Graduate Student Association

27^th Annual

Milton Plesur Graduate History Conference

March 16-17, 2018

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

Call for Papers

The Graduate History Association (GHA) of the University at Buffalo announces the 27^th Annual Milton Plesur Graduate History Conference.  This conference aims to enable students and scholars from across North America to share current research with fellow students and faculty members from a variety of fields, including History, Political Science, Anthropology, Classics, English, Comparative Literature, American Studies, Caribbean Studies, Transnational Studies, Geography, Gender Studies, Disability Studies, Religious Studies, and Urban Studies.

We seek original papers that explore the currents of contemporary scholarship and analyze a wide range of historical topics, time periods, and geographic locations.  Similarly, we encourage proposals that draw from diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to enrich the exchange of ideas at our conference.  For the 27^th Annual Plesur Conference, we are especially seeking research that addresses the theme of “Rediscovering Oceanus: 21^st Century Approaches to the Atlantic World.”  Broadly interpreted, this theme seeks to bring historical perspective to issues related – but not limited to – colonialism, imperialism, trade, the environment, immigration and migration, and all cultures with ties to the Atlantic World.  Work that employs multi-disciplinary approaches is especially encouraged.

We are pleased to announce that, in partnership with the University at Buffalo Department of History Speakers’ Committee, our 2018 Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Robert Deal, Associate Professor of History and Director of Graduate Studies at Marshall University.  Dr. Deal earned his PhD in History from Temple University after earning his law degree from Villanova University.  His most recent publication is The Law of the Whale Hunt: Dispute Resolution, Property Law, and American Whalers, 1780-1880, published by Cambridge University Press.

Proposal Instructions

Please send your proposal, consisting of a 250-word abstract (including main argument and methodology), CV, school or other affiliation, and contact information to GHAConference2018@gmail.com

The deadline for paper proposals is Friday, January 26, 2018.

Accepted proposals will be notified by email in mid-February.

Non-UB students who have papers accepted by the program committee will be eligible to request reimbursement for registration and some travel expenses when registering for the conference.

The GSA is currently hiring student staff positions for the Spring 2018 semester.  Descriptions of the Webmaster and Assistant Programming Coordinator positions are attached.  If you are interested in either of these postings, please email the required materials listed to the GSA Vice President, Connor Walters, at gsa-vicepresident@buffalo.edu by Friday, February 9th in order to be considered.  Applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students who have paid their mandatory student activity fee and must be able to serve for the full term of the position.

Please see the attached job descriptions for available positions.  The deadline to apply is February 2, 2018.

Fellowships and Scholarships January Boot Camp for PhD Students

Do you have an interest in learning more about funding opportunities for graduate-level work, research or dissertation funding? Will you be in Buffalo during winter break?

The Office of Fellowships and Scholarships will be hosting a three day boot camp in January to help you prepare competitive applications. You will learn more about how to apply for funding and what review panels are looking for. You will spend time writing a personal statement and/or research proposal.

Sessions will be held from 9am to 11am on Tuesday, January 16, Wednesday, January 17 and Thursday, January 18. Students are requested to commit to all three sessions.

To be considered for this program, students must complete the online application by 5pm EST on Monday, January 8: https://universityatbuffalo-wgtck.formstack.com/forms/january_fellowship_scholarship_boot_camp.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships at fellowships@buffalo.edu.

The UB Center for Geohazards Studies is pleased to announce a research grant opportunity for graduate students to support research in any discipline that is related to natural hazards.

All applications materials must be received by  February 28, 2018 at 5:00 PM EST. Funds are available for projects to start on July 1, 2018

 Eligible individuals must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University at Buffalo and be a member of the Center for GeoHazards Studies

For more info visit  http://geohazards.buffalo.edu/news/

Fulbright Application Development Workshops for Graduate Students

Would you like to spend a year doing work or research abroad?  The Fulbright provides funded opportunities for international research or study. Students can apply for a Fulbright grant in more than 150 countries.*

Fulbright applications are due almost a full year before your dates of travel. UB’s campus deadline will be in September 2018 so now’s the time to start thinking about your application!

