Grad Research Funding - Urbanization & climate resilience in Southeast Asia

The Urban Climate Change Resilience in Southeast Asia Partnership (UCRSEA) invites graduate students to apply for funding to carry out field or desk-based research related to urbanization and climate change resilience in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Lao PDR. Preference will be given to applicants who apply to do research in one or more of the project’s secondary cities of focus: Koh Kong and Battambang, Cambodia; Dawei and Bago, Myanmar; Khon Kaen and Mukdahan, Thailand; and Lao Cai and Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

The UCRSEA partnership addresses vulnerabilities to climate change in urbanizing areas of Southeast Asia with the goal of enhancing resilience and, hence, economic and social well-being. The project is a collaboration between academics in Canada and partners located in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Initiating partners include the Thailand Environmental Institute Foundation (TEI), the University of Toronto and York University.

Who is eligible to apply

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a graduate student (master’s or PhD level) enrolled at a tertiary institution in Canada OR a citizen of Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam or Lao PDR and enrolled at a tertiary institution in one of these countries.
• Your proposed graduate research must meet UCRSEA’s research funding criteria, available here.
• You must have an approved research proposal. Applications for exploratory fieldwork are not eligible.
• You must not have previously received funding from UCRSEA for fieldwork.

Eligible expenses

Research grants can be applied towards costs associated with field research in partner countries, desk-based research in Canada or partner countries (e.g. GIS, policy research), and/or the dissemination of research findings. Research funds may not be used to fund applicants’ salaries, tuition fees or other training costs. Funding will normally range between $2,000 to $4,500 CAD.

Eligible expenses include:

• Field research expenses such as travel, living expenses while conducting research, survey costs, equipment costs and honoraria for local research assistants
• Expenses associated with presentations at conferences or other events, such as transportation, accommodation, meals, and conference registration fees

Other benefits for funding recipients

As a funding recipient, you will have the opportunity to benefit from the guidance of our partner institutions, and will also be invited to participate in a monthly Virtual Seminar series on urbanization and climate change with graduate students from across the world. You may also have the opportunity to participate in project workshops and/or other professional training.

How to apply 

Please submit your application by e-mail to the Program Manager (Canada) at ucrsea@gmail.com with the subject line “UCRSEA – Application for Graduate Research Funding.”

Applications are due Tuesday, 15 March 2016 for research beginning in Spring or Summer 2016.

Your application should include:

1. Funding Application Form (Applicants in Canada) (Applicants in Southeast Asia) outlining your expenses and revenues from other sources.

2. Research Proposal (2 page max.), including:

• A description of your research questions, conceptual framework, and methodology, illustrating how your project will contribute to the literature and its relevance to UCRSEA research questions and core principles;
• A timeline of your research or dissemination activities, clearly specifying the period for which you are seeking funding; and
• A list of any skills you expect to develop during your research or dissemination activities (language, GIS, interviewing, workshop facilitation, etc.)

3) Your CV

4) Academic transcripts containing all grades obtained during your current degree program to date (can be an unofficial copy)

Please submit documents 1 through 4 as one single electronic document (.docx, .doc, or .pdf format)  

5. Letter of Reference

Each applicant should have their academic supervisor submit a letter directly to ucrsea@gmail.com that:

• details the student’s research plan
• attests to the accuracy of the submitted budget
• confirms the status of the student’s research proposal

All applicants will be notified of the Selection Committee’s decision within two months of the deadline.

Please direct your questions to ucrsea@gmail.com