Research Grants
Michigan Language Assessment supports two research grant programs annually
Proposals related to one or more Michigan Language Assessment tests are invited from faculty, graduate students, and other language assessment professionals. Project reports may be published in the Michigan Language Assessment working papers.
The Barbara Dobson Latin America Research Grant
Previously known as the Latin American Research Grant, this program has been renamed to honor Barbara Dobson for her long-standing dedication to language education in the region. This grant supports research in Latin America related to English language learning, teaching, and assessment. Former proposals have focused on: Use of MET in public sector or teacher-focused contexts; impact of MET and MET Go! on curricula, programs, or student outcomes; connections between MET and MET Go! and national or regional standards, frameworks, or curricula; other applied linguistics or assessment research based in Latin America using MET or MET Go!
The Mary Spaan Research Grant
This grant honors Mary Spaan, whose decades of leadership at the University of Michigan significantly advanced the field of language assessment. The Mary Spaan Research Grant supports research related to second or foreign language learning, assessment, and evaluation. Priority Topics for 2025 Proposals: Use and impact of MET, especially in higher education and healthcare high-stakes contexts; use of the Michigan English Placement Test (Michigan-EPT) in North American contexts; learners’ language growth over time; the relationship between learning and assessment; the impact of automated item generation on test development.
Grant Proposal Application
Applications will be judged according to alignment with Michigan Language Assessment’s areas of interest, quality and clarity of the proposal, likelihood the project will be completed in the stated time frame, significance of the project within current scholarship in the field, and likelihood that the project will result in a publishable paper.
See a recent research report
Do you want to see past research grant projects? They are available to read.
Learn more about us
Michigan Language Assessment has a rich history—read about the organization's mission and how it informs our research.
Application process
Applications must be received by Sunday, April 26, 2026. Applications are submitted using the online application form.
Important dates
| Friday, March 6, 2026 | Call for proposals |
| Sunday, April 26, 2026 | Deadline for applications |
| Friday, May 29, 2026 | Notification of results |
| Monday, June 29, 2026 | Project start date |
| Friday, July 2, 2027 | Deadline for project report |
Learn more About the Grant Programs
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Selected projects from both programs will each receive up to $5,000 USD. Funding is for twelve months, although projects on a different time frame will be considered where necessary and justified.
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Successful applicants must sign a research agreement before receiving funding. The research agreement confirms funding arrangements, the security of data and materials, and the terms and conditions governing publication of the research results. Grant recipients also must prepare a final report of their project by the stipulated deadline for inclusion in the Michigan Language Assessment working papers.
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