Asian Studies Travel and Research (ASTR)
Grants for MSU Faculty

The Asian Studies Center offers funding to ASN Core Faculty Members funding for faculty research and travel on a competitive basis. These Asian Studies Travel and Research Grants (ASTR), which should be used to create new projects that may result in extramural support, have been and will continue to be disseminated on an ongoing basis during the current academic year.

Faculty members may submit proposals for funding individual and group research projects, bringing speakers to campus to contribute to projects, and attending research or project related conferences. Individual awards, which in the past have typically ranged from $3,000 to $5,000, are granted on the condition that the budget for the proposal includes at least a 20% contribution from the applicant’s home department. Proposals will be evaluated and awards made by the ASTR Grant Committee, which includes the Director of the Asian Studies Center and members of the ASN Advisory Committee.

If the proposal includes work in Asia, ASTR grants may be used to support one or more of the following:

• development of new research programs
• development new collaborative curricular programs, including but not limited to degree programs
• collaborative efforts resulting in submissions of manuscripts for publication
• new collaborative educational programs with partner universities abroad
• promotion of research and exchanges that will contribute to economic development and cooperation between MSU and Asian academic, governmental, NGO, and private sector institutions
• presentation of research and projects at conferences

ASTR proposals should not exceed five pages (in 12 point Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins) including budget and must provide the following information:

• proposed activities and purposes
• expected outcome of these activities and possibility of future external funding
• if a joint project, the applicant’s history of engagement with partners in the site in Asia selected
• a written endorsement from the applicant’s dean or department chairperson and a statement of commitment of at least 20% matching funds from the applicant’s college or department
• a budget

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and should be submitted in hard copy via campus mail to:
Michael Lewis, Director
Asian Studies Center
301 International Center
517-353-1680
E-mail: lewism@msu.edu