Research

Funded Opportunities for Faculty

Since the launch of the Cohen Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in September 2024, the Institute team has been working to build the infrastructure for new initiatives and for a new research division. To further expand our impact, we are pleased to announce a call for two new programs that will support faculty. These initiatives provide funding and support for Keene State College faculty who are interested in planning and implementing programs and/or conducting research that aligns with the Institute’s mission.

Details pertaining to each opportunity are noted below, and applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will be accepted up until Friday, April 25, 2025. In addition, faculty selected to participate in these programs will have the opportunity to become part of a network of Cohen Institute professionals working to support one another’s creative and scholarly endeavors.

1. Cohen Institute Specialist

The Cohen Institute Specialist program is a short-term (one year with possible renewal) service opportunity that will support, amplify, and complement faculty service obligations. The program offers funding for selected faculty members to design, organize, and implement community-based programming. Specialists are expected to actively contribute to the Institute’s growth by sharing their expertise and enhancing the Institute’s public-facing work.

Cohen Institute Specialists will collaborate with Institute staff members to develop, promote, and implement at least one public-facing project or event. This may entail sharing their specialized knowledge through a workshop, lecture, or other program that is geared towards the broader public in some way. Applicants should have a specific topic and event/project in mind at the time of their application. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Institute is especially open to proposal that align with our theme for the year: “Gender and Genocide.” This program is a great point of entry for KSC faculty members who are interested in becoming involved with the Institute’s work and/or who have a smaller-scale project or event they would like to pilot.

Additionally, Cohen Institute Specialists are asked to serve as peer reviewers for the Institute’s educational resources, helping ensure the quality, accuracy, and effectiveness of those materials. The Cohen Institute Specialist program underscores the Institute’s commitment to fostering a dynamic, engaged academic community that directly benefits both the institution and the broader community.

The Institute plans to fund up to two Specialists during the pilot of this program in the 2025-2026 academic year. All full-time tenured or tenure track KSC faculty (from any department) are eligible to submit an application, and funding can support up to $500 per Specialist. Funding proposals should indicate how the funds would be used (supplies, travel, a stipend for the researcher, etc.) Please see additional application details below.

2. Cohen Institute Scholar

The Cohen Institute Scholar program is a short-term (one-year with possible renewal) opportunity designed to support and elevate the scholarly pursuits of Keene State College faculty. This program will empower faculty to engage in creative, interdisciplinary research and scholarly endeavors that will serve to advance academic conversations about Holocaust and genocide studies. Furthermore, Scholars will be expected to translate their scholarly work into at least one substantial public-facing event or deliverable. This event or deliverable will be designed, organized, and implemented with Institute staff input and support.

The Cohen Institute Scholars will receive dedicated funding and resources to support their innovative research during their term. Additionally, though it is not required, faculty applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals that include undergraduate students as research partners. Separate funding is available for student researchers through the Institute’s Student Scholar program, but we encourage proposals that support faculty-student research teams. This program encourages faculty to explore bold ideas and produce innovative work that benefits academic and local communities.

The Institute plans to fund one Scholar during the pilot of this program in the 2025-2026 academic year. Strong proposals will indicate how the funding will sustain research over the course of the full academic year, so faculty on sabbatical for one or more semesters are not eligible to apply. Otherwise, all full-time tenured or tenure track KSC faculty (from any department) are welcome to submit an application, and a maximum of $8,000 can be requested. Funding proposals should indicate how the funds would be used (supplies, travel, a stipend for the researcher, etc.) Please see additional application details below.

Process to Apply

The application has now closed. The hard deadline for applications to both programs was 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 25, 2025. If you have any questions, please email coheninstitute@keene.edu.

Applicants should submit the following:

1. A project proposal (three pages maximum). The proposal should outline the project idea, rationale, implications, and connection to the Cohen Institute missions and/or initiatives.
2. Their current curriculum vitae
3. A detailed budget indicating how the funds will be utilized to carry out the project.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications will be reviewed by the Director of the Cohen Institute, the Institute’s Program Design Consultant, and other members of the Institute staff as appropriate.

Decisions will be rendered and announced by Friday, May 23, 2025.

Questions

KSC faculty who are considering applying to one or both of these programs are encouraged to reach out to the Cohen Institute team in advance of the deadline with any questions. The best point person to answer questions about these two programs is the Institute’s Program Design Consultant, Prof. John Sturtz.