Deadline to apply for the 2024-2025 Academic Year: Monday, May 20th, 2024

Each year, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies seeks proposals for policy-oriented research on aspects of labor directly relevant to policymakers in Washington State. All University of Washington faculty,  full-time and lecturer, and UW graduate students  sponsored by a faculty member are eligible to apply.

Up to $15,000 is available for each grant. The full amount is sufficient to cover the salary and benefits cost of a quarterly R.A. appointment. Funding includes a tuition waiver for graduate employees. Proposals requesting funding for student salaries will be given priority.

We also ask researchers to consider and address the following in their proposals, as appropriate: 

  • Please address how your project will use ethical research methods, including identifying the relationships you have with the population(s) you’re proposing to study and your own positionality in relation to the research process and research project.

  • If applicable, will research participants and participating organizations provide input on your proposed methods before the study begins? Will they review the findings before they are publicly available? Will contributors, including interviewees, be compensated?

Proposals on the following topics will receive priority:

  • Race and/or gender as they pertain to labor and workforce issues.

  • Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers in Washington State.

  • Aspects of labor force employment, wages, conditions (including health and pension benefits), and/or unionization.

  • Local policies to address the impacts of trade, outsourcing, off-shoring subcontracting, automation, or technology.

  • Policies of unions and professional organizations to expand or preserve marketable skills and quality production.

  • Problems facing contingent, casual or gig workers, and employment-related aspects of poverty and/or discrimination.

  • Historical work that has direct impact upon contemporary policy.

  • International case studies and/or comparative research relevant to Washington State.

A subcommittee of the Standing Committee and staff of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies will select the Washington State Labor Research Grant recipients, who will be  announced at the Bridges Center's annual awards celebration.

 

Who Should Apply


  • Priority is given to proposals by University of Washington faculty, both full-time and lecturer.

  • University of Washington graduate students may also apply if their project is sponsored by a faculty member.

 

Required Application Materials


  1. A proposal with a maximum length of 1500 words exclusive of the timeline. Proposals must accomplish the following: 

    • Indicate the significance of the investigation to Washington State.

    • Summarize the state of current research and debate.

    • Explain the method of investigation and progress (if any) to date.

    • Include a timeline that demonstrates the capacity to finalize a report within two years.

  2. A separate budget detailing how the requested funds would be spent.

  3. A Curriculum Vitae for all of the project's investigators.

  4. For UW Graduate Students Only: A brief letter of support from the UW faculty member sponsoring your project.

  5. Be sure to include contact information, including email, mailing addresses, and phone number.

 

Deadline to apply for 2024-2025 Academic Year


Apply by Monday, May 20th, 2024. Applicants will be notified in June. Funds will be available immediately (some restrictions may apply).

 

Where to Send Applications


Please submit applications electronically to Rachel Erstad, Research Coordinator of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, at rerstad@uw.edu.

Questions? Contact the Bridges Center at (206) 543-7946, or e-mail Rachel at rerstad@uw.edu.