Call for Applications: JMC Seed Grant for a Collaborative Project on East/West Critical Infrastructure Studies

The UBC Centre for European Studies was designated a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence for Critical Infrastructure Studies in 2024 for a period of three years. The grant funding associated with the designation will support scholarship in Critical Infrastructure Studies with an interest in addressing East/West binaries that persist in political, social, and cultural thought.

One part of its intellectual mission is a seed grant program devised to support a collaborative project between a UBC scholar and a scholar affiliated with another institution. The grant will fund a trip to UBC to support collaboration.

Expectations

  • The project must in some way connect to the theme of the Jean Monnet Center. For more information, see our website.
  • The collaboration will lead to a publication in a peer-reviewed scholarly venue.
  • The collaborators will give a public talk hosted in the Centre for European Studies during the scheduled visit.
  • The collaborators will be part of a podcast series hosted by the Centre for European Studies, which will be recorded online sometime after the visit has taken place.
  • Where possible, preference will be given for a collaboration with a scholar affiliated with an institution in the European Union.

Specifications

  • Grant Amount: $2,500 (any excess costs for the visit would be covered by the applicant)
  • Number of Grants per Funding Cycle: 2
  • Grant Period: the visit should take place at some point January-December, 2026.

Application
To apply for this grant, submit the application materials listed below through this AIR form by 15 September 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • 1-page summary of planned project. This should include information on how the project is connected to the theme of the Jean Monnet Center; when the proposed visit would take place; and publication plans for the project once the research has been completed.
  • CVs from all the people involved in the grant (including the UBC scholar and the non-UBC collaborator(s)).
  • Any relevant supportive documentation, where applicable.
  • Budget justification detailing the non-UBC faculty member’s travel plans and approximate costs.

 

Contact
For any questions about the Seed Grant, please reach out to the PIs of the UBC Jean Monnet Center for Excellence in Critical Infrastructure Studies: Dr. Katherine Bowers (katherine.bowers@ubc.ca) and Dr. Ervin Malakaj (ervin.malakaj@ubc.ca).