ASTR Jessica Berson Dance Research Assistance Fund Grant

The ASTR Jessica Berson Dance Research Assistance Fund Grant aims to support contingent faculty engaged in dance-based scholarship within theatre. This initiative acknowledges the critical role of non-tenure track faculty and provides them with a $1000 honorarium, conference registration, and a one-year ASTR membership. The grant encourages research and attendance at the annual ASTR conference, ensuring broader access to resources and professional opportunities for those who often lack institutional support.

Purpose
ASTR acknowledges that contingent faculty form an increasingly critical sector of the academic workforce, and yet they are excluded from professional activities and resources within the institutions that employ them. This is particularly true for scholars who work at the intersection of the fields of theatre and dance. For this reason, ASTR launched this five-year grant to support contingent scholars who specialize in dance-based work in theatre. These grants are intended to expand access for part-time, adjunct, and contingent faculty in their research work in dance-based fields, and/or to support their travel to ASTR’s annual conference. Each year’s grant may be given to one winner, or split among two or more recipients. ASTR is sincerely grateful for the donation from Dr. Jessica Berson, a dance studies scholar, teacher, and long-time member of ASTR. This grant honors her fiery and brilliant spirit, and dedication to the field.
Evaluation
Criteria include the quality of the applicant's research project and/or their expression of interest in attending this year’s ASTR meeting, and the applicant’s record of achievement in scholarship and/or service.
Award
This award provides a $1000 honorarium (which may be split among two or more recipients), complimentary conference registration, and a one-year membership to ASTR.

Eligibility

Contingent faculty eligible for this award are non-students without access to institutional travel funding who teach either part-time or full-time off the tenure track (including lecturers, instructors, limited-term faculty, and adjuncts) as well as independent scholars. The goal of this award is to support research and/or attendance at the ASTR conference.