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 OVERVIEW:

The College of Liberal Arts invites proposals for the Summer Research Award, designed to support faculty engagement with the Rocky Mountain Rsearch Data Center (RMRDC). This award provides resources for faculty to develop and submit a restricted data proposal utilizing the rich datasets available through the RMRDC. The program aims to strengthen ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ's research capacity, promote interdisciplinary scholarship within the college, and increase the use of high-value restricted data in faculty research. 

AWARD DETAILS:

• Faculty Stipend: $3,000 paid upon proposal submission

• Graduate Student Support: Up to $2,000 for a research assistant

• Project Duration: Summer 2026 (April 1, 2026-July 2026

• Deliverable: A completed and submitted restricted data proposal to the RMRDC by July 31, 2026

• Participants are required to have three meetings wih RMRDC staff during the project duration

Eligibility: 

Open to full-time tenure-track and tenured faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Collaborative proposals involving multiple faculty members are welcome; however the total faculty stipend remains $3,000 per project. Each project must include participation from one graduate student, who will receive $2,000 as a research assistant. 

Proposal requirements: 

Proposals should be no more than three pages (single-spaced) and include the following sections:

• Project Summary: Describe the research question(s) and significance of the proposed study.

• Restricted Data Justification: Identify the specific restricted dataset(s) and variables you plan to access via the RMRDC. 

• Graduate Student Role: Describe a mentorship plan describing how the student will contribute to the data preparation, analysis, or proposal development. 

• Timeline: Provide a summer work plan leading to the submission of the RMRDC proposal. 

• Budget: Include an itemized budget and breif justification.

Evaluation Criteria:

Proposals will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the College of Liberal Arts Office of the Dean using the following criteria:

• Clarity and significance of the research question

• Feasiblity of completing the RMRDC proposal by the deadline

• Alignment with RMRDC data resources

• Quality of the graduate student mentoring plan

• Potential for future external funding or publications

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

An information session with the RMRDC staff will be held at the beginning of February to provide guidance on proposal development. Faculty are encouraged to attend this session before submitting their proposals as a single PDF via this link:

Notification of awards will be sent by March 29, 2026.

Additional INFORMAtion

Awardees will receive guidance and support from Rocky Mountain Research Data Center staff in developing their restricted data proposals, including assistance with project planning, confidentiality requirements, and data access logistics.

FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT!

Caitlyn Muniz, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies

Dr. Muniz's Email: cnmuniz@utep.edu

Research Email: colartresearch@utep.edu