The Levan Institute for the Humanities supports interdisciplinary working groups with the goal of fostering intellectual exchange and advancing research on topics in the humanities (broadly construed) that are not already addressed by an existing department or program. Working groups are primarily addressed to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. They may involve participants at other institutions. 

How to Propose a New Working Group

Proposals for new working groups are invited every Spring for groups starting the following Fall. Proposals for new working groups can be submitted online using this form. Previous working groups are available here.

Working groups should have at least two conveners from different departments or units at USC; at least one of the conveners must be a tenure-track or tenured professor based in the humanities or humanistic social sciences. Working groups may organize discussions of work in progress, conversations around shared readings, or any activities that advance scholarly dialogue and the research agendas of participants. Groups are expected to meet regularly during the academic year and must be open to new participants. Groups are welcome to include participants outside of USC, and at institutions other than universities. Existing groups that the Levan Institute does not currently support are eligible to apply; existing Levan working groups are eligible to reapply as we wish to foster long-term conversations and collaborations. Awards are modest ($250–$500 for the academic year) and aimed at facilitating conversations, not organizing events. Proposals for new working groups should indicate the group's title and description, information for each convener, and an estimated budget.

Current Working Groups