Research Opportunities

Faculty Research Award

The Centre for Oral History and Tradition Research Award (COHTRA) aims to support Southern Alberta oral history research by University of Lethbridge faculty and their research teams, including graduate and undergraduate students and community affiliates. The award may be part of a larger project that includes colleagues at the U of L or elsewhere.

Eligibility:

Applications from all University of Lethbridge researchers are welcome, but please note that COHT reserves the right to make final eligibility determinations in line with university policies. The project itself must clearly involve oral history-based research.

Value and Duration:

The value of each award is capped at $5,000. Up to two awards will normally be offered per year. The usual term of an award is 24 months or less, in accordance with the applicant’s request.

Evaluation and Criteria:

A blind peer review will be conducted by an ad hoc committee struck by the executive of the Centre for Oral History and Tradition, University of Lethbridge, with emphasis on the following:

  • Overall merit of the research proposal, including fit with the Centre for Oral History and Tradition’s research interests
  • Originality and significance of the proposed research, including suitability of research strategies/methods, importance of the overall research program, and suitability of the timetable
  • Likelihood of the project developing into a publishable paper or report
  • Research record of the applicant/lead researcher
  • Training of students and other research personnel, if applicable
  • Justification of the proposed budget
  • Pending ethical approval, preference will be given to applications that plan to deposit interview tapes and/or transcripts in an accredited public archive such as the Galt or the U of L Archives.

Submission and Dissemination Instructions:

Applications are due by February 28, 2025. Applications must be submitted online via the U of L Bridge Research Proposal Form. Please select “Internal Grant Application Form” under the Research Services tab on the Bridge and attach your application as a .pdf to that form.

The application should include your project title; the name of the applicant(s); and an abstract (max 250 words). The abstract must:

  • Include a succinct description of the research written for an intelligent reader who is relatively uninformed in the field of study.
  • Define the scope and limitations of the project.
  • Comment on the potential significance of the study to the oral history of Southern Alberta and the applicant’s discipline.

Successful applicants will be required to present their findings as part of the COHT Speakers’ Series.