Purpose of the Program

The Fraser Center for Workplace Issues supports teaching and research on the labor movement and the workplace and provides programs to increase public awareness of labor issues. Seeking to build a community of faculty and academic staff focused on diverse, creative, and innovative research on workplaces, workers, and the organizations that represent them, the Fraser Center announces a pilot program to fund graduate student research on the labor movement, workplace issues, and workers and their communities. It may be used to support individual student research and/or conference presentations of individual research.

Work, Workers, Labor: Constraints, Losses, Opportunities and Rights in the World Economy

Recent changes in the economy and in the workplace and in the organization of workers have challenged our collective sense of the future of work and workers, the place of working people in democracy, and the extent of rights and freedoms in the workplace and society. These questions arise not only during a time of vibrant and successful labor actions, but also when there both growing public support for labor unions and growing opposition. Research on the issues of work and its relationship to rights is central to understanding equality, fairness, and democracy in our society and in our workplaces.This pilot program will provide funding to support conference or research travel for graduate students who are engaged in questions about work, the labor movement, and workers in historical or contemporary contexts, in the United States and globally, and in particular where the research engages the issues of contemporary democracy.

Eligibility

Graduate students in PhD and MA programs at Wayne State whose own research projects research dimensions of labor, workers, and the workplace both past and present. This grant cannot be used to support team projects or faculty research. Up to six awardees will be selected.

2024-2025 Funding

Stipulations for 2024-2025 funding are listed below:

• Each awardee (Fraser Fellow) may apply for up to $2,500.00 to support his/her/their approved research project.
• The Fellow may use the grant for research travel or to subsidize attendance at conferences to present on his/her/their approved project. Funds cannot to be used for computers, printers, or other office equipment or programs.
• Funds will be available for up to nine months from the day the award is announced.

Research Expectations

Stipulations for 2024-2025 research are listed below:

• Send a report on research outcomes, an abstract of summary of the conference paper, or provide a copy of the research paper or article to the Director of Labor@Wayne, as an outcome of his/her/their research project/conference travel.
• Prepare a post on research, including a summary of his/her/their research project and/or conference paper for publication on the Fraser Center website.
• Schedule a research presentation at a Fraser Center event sponsored by Labor@Wayne. The presentation must be complete within twelve (12) months following the award.

Application Guidelines and Deadline

Submit your electronic proposal by May 1, 2023 at 5pm EST to Elizabeth Faue, Director, Labor@Wayne, at: ad5247@wayne.edu.

The proposal must identify the principal investigator, graduate program and department, and contact information. You should describe the research project in 3-4 double-spaced pages, including bibliography and a plan of work. Submit the proposal along with your curriculum vita or professional record in a single pdf. Your proposal/narrative should include:

• Statement of Purpose (research project, public-facing work (exhibit, etc), or conference presentation)
• Describe, in a short abstract, the argument and/or theoretical framework and research methodology.
• Discuss briefly any preliminary findings
• Explain the relationship between this project and your larger project (dissertation, master's thesis, article)
• A bibliography or list of relevant sources (not to exceed one page).
• Identify possible outcomes of the project, including publications and future research
• Indicate how the Fraser graduate research grant would enhance the applicant’s career.
• Provide a detailed budget of proposed expenses.
• Include your curriculum vita or professional record.

The Fraser Center's administrative staff will administer award funds.

Decisions will be announced by June 1st, 2024.