Interreligious Collaborative Research Projects

Interreligious Collaborative Research Projects

Originally funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation in 2016-2017, the Interreligious Collaborative Research Projects are available to teams comprised of at least three researchers (at least one GTU student) under the supervision of a GTU Core Doctoral Faculty member. The project must be completed with collaboration amongst the research team and include two or more traditions. Each team will be awarded $5000 to support their research and faculty mentors will be awarded $1000 for their contribution. 

The following criteria will be applied to determine winning proposals:

  • At least one applicant (cohort should have at least three student members) must be officially enrolled in the GTU MA, ThD, or PhD degree programs.
  • Collaborative student research teams must have a faculty mentor who is currently a member of the GTU Core Doctoral Faculty.
  • Collaborative student research teams must have representation from at least two religious traditions.
  • Focus of the research must be on an identifiable and significant “persistent, perplexing problem.” (Examples might be religious conflict, status of women in the world, climate change, environmental degradation, economic disparities, etc.) It is expected that the research focus will be on a narrower slice of such a larger issue or topic.
  • The research project may be connected to class assignments, background research for theses or dissertations, or personal interest.
  • The team must commit to engagement with a non-profit or for profit organization working on or implementing solutions to the same identified problem.
  • The cohort agrees to post the outcome or products of its work online (probably using the E-portfolio system being established the GTU) so that other interested persons can gain access and learn.

Proposals of no more than two pages single-spaced should be submitted to the Office of the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs by October 31, 2018 stating the purpose of the research and methodologies to be used, a signature from the mentor, and a brief statement of why the research is considered important or beneficial to interreligious study.

No more than three grants will be made in each academic year and will be judged on compliance with the above criteria, clarity of focus and methodology, and appropriateness to the interreligious and interdisciplinary approach of the GTU. Click the link below for the application form.