in African American, African, and/or African Diaspora Studies. Preference will be given to scholarship that explicitly engages the critical themes and key questions of the Black Studies Project (see below).
In addition to advancing their research and/or writing, BSP Faculty Fellows are expected to regularly attend BSP events and to participate in the 2025-26 BSP Faculty seminars. Each Faculty Fellow will be responsible for organizing two workshop sessions for participants to give and receive feedback, including one on their own work. An additional stipend is provided to help fellows plan workshops and BSP directors will assist in this process. Faculty Fellows 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 2025-26 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 share their scholarship at the BSP Faculty seminar.
- 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.
Notification and Acceptance:
Fellowship recipients will be notified by email by the end of TBA 2025.
To submit an application, visit bit.ly/bspfacultyfellow. Questions about the faculty fellowship program can be addressed to Lorraine Makone at bsp@ucsd.edu.
Research and Event Grants
Faculty Research Grants
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS (see below for link)
BSP provides ongoing faculty research support in the amount of grants of up to $2,500. Awards support projects undertaken during academic year 2024-25 or summer 2025. Proposals should 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 will be 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. At this time, BSP 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 two or more BSP events during the academic year of award.
Dates. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis as funds are available. No new applications will be accepted after Thursday, May 1, 2025.
To submit an application visit https://bit.ly/bspfacultygrants. Questions about funding can be addressed to Lorraine Makone at bsp@ucsd.edu
Faculty Summer GSR Fellowship
NO CALL AVAILABLE FOR AY 2024-2025
To receive additional funding call notifications 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 will 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 will transfer funds to the faculty applicant’s home department and the home department will process hiring.
Applicants are notified of award by the week of 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
TO OPEN WINTER 2025
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: TBA 2025
Due date: TBA 2025 (Pacific Time)
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 will be given to dissertations/final projects that center such questions and themes, applications will be 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 will be given to applicants who have not received previous BSP research and travel grants.
Awards are intended for research travel before December 30, 2025 and will not exceed $2000. 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 in Fall 2025, applicants must also be enrolled at that time.
To apply please complete and submit an application online by the due date.
Please direct any questions to Lorraine Makone at the Black Studies Project:
bsp@ucsd.edu.
BSP Graduate Student Researcher
CURRENTLY CLOSED
The Black Studies Project (BSP) GSR position is a three-quarter 50% GSR for a full academic year. Each GSR appointment includes a monthly salary, fees, and benefits for one academic year. The GSR's responsibility will be to work with the BSP Co-Directors, Associate Director, and Special Events Coordinator to plan, organize, coordinate and advertise virtual and in-person events. These events include the BSP Graduate Student Seminar, the BSP Graduate Writing Collective, special events with BSP Fellows, and on and off-campus speakers. The GSR will also help with research projects.
Familiarity with Black Studies scholarship and some graphic design experience for work on flyers is required. Strong writing skills and experience updating websites and social media platforms is preferred. GSRs must be available to help with onsite events and logistics, and are required to hold weekly office hours.
To apply applications are completed online along with an uploaded 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.
Please direct any questions to Lorraine Makone at bsp@ucsd.edu.
Social Impact Scholar: Black Futures Lab Summer Remote Internship Position
CURRENTLY CLOSED
This competitive ten-week summer internship with Black Futures Lab (BFL) engages interns to help identify and analyze policy as it impacts Black communities. The goal of this internship is to build mutually sustaining networks of collaboration between UCSD scholars, students, and community stakeholders and the Black Futures Lab in pursuit of social and racial justice, Strong candidates must be currently engaged in projects and initiatives on and/or off campus that engage in the critical themes and key questions of the Black Studies Project and Black Futures Lab.This opportunity provides student participants a stipend for the internship as part of the Division of Social Sciences’ Social Impact Scholars Program.
Harriet Tubman Undergraduate Advocacy Awards
WILL ACCEPT NOMINATIONS STARTING WINTER 2025 - MARCH 1
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 by April 30, 2025. 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.