Notre Dame–Ukrainian Catholic University Faculty Collaboration Grant

The University of Notre Dame du Lac (ND), USA and Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), Ukraine are delighted to announce the continuation of the ND-UCU Faculty Collaboration Grant. Notre Dame Research and Notre Dame Global are partnering to support this joint initiative.

Through this jointly advertised program both institutions are inviting proposals for joint faculty research projects with the potential to both achieve international recognition and to generate sustainable research projects for both institutions. Project selection for the Faculty Collaboration Grant will be competitive and made jointly by ND and UCU.

Contact

For more information, please contact:

Sevda Arslan
Program Director for Faculty Support and Partnerships
Notre Dame Global
Email: sarslan@nd.edu

Marianna Pyrih
Head of Research Support Office
Ukrainian Catholic University
Email: mariannapyrig@ucu.edu.ua

The Notre Dame-Ukrainian Catholic University Faculty Collaboration Grant Program is contingent upon ND and UCU entering into a mutually acceptable written agreement.

See past recipients

Funding & Expenses

  • Funding will be available for joint research projects of variable lengths of time and as follows: up to US$50,000.00 for a 1-year joint project and up to US$100,000.00 for a 2-year joint project
  • Eligible recipients of the 2022-23 ND-UCU Faculty Collaboration Grant are invited to submit proposals for a scaled-up project on the basis of their original project. A maximum of two such proposals may be selected for funding

Research conducted pursuant to this program is expected to be conducted primarily at the home university of the grant awardee.

Full details of all anticipated costs/expenses must be clearly itemized. The budget plan should indicate spending over the full duration of the proposed project. Budget justification will be required. Augmentation of the grants by the Colleges and departments is allowed.

Eligible Expenses

Expenses for the ND-UCU Faculty Collaboration Grant can include:

  • A research grant for the UCU faculty Principal Investigator at a rate of up to $500 per month to a maximum of $12,000 over a 24-month period*
  • A research grant of $2500 per semester (up to 4 semesters) for an additional UCU faculty co-principal investigator. A maximum of 2 co-principal investigators may receive a grant. (The maximum over 2 semesters is $10,000 and over 4 semesters is $20,000)
  • A research grant of $1,500 per student per semester (up to 4 semesters) for up to 2 undergraduate or masters level students at either/both UCU and ND
  • Partial graduate research assistant and post-doctoral fellow stipends and benefits, with approval from the relevant authorizers
  • Research/Data gathering expenses:
    • Equipment and supplies necessary for the research
      • Equipment and supplies purchased by a university becomes the property of that university
    • Payment to human subjects
      • Approval of payment and/or incentives is dependent on working with NDR Research Compliance and Integrity
  • Library acquisitions or other resources with relevance to project
    • To the extent library or other resources are available and able to be accessed for this project, they may be considered eligible expenses. Acquisition of, access to, and ultimate use of electronic library materials or other resources will be assessed and determined as projects are defined and approved for funding in order to ensure that appropriate licensing arrangements can be put into place under acceptable terms.
      • The Library cannot commit to acquiring materials at the request of a faculty member, or any other PI, without first confirming that the materials fit with its general collections policy.
      • Notre Dame faculty are advised to contact Erika Hosselkus, Associate University Librarian (ehosselk@nd.edu) should they want to include library acquisitions at ND as part of their proposal
  • Research travel to conduct the proposed work*
  • Manuscript editing and/or translation services

*PLEASE NOTE: Due to the unpredictable nature of the conflict in Ukraine and high risks associated with such travel, ND awardees must have any proposed trips to Ukraine (or other high risk travel country) reviewed by the University Travel Review Committee. Details about the travel review process and materials required can be found here.

Ineligible Expenses

  • Faculty academic year course reduction, academic year salary and summer salary for faculty are not covered expenses
  • Publication costs

Eligibility

University of Notre Dame

Regular full-time faculty and special professional faculty of ND are eligible to apply. Projects which include both graduate and undergraduate students are welcomed.

Ukrainian Catholic University

Regular full-time faculty of UCU are eligible to apply. Projects with undergraduate and graduate students are welcomed.

Criteria

Proposals from all disciplines and interdisciplinary projects are welcomed.

Proposals related to the following key areas are particularly encouraged with the areas and listed subthemes intended to be merely indicative rather than exhaustive:

Topic 1: Ethical Infrastructure and Leadership for Resilient Democracies

Russia’s war against Ukraine has highlighted the need to rethink the principles of democratic culture and social ethics. This research topic explores how Ukraine's fight for freedom reveals the vulnerabilities and potential of democratic values during existential threats. The goal is to develop new ethical frameworks and leadership models that can strengthen democracies globally, ensuring their resilience against authoritarian regimes.

Topic 2: Data Science for the Common Good

Data science, data analytics, data engineering, and many other data-related fields provide enormous opportunities for interdisciplinary research initiatives that improve our personal and societal lives. With its multidisciplinary nature, data science offers more than just enhancements to business processes or scientific discoveries. It has the power to protect a nation, aid those in need, modernize a country, and drive our society and economy forward. The aim of this research topic is to develop UCU’s capabilities in applying data science to societal needs and strengthen both, ND and UCU, as leaders in data science for the common good.

Topic 3: Religious Freedom

Ukraine's religious diversity and historical experiences make it a unique context for studying religious freedom. This research examines the challenges faced by religious communities during Russia’s aggression, including persecution and the Russian Orthodox Church's role in justifying the war. This research topic aims to perform interdisciplinary study of the historical circumstances of the formation and current state and problems of religious freedom and to provide insights for developing a balanced state religious policy that respects religious freedom while addressing national security concerns.

Topic 4: Collective Trauma and Collective Healing

This research explores the socio-cultural-psychological factors influencing collective trauma, resilience, and healing among various Ukrainian populations affected by the war, including military personnel, veterans, and civilians. The research topic also aims to develop public policies, social practices, educational programs, and public rituals for collective trauma healing, emphasizing the role of education, culture, spirituality, and social inclusion.

Topic 5: Mental Health of Veterans

The ongoing war has exacerbated mental health challenges in Ukraine, particularly among veterans. This research topic focuses on understanding the prevalence of mental health disorders, such as depression and PTSD, and developing effective rehabilitation and support services. The study aims to improve mental health outcomes and contribute to the recovery and well-being of Ukraine’s population, particularly veterans.

Topic 6: The Moral and Religious Dimension of Security

Reflecting on the moral failures that have allowed conflicts to persist despite post-World War II initiatives, this research explores the ethical and religious underpinnings of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It aims to analyze the moral assumptions behind the conflict and propose a value-based security framework that can prevent future conflicts and promote global peace.

Outcomes

Plans for international dissemination of the research output should be outlined in the proposal with the following outcomes required:

  • Co-Publication(s)
  • An application to an external funding body

Other measurable outcomes or impacts are encouraged as relevant to the discipline(s).

How to Apply

  • Proposals are to be prepared jointly and submitted in English by either the ND PI or the UCU PI through NDG's Online Application system.
  • The proposed budget is to be submitted and uploaded separately using the provided budget template below (will automatically upload to your device).

SAMPLE New Project Application  SAMPLE Scaled-up Project Application  Budget Template

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be confidentially reviewed by a select group of faculty at both institutions.

Previously Funded Projects

Previously funded projects being submitted for additional funding, will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  1. Progress toward stated goals in the previous round of funding
  2. Partnership success to date between UCU and ND faculty – articulate what was achieved with the previous funding that could not have been achieved without the funding from cycle 2022-2023
  3. Plans for strengthening the UCU/ND partnership and including new collaborators from the 2022-2023 cycle
  4. Intended goals for the additional funding
  5. Future plans for seeking funding for the project concept, external to both UCU and ND
  6. Future plans for dissemination of project results, including co-publication between UCU and ND faculty and research teams

New Projects

New projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  1. Strength of the UCU/ND partnership between faculty and relevant research teams
  2. Alignment with the six stated topic areas for 2024-2025 is given priority
  3. Future plans for seeking funding for the project concept, external to both UCU and ND
  4. Future plans for dissemination of project results, including co-publication between UCU and ND faculty and research teams

 

Additional Grants