International Programs (IP) provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for University of Iowa (UI) faculty engaged in international research, partnerships, and other activities.  

“IP’s funding of faculty research supports Iowa’s research mission on a global scale,” said Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs. “Funding from our office enables faculty to pursue their scholarship abroad, to connect with colleagues at international institutions of higher learning, and to burnish Iowa’s reputation as a leader in the generation of knowledge worldwide.”

Faculty funding opportunities through International Programs include:

Center for Asian and Pacific Studies Awards (up to $3,000) 
A faculty research award for those conducting research on East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific region. 
 

Global Curriculum Development Awards (up to $3,000) 
A faculty award to create a new undergraduate course, or substantially revise an existing course, to integrate international or global perspectives into an undergraduate major.

Rachel Vitali, assistant professor, College of Engineering, revamped a required seminar course, ME:2020 - Mechanical Engineering Program Seminar, for second year students. 

“This project to teach students about the engineering profession over time and across the globe is ultimately intended to help them understand what it means to pursue this career path," said Vitali. "I am also a better educator and mentor because of the work I have done with this funding. It also provided me with pilot data that I used in an NSF proposal focused on engineering education research that was recently funded.”

Global Research Partnership Awards (up to $10,000) 
An award intended to help initiate new or expand existing international partnerships and/or to build an institutional relationship to facilitate future joint research projects.

“I encourage faculty to apply for the International Travel Award. The application is not onerous and the process is smooth. As a rule, faculty don't get travel/professional development funding that allows us to think about international travel. This program makes going abroad possible.” 

International Travel Awards (up to $1,200) 
Supports international travel for research, creative activity, and active conference participation or other collaborative activity.

Julia Kleinschmit, clinical professor, School of Social Work, traveled to Panama to attend the 2024 Social Work Education and Social Development International Conference.

“I encourage faculty to apply for the award, said Kleinschmit. "The application is not onerous and the process is smooth. As a rule, faculty don't get travel/professional development funding that allows us to think about international travel. This program makes going abroad possible.”

Eun Kyung Jeon, clinical assistant professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, traveled to Vietnam in 2023.

“I am incredibly grateful to the generous donors at the Stanley-University of Iowa Support Foundation Organization," said Jeon. "Through your generosity, I now have a broader perspective on global issues related to communication disorders and hearing loss. This knowledge will undoubtedly shape the way I educate and mentor future clinicians and researchers in the field. Thank you for enabling me to enhance our students' understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds and ultimately contribute to better patient outcomes.”

Eun Kyung Jeon at the 2023 Asia Pacific Society of Speech, Language, and Hearing (APSSLH) Conference

Major Projects Award (up to $12,500) 
Promotes important contributions to scholarly debates and exchanges on international topics, issues, discoveries, and arts.

“I am so thankful always for this amazing team! Every time I get to work with International Programs it creates so much synergy and opportunities.  I want to say thank you to you all for everything you are doing.” - Jeanine Abrons, clinical associate professor, College of Pharmacy, who worked with International Programs on organizing the 2024 Major Project, Sacred Threads: Spirituality, Health, and Collaborative Partnerships for Health in Indigenous Communities

Lorenzo Sanford, chief of the Kalinago tribe of Dominica, and featured guest at the 2024 Major Project organized by Jeanine Abrons.

Past projects have included:

• Building Multidisciplinary Global Health Collaborations, awarded to Claudia Corwin, clinical associate professor of internal medicine-pulmonary, critical care and occupational medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine of the UI Carver College of Medicine and director of the Iowa Global Health Network; and Rima Afifi, professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health in the UI College of Public Health and director of the Prevention Research Center for Rural Health
• Frequências: Contemporary Afro-Brazilian Cinema & the Black Diaspora, awarded to Christopher Harris, associate professor, Department of Cinematic Arts 
   

Provost’s Global Forum Award (up to $20,000) 
A premier annual campus event focused on international and global issues. The forum brings together faculty experts and leading voices from a variety of areas to raise awareness about, and contribute to, debate on the foremost issues in globalization that face us today.

Organizers of the Provost’s Global Forum LGBTQ Youth in Global Perspective (from left) Josh Coleman, Allison Rowe, and Will Coghill-Behrends

Past forums have included:

• LGBTQ Youth in Global Perspective - Resistance, Resilience, Reimagination awarded to Will Coghill-Behrends, clinical associate professor of multilingual education, UI College of Education, and co-director of the Linda R. Baker Teacher Leader Center; Josh Coleman, assistant professor of English education, UI College of Education; Allison Rowe, assistant professor of art education, UI College of Education
• Festival of Contemporary Music from Israel, awarded to David Gompper, professor and director of the Center for New Music 
   

Special Projects Awards (up to $500) 
Funding for small-scale international activity on campus, including but not limited to visiting lecturers, speakers, film series, exhibitions, and other public activities that support international engagement on campus.

“Professor Leszek Szymański (University of Zielona Góra, Poland) delivered a guest lecture at the University of Iowa on January 24, 2024. The audience included 42 undergraduate students in the Introduction to Linguistics course and represented diverse majors... I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization and to IP for your generosity and support with my project. My research and progress would not be possible without your help.” - Elena Gavruseva, associate professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Professor Leszek Szymański (University of Zielona Góra, Poland), visiting the UI campus as part of a Special Projects Award received by Associate Professor Elena Gavruseva.

Summer Research Fellowships (up to $3,000) 
Awarded to promote the internationalization of research on campus, resulting in at least one publication, exhibit, or performance.

International Programs’ funding opportunities are supported in whole or in part through the generous contributions of the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization.