Call for Applications: Humanities EXPLORE Research Fellowship with Professor Christian Ruvalcaba–2025-2026
Teguima Research and Revitalization Working Group (LAAL)
Application Deadline: May 26, 2025
The Humanities Experiential Learning Opportunities in Research (EXPLORE) Program connects undergraduate Humanities majors and minors with faculty-led projects in the division for paid research positions. Fellows gain valuable mentorship and practical experience.
Details
Duration: Academic Year 2025–26
Hours: 10 hours/week
Pay: $20/hour
Mentorship: Regular check-ins and support from Christian Ruvalcaba (LAAL)
About the project
This project involves working with archival documents from the 17th-19th century that provide information about the Teguima (also called Opata) language. Teguima is a dormant Indigenous language originally spoken by tens of thousands of people in northern Mexico. The work involves transcribing some of the archival resources, investigating the sources and their authors, organizing the transcriptions and data, as well as analyzing the transcriptions and data.
What You’ll Do
