The LACS Tinker Field Research Grants are funded by the Tinker Foundation, the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, LACS, the LACS-Brazil Initiative, and the International Institute to support master’s, doctoral, and professional school students conducting preliminary or pre-dissertation fieldwork in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Puerto Rico. The grants provide students with the opportunity to establish professional and academic contacts, assess research sites, and refine their projects. Master’s candidates may use the funds for projects related to research for their theses. Ph.D. students may use the funds for preliminary dissertation research.
 

Research projects must be conducted in the Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Awards, up to $2,500, are made based on the quality of the proposal (feasibility of project, relevance to degree program and career goals, and the extent to which the research is original) and the academic progress of the applicant. Funds cover international airfare, in-country transportation, and some field-related expenses.

U-M students enrolled in an M.A. degree, professional degree, and/or Ph.D. degree are eligible to apply for the grant. Priority, however, will be given to students enrolled in the LACS certificate program and those pursuing a Ph.D. degree. Master’s students are encouraged to apply. There are no nationality restrictions. The awards must be used for brief research projects, two weeks to four months in duration. Travel must take place between May and December 31 of the award year.

Projects must take place in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America. Note that projects of at least one month in duration may be eligible for funding through the International Institute’s Global Individual Grant.

LACS Tinker Field Research Grants are not to be used for dissertation research but rather to provide graduate students with their initial exploratory experience in developing independent research projects and conducting fieldwork in Latin America. Applications for approved dissertation fieldwork will not be considered