THE DR. U.S. AWASTHI INITIATIVE IN COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS
2025 CALL FOR PROPOSALS: THE DR. U.S. AWASTHI INITIATIVE IN COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS
UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE, & FACULTY RESEARCH
Application deadline: Friday, May 30th 2025
The UCSB Blum Center invites proposals for student research in the area of cooperative economics, as part of the Dr. U.S. Awasthi Initiative in Cooperative Economics. The Initiative aims to promote scholarly and public understanding of the principles, practices, and prospects for cooperative enterprise on the Central Coast of California, in the U.S. and worldwide.
Cooperative economics encompasses a broad spectrum of collaborative endeavors, from the communal practices and empowerment strategies of indigenous communities to the support and exchange networks developed within the contemporary mutual aid movement. It is also the basis of a vast field of formally established cooperative enterprises. These are organizations owned and democratically controlled by associations of people who come together to meet their shared economic needs in ways that contribute to community and social well-being. Cooperatives of varied size and scale have come to play a significant role as operators of grocery stores, housing communities, financial institutions, and worker-owned companies, as well as in agricultural production. They are based on values of democracy, equity, accountability, and self-help, and prioritize the needs of members over the maximization of profit. There is a rich tradition of cooperative endeavor in movements for racial and intersectional justice.
We encourage proposals that explore cooperative economics from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, and focus on topics related to the establishment, operation, and sustainability of cooperative enterprises, the cultural and political contexts within which cooperative economic arrangements have been pursued, and whether and how cooperatives have contributed to the well-being of the communities they serve. We also welcome proposals that center racial and intersectional justice. Funding is available for undergraduate and graduate student research projects as well as for faculty-directed research that employs undergraduate and/or graduate student research assistants.
Budgets and Allowable Expenses
Undergraduate and graduate students may request up to $2,000 to support original research projects. Eligible expenses include costs related to original data collection, field work, or archival research; software and/or small equipment required for the proposed research; data acquisition; transcription; and research supplies. Grant funds may not be used for the costs of tuition, fees, or insurance; student salaries; participation in conferences or trainings; or non-expendable equipment. Proposals for individual grants must be accompanied by a letter of support from the student’s faculty mentor or graduate advisor. If your project involves human subjects, please be sure that you are in compliance with University guidelines, including Institutional Review Board approval.
Faculty may request up to $4,000 to support the costs of employing undergraduate and/or graduate students as research assistants in ways that facilitate student participation and provide mentorship in research related to cooperative economics.
Timetable and Research Symposium
The grant period for these awards is July 1, 2025 -June 30, 2026. Funds will be provided in the form of authorized direct payment and/or reimbursement of allowable expenses with appropriate receipts. Award recipients will present their research at the Third Annual Blum Center Cooperative Economics Research Symposium in spring 2025.
Eligibility
UCSB faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Undergraduate and graduate student applicants must be registered at UCSB at the time of application and for the duration of the project. Student proposals must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the student’s faculty mentor or graduate advisor.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit the application materials listed below as a single PDF:
· A brief project description (maximum 1250 words) discussing the project’s objectives, central research questions, approach and methodology, contributions and outcomes, and relevance to the themes outlined in the call for proposals.
· A detailed budget
· A curriculum vitae (no longer than 2 pages)
· A letter of reference from the applicant’s faculty graduate advisor indicating support for the proposed research (if applicant is a graduate student).
· Verification of IRB approval or pending approval (if required)
Submit Application
Submit your application file as a single PDF using the following Google Form: Application Link
Letters of reference should be emailed to Blum Center Assistant Director Kashia Arnold at karnold@ucsb.edu
Proposals are due by Friday, May 30th, 2025 at 11:59PM PST.
Additional Questions
Please contact Şeyma Ozdemir: sozdemir@ucsb.edu