To help you prepare a competitive application UB will be hosting a series of Fulbright workshops this spring.  Students will learn more about Fulbright, how to select the appropriate affiliates and how to develop a strong proposal.  These sessions will be hosted by the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships and UB’s Fulbright Program Advisor, Dr. Colleen Culleton.

Sessions will be held on Thursdays: February 8, February 22, March 8 and March 29.  The sessions will be offered from either 9:00am-10:00am or 3:00pm-4:00pm on each of these days.  Students are required to commit to all 4 sessions which includes beginning preparation of the personal statement and project proposal.

To be considered for this program, students must complete the online application by 5pm EST on Monday, January 29: https://universityatbuffalo-wgtck.formstack.com/forms/fulbright_development_program_for_graduate_students

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships at fellowships@buffalo.edu.

* To qualify for Fulbright U.S. student programs, applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a bachelor’s degree by the time their Fulbright year starts, but not yet have a PhD. Graduate-level candidates must demonstrate the capacity for independent study or research along with a general knowledge of the history, culture and current events of the country to which they’re applying.

Spring 2018 SBI Programming Grant applications are due Friday, February 16th.

All grant applications must include the signature of the GSA Treasurer in order to be considered, so please make sure to bring all applications to the GSA office (310 Student Union) by Wednesday, February 14th at 4:30pm in order for them to be signed.

“The primary purpose of the Programming Grant is to fund programs that further the quality of student life, and enrich the educational, cultural and social experiences at the University at Buffalo. In light of these goals, organizations that receive awards are to use them to launch new programs, expand existing programs, or produce publications.”

Geants of up to $1,500.00* may be awarded to any recognized university affiliated student organization.

*Grant maximums have recently changed. Please review the application guidelines for more information.

The application is attached here, and hard copies can be picked up from the GSA Office (310 Student Union) or the SBI Office (341 Student Union). The deadline for submission is Friday, February 16, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Please note that this is a rigid deadline, after which grant applications will not be accepted.

SBI Programming Grant Notifications will be distributed to the grant applicants by Monday, February 26th at 4:30pm.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) Workshops for First Year Ph.D. students

Would you like to be fully funded for graduate school?  Many students think that they will be “fully funded” throughout their graduate programs but they really have a Teaching Assistantship (TA position) where they are paid to teach 20 hours a week.  A fellowship like the NSF GRFP is truly a fully funded award.

The NSF awards three-year scholarships for graduate study in mathematical, physical, biological, engineering and behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science.  This fellowship carries a stipend of $32,000 per year plus a cost of education allowance to cover tuition and fees for three years.  This is a significant graduate fellowship that affords students the freedom to focus on their research and lessen the time to degree completion.

To qualify, applicants must be US citizens, have US national status or be permanent residents, intend to pursue a research-based master’s or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field. Applications become available in August and the deadlines vary by discipline but are generally in late October and early November: www.nsfgrfp.org.

To help you prepare a competitive application UB will be hosting a series of NSF GRPF workshops this spring. You will learn more about how to apply for the NSF GRFP and other awards, what the review panels are looking for and how to write a strong research proposal.  These sessions will be hosted by the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships along with a writing consultant from the Center for Excellence in Writing.

Sessions will be held on Thursdays: February 15, March 1, March 15 and March 29.  The sessions will be offered from either 9:00am-10:00am or 3:00pm-4:00pm on each of these days.  Students are required to commit to all 4 sessions which includes beginning preparation of the 3 page past research and personal statement and 2 page research proposal.

To be considered for this program, students must complete the online application by 5pm EST on Monday, January 29: https://universityatbuffalo-wgtck.formstack.com/forms/nsf_development_program.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships at fellowships@buffalo.edu.