I wasn’t a recipient of an International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) but I did serve for some years on the selection committee and as a convener for a workshop of recipients in Vancouver. I thought it was a very important grant for underwriting the production of knowledge via fieldwork methodologies (ethnography, archival research, survey research, and other qualitative approaches in the social sciences and the humanities) and that it was administered incredibly well by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). Not only was the funding open to non-US citizens studying in the US, but it also was thoughtfully decoupled from the Cold War narratives that still have weight in federally-funded research support for work outside the United States.
I’m really distressed that SSRC is ending the grant. The thinking seems to be that this is a result of Mellon ending its financial support for the IDRF. If that’s so, I strongly urge Mellon to urgently reconsider that decision. The program is extremely consistent with the new funding priorities that are driving Mellon’s decisions.
At the least, a far better explanation than what’s on offer so far is required from both organizations. The need for the program is not ended, and the work of the program should be an ongoing priority.
I didn’t have this grant, either, but I also participated in reading for it and in workshops associated with it. It has funded so many worthy projects over the years!