Research Cluster Grants
The Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas is pleased to offer small grants to support independent collaborative research clusters in the areas of interest to the Huerta Center including Chicanx, Latinx, and Latin American, migration, cross-border/hemispheric, and human rights studies. We also welcome cosponsorship requests for events that align with the Huerta Center’s mission and research interests.
In addition to programming (e.g., conferences, workshops, seminars), we encourage applicants to consider if the cluster can organically lead to larger projects in the future (e.g., websites and other digital projects, edited volumes, etc.). Clusters can be comprised of UC Santa Cruz faculty and/or graduate students in any division and we encourage cross-divisional groups.
Research clusters that are primarily reading groups are eligible for $300-$500 per award, depending on size of the group. The maximum award amount is $800.
All unused funds will be returned to the Huerta Center at the end of the funding period. UC Santa Cruz faculty and graduate students in good academic standing are eligible to apply as coordinators.
The cluster is expected to acknowledge the Huerta Center’s support at any public events and in any publications related to the sponsored research. Clusters are also required to submit an activity or progress report by mid-June to conclude the fiscal year.
Applications closed. Next cycle begins Fall 2025.
2023-2024 research clusters
Chicanx Studies Reading Group
Participants: Brittney Jimenez, Stephanie Shugert, and Evelyn Fernandez, Latin American and Latino Studies; Anthony Bencomo, Politics; Graciela Sierra-Moreno, Literature.
Queer Identities and Sexualities in Latin America
Participants: Jennifer Gottlieb, Bree Booth, Mario Gomez-Zamora, Edward Salazar Celis, Latin American and Latino Studies; Allen Magaña, Sociology.
Undocu-Theorizations Conference
Participants: Juan Ruiz, Latin American and Latino Studies; Debbie Duarte, Literature; Raul Meneses Samperio, Education.
Previous research clusters
2022-2023
Archival Methods Reading Group
Participants: Brittney Jimenez, Bree Booth, Mariana Dadico, Department of Latin American and Latino Studies; Graciela Sierra-Moreno, Department of Literature.
2021-2022
Concepts of Indigeneity in the Twenty-first Century Reading Group
Participants: Amando Argueta-Vogel, Ana Flecha, Mario Gomez-Zamora and Anastasie Lenoir, Department of Latin American & Latino Studies.
Latin American Biopolitics Reading Group
Participants: Jennifer Figueroa and Alejandra Watanabe-Farro, Department of Latin American & Latino Studies; Emily Padilla and Marina Segatti, Department of Feminist Studies.
2020-2021
Critical Cultural Political Economy of Extractivism Research Cluster
Co-coordinators: Dr. Fernando Leiva and Alejandra Watanabe-Farro, Department of Latin American and Latino Studies.
Cuir/Cuier/Queer Studies in the Americas Research Cluster
Co-coordinators: Mario Gómez, Department of Latin American and Latino Studies; Emily Padilla, Department of Feminist Studies.
Researching and Resisting Brazil’s Reactionary Wave Research Cluster
Co-coordinators: Dr. Patricia Pinho, Department of Latin American and Latino Studies; Marina Segatti, Department of Feminist Studies.