The J.J. Neiman-Brown Memorial Fund supports child or other caretaking costs for faculty and postdoctoral researchers traveling to attend conferences, present work, or collaborate on projects.
About J.J.
J.J. Neiman-Brown was a sweet, kind, and inquisitive child who loved gymnastics, dancing, animals, and music by Prince (whom J.J. lovingly called “my friend”). On Feb. 2, 2020, J.J. went to bed a healthy almost-three-year-old but suddenly and unexpectedly died in his sleep that night.
J.J. sparkled through his brief life. He was a happy child, brightening the day of everyone he met with his smiles, questions, and curls. Since his loss, J.J.’s parents, Maurine and Bennett, have focused on making meaning out of tragedy, working to ensure J.J.’s name lives on as a source of joy and positive change.
Maurine and Bennett know firsthand the challenges of balancing the demands of family and caretaking with an academic career. These challenges were amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic, which exposed the major inadequacies and inequities of the caretaking infrastructure in the United States. The caretaking burden imposed by the pandemic hit women and underprivileged groups especially hard, with many juggling work and family and even forced out of the workforce. Many talented and determined people have lost ground and some left academia when caretaking responsibilities overwhelmed them.
About the Fund
The J.J. Neiman-Brown Memorial Fund supports child or other caretaking costs for University of Iowa tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track faculty and postdoctoral researchers. It aims to help goal these caretakers stay academically and/or professionally engaged. This award is not restricted to any sex or gender.
Awards provide caregiving support for faculty/postdocs traveling for academic or professional opportunities. Examples of academic or professional opportunities could include:
- Attendance at a conference or other professional event
- Event where research is presented or shared
- Travel to work with collaborators, or to access field sites/resources
Eligibility:
- University of Iowa faculty member or postdoctoral scholar
- Have caregiving responsibilities for a child or loved one
Application Process
Applications can be submitted at any time for amounts up to $500, and are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Applications must be received before the deadlines below to be considered for the current award cycle.
Quarter 1: October 31
Quarter 2: January 30
Quarter 3: April 30
Quarter 4: July 31