Big Hairy Grants
Supporting our Faculty with Professional Development and Information Sessions
We support our arts and humanities faculty by providing valuable training on craft, grant writing practices, and professional development.
Big Hairy Grants
Big Hairy Grants is a workshop series started in 2022 for UT arts and humanities faculty who find grants to be somewhere on a spectrum from irrelevant to terrifying. Through informal presentations and open conversations, faculty learn to navigate the often bewildering and intimidating, sometimes bureaucratic, but ultimately rewarding world of grants.
Big Hairy Grants Workshop Schedule, AY 2023-2024
All workshops will take place from 11:30am-12:30pm at the UT Humanities Center unless otherwise noted. Workshops are open to all UT arts & humanities faculty (TT and non-TT).
Please register so we know how many people to expect and can share any relevant materials with you.
Tuesday, September 26
What on Earth Does That Term Mean?
Where: Dunford Hall 2225 (UTHC Large Seminar Room)
There are a whole host of grant-related terms that are at best confusing and at worst alarming to arts and humanities faculty accustomed only to personal fellowship grants. Examples abound: What is cost share? What is F&A and why is the university taking some of my grant funds? Why are they taking SO MUCH of my grant funds? What is a “limited submission” and why can’t I apply for that grant that I want? This session will explain all those terms and what they actually signify for faculty who don’t want to pull out a dictionary every time they apply for a grant.
Tuesday, October 17
What Kinds of Grants Should I Apply For?
Where: Dunford Hall 2225 (UTHC Large Seminar Room)
Faculty attending this workshop will be able to speak with UT staff from ORIED to learn the difference between federal agency grants, foundation grants, and institutional grants as well as some of the quirks that come with applying to each. Presenters will provide inspiration from successful awardees for faculty looking to chart their own unique path to funding.
Tuesday, November 21
WORKSHOP: Write Your Elevator Pitch
Where: Dunford Hall 2225 (UTHC Large Seminar Room)
Register here. Max registration: 10
One of the most fundamental skills in grant writing is being able to succinctly describe your project in just a few sentences. In this workshop, faculty will be given a tutorial on writing elevator pitches and have time to draft their own, with feedback from fellow attendees and Research Development manager Hannah Schmidt.
Tuesday, February 20
Interdisciplinary Projects in Action
Where: TBA
For faculty interested in interdisciplinary research, getting the right group together can be the most challenging part. This session will explore the internal resources available for building teams, examples of how humanities research can fit into UT’s five gateways, and a sneak peek into the work being done by the pilot Scholars Collective on Mortality.
Tuesday, March 19
How to Write a Grant
Where: TBA
You’ve got a great project. You’ve found the perfect funding opportunity. You’ve learned all of (most of) the wacky acronyms. It’s time to write the grant proposal! Participants will learn the do’s and don’ts of drafting applications, how to use every aspect of an application to strengthen one’s proposal, and how to avoid Hannah’s biggest pet peeves in artist statements.
Tuesday, April 16
How the Heck Does Cayuse Work?
Where: TBA
Cayuse, UT’s internal routing system for external grants, can be daunting to even the most experienced of grantseekers. Annie Brown, Research Coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences, will walk attendees through the process of applying for a typical arts and humanities grant, answering all your technical questions along the way.
Office of Research
The Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED) team is here to support you—our faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral fellows—as you set about realizing your goals as researchers, scholars, and creatives. Please reach out to our grants liaison Hannah Schmidt with any questions.
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