CALL FOR SPRING 2026 RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE PROPOSALS
OVERVIEW
BIMI invites UC Berkeley faculty, staff, and students engaged in the study of international migration to develop Research Collaboratives —working and reading groups — aimed at supporting collective learning and communities of practice. These groups, organized by graduate or undergraduate students but including faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars, can focus on any country, region, topic, or discipline related to international migration, immigrants, and diasporic life. BIMI provides funds and other support for group meetings, events, and other activities.
Working groups are workshop-style meetings, focused on sharing research for feedback from mentors and peers on works-in-progress. Reading groups are seminar-style meetings, focused on collective reading and discussions of select works. Groups should meet regularly throughout the semester.
Each group will be asked to generate at least one public-facing piece at the end of their funding term, which will be published on the BIMI website and featured in BIMI’s bi-weekly newsletter. Ideas for this include research reports, policy briefs, 101-reading lists, or fact sheets.
FUNDING AMOUNT
Groups are awarded $500 per semester. Funds are not transferable to future semesters. Groups may be renewed for an additional semester upon application. Up to three groups will be supported per semester.
ELIGIBILITY
Applications may be submitted by UC Berkeley undergraduate or graduate students. All groups must have a Faculty Advisor.
APPLICATION
To apply for funding, please submit a one-page proposal that includes the following information:
- Names and affiliations of the student organizing team
- Description and mission of the group
- Faculty advisor
- Central scholarly question and intended outcomes for the working group
- Description of proposed events (tentative meeting dates, speakers, venues, etc.) Events should be spread evenly across the semester.
- Proposed public-facing piece (note: this can change based on group composition, dynamics, or need)
- Proposed itemized budget ($500/semester). All funds must be spent by the end of the semester.
- Mention other funding sources and uses for those funds
Submit applications as a PDF to bimi@berkeley.edu. Email subject should be "Migration Research Collaborative Grant Application."
Applications are due December 1, 2025; grant recipients will be notified by December 15, 2025.
WORKING GROUP PROCEDURES
Upon notice of the grant award, group organizers will sign an agreement outlining the responsibilities of BIMI and the organizers. Email bimi@berkeley.edu with questions.