Association for the Study of Food and Society Racial Justice Research and Pedagogy Fellowships

Very exciting opportunities from our colleagues at the Association for the Study of Food and Society!

As food studies scholars and practitioners, we are keenly aware of transnational systems of racial inequality and entitlement. As an organization we are committed to supporting both research and teaching in food studies that uses an intersectional lens to understand and dismantle racially unjust systems and structures. We commit to building both a more racially just food system and a more racially inclusive field of food studies. In support of these aims, and with funds from the Mellon Foundation, we are offering two types of fellowships for scholars and practitioners working in the humanities and humanistic social sciences (history, literature, philosophy, ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, geography, and other related fields):

1. Racial Justice Research Fellowships, the aim of which are to support research that uses an intersectional lens to identify and suggest action related to racialized inequities in the food system, explore under-recognized contributions of racially marginalized groups to food cultures and food systems, contribute to the well-being of racially marginalized communities, and/or advance the careers of racially marginalized scholars.

2. Racial Justice Pedagogy Fellowships, the aim of which are to develop syllabi and pedagogical tools for teaching about food and food systems that uses an intersectional lens and centers questions and outcomes related to racial justice in the food system and food cultures, and/or advances the careers of racially marginalized scholars.

ASFS Racial Justice Research Fellowships

For the 2023-2024 fellowship cycle, ASFS will offer five (5) $3,500 fellowships to individuals whose research uses an intersectional lens to advance racial justice. Projects should identify and suggest action related to racialized inequities in the food system, explore under-recognized contributions of racially marginalized groups to food cultures and food systems, contribute to the well-being of racially marginalized communities, and/or advance the careers of racially marginalized scholars. Awardees will be working as scholars, practitioners or community activists in the humanities and humanistic social sciences (history, literature, philosophy, ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, geography, and other related fields). One of the five fellowships will go by preference to someone who is a current or former student at an institution established with the purpose of primarily serving racialized minorities (HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, majority-HSIs, and other international equivalents).

Funds will be distributed at the time of the award. They are unrestricted, and can be used to defray any expenses related to the applicant’s project, including living expenses during the period of working on the project.

Fellows’ project descriptions will be published in Food, Culture & Society. Fellows will present on their research at the annual ASFS/AFHVS conference either virtually or in person the year after they receive the award. Conference registration fees will be waived for fellows presenting their work.

To apply, please include the following in a single PDF:

• Completed Cover Sheet (below).
• 1,000-word Project Proposal. Your Project Proposal should include the following three components: 1) a summary of your research project; 2) evidence that you are well-suited to carry out the research; and 3) an explanation of your project’s significance to scholarly conversations, communities, and/or to you personally.
• Curriculum Vitae (1-2 pages).

The five successful applicants will be announced August 1, 2023. They will be required to submit a final report on research progress in September 2024, summarizing the results of their fellowship project.

The deadline for submissions is June 9, 2023. Submit your application in THIS FORM. Please direct any questions to Paolina Lu at phl242@nyu.edu.

ASFS Racial Justice Pedagogy Fellowships

For the 2023-2024 fellowship cycle, ASFS will offer five (5) $3,500 fellowships to support individuals in developing racial justice-focused food studies courses within higher education through the creation of a syllabus. Applicants are invited to propose the development of new courses in the humanities and humanistic social sciences (history, literature, philosophy, ethnic studies, anthropology, sociology, geography, and other related fields) or to propose the substantial revision of an existing course. Courses should identify and suggest action related to racialized inequities in the food system, explore under-recognized contributions of racially marginalized groups to food cultures and food systems, contribute to the well-being of racially marginalized communities, and/or advance the careers of racially marginalized scholars. One of the five fellowships will go by preference to someone who is a current or former student at an institution established with the purpose of primarily serving racialized minorities (HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, majority-HSIs, and other international equivalents).

ASFS will provide pedagogy fellowship recipients with curricular working groups and monthly virtual workshops, led by prominent scholars whose work centers racial justice to mentor and facilitate discussions.

Fellows will complete a draft of their syllabus within the year September 2023-September 2024. Funds will be distributed at the time the award is granted. The syllabi created by recipients of this fellowship will be disseminated through the ASFS website as well as in a “roundtable discussion” published (open access) in Food, Culture & Society.

To apply, please include the following in a single PDF:

• Completed Cover Sheet (below).
• 1,000-word Project Proposal. Your Project Proposal should include the following components: 1) a course description that includes the course name, course level and department where it will be taught, and the course objectives; 2) your plan to develop the course; 3) an explanation of your course’s relevance to the promotion of racial justice; and 4) evidence that you are well-suited to develop and teach your course
• Curriculum Vitae (1-2 pages).

The deadline for submissions is June 9, 2023. Submit your application in THIS FORM. The five successful applicants will be announced August 1, 2023. Please direct any questions to Paolina Lu at phl242@nyu.edu.