Faculty Resources
Faculty Fellowship
Applications Open
Applications are open for the 2023 – 2024 Humanities Institute Faculty Fellowship Program. Eligibility information and instructions can be found in the application below. Contact Liz Kicak for questions or more information. Applications are due Friday, March 3, 2023.
Humanities Institute faculty fellowship program
After a successful first year, the Humanities Institute welcomes its second faculty cohort to participate in a year-long fellowship program. This program is designed to encourage interdisciplinary research and provide time and space for intellectual inquiry and collaboration.
MEET THE 2022-23 COHORT

Lorena Madrigal
Professor
Anthropology

Adriana Novoa
Associate Professor
History

Christina Richards
Associate Professor
Integrative Biology
The Complexity of Diversity from an Interdisciplinary Perspective
The 2022 –23 cohort is studying “The Complexity of Diversity from an Interdisciplinary
Approach” and plans to explore the wider context of “diversity” including the scientific
and humanistic study of the environment in which we live and our relationship with
it; the effects that a loss of biological diversity has on all life; and the socio-political
ramification of policies that shape the existence of diverse species on Earth in the
Anthropocene. These scholars stress the importance of overcoming the artificial separation
between the sciences and humanities and how integrating the fields will lead to a
deeper understanding of the cultural context of
genetic diversity and the pitfalls of any biological concept of race.
The cohort is developing a new General Education course based on their collaborative efforts: HUM 2593,“Science in Cultural Context” and the course will be offered to interested undergraduates in Spring 2023.

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger? The Future of COral Reefs and the Humans They Support
Dr. Harmony Martell
University of British Columbia
Darwin Day Lecture
Thursday, February 9, 2023 | 12:30 PM
USF Marshall Student Center (MSC 3709)4103 Cedar Circle, Tampa, FL 33620
The Humanities Institute Faculty Fellowship Program is designed to give a group of faculty members from different academic disciplines the time, space, and resources to pursue a shared research concept from an interdisciplinary perspective. This year’s cohort is exploring the complexity of diversity including the scientific and humanistic study of the environment in which we live and our relationship with it, the effects that a loss of biological diversity has on all life, and the socio-political ramification of policies that shape the existence of diverse species on Earth in the Anthropocene. Fellows Lorena Madrigal (Anthropology), Adriana Novoa (History), Christina Richards (Integrative Biology) and Alex Levine (Philosophy) stress the importance of overcoming the artificial separation between the sciences and humanities and how integrating the fields will lead to a deeper understanding of the cultural context of genetic diversity and the inaccuracy of any biological concept of race. In the Fall semester, they taught a graduate/undergraduate seminar to analyze the meaning of human diversity over time, and in the Spring they are teaching a Gen Ed class, Science and Society.
In addition to their research and teaching efforts, the Faculty Fellows have continued their tradition of organizing events for “Darwin Day,” an international celebration commemorating Charles Darwin’s birth on February 12, 1809. Darwin’s research into evolution and biodiversity upended nearly every aspect of both the scientific and non-scientific world and is a cornerstone of the Fellows’ work.
On February 9, the Fellows welcome Dr. Harmony A. Martell, an Ocean Leaders Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia. Martell will be discussing “The Future of Coral Reefs and the Humans They Support.” Her talk will explore how the loss of biodiversity is not strictly a scientific concern, but one that has far-reaching impacts on public policy, ethics, tourism, and other areas.
Dr. Harmony Martell is a seasoned educator, with two decades of science teaching experience at the high school and university levels. She is passionate about mentorship, particularly for women and underrepresented groups in marine science. She is a marine ecophysiologist interested in the effects of temperature on marine plants and invertebrates, particularly in the context of climate change. The sea, conservation, and education are the core tenets of all her endeavors. She is a proud mother of two in academia.
This event is sponsored by ResearchOne, USF Departments of Integrative Biology, Philosophy, Anthropology & the School of Geosciences, Biology and Philosophy Graduate Student Organizations, The Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment, Hillsborough County Public Schools, and Tampa Bay Stem Network.
For questions about the Faculty Fellowship Program, contact Liz Kicak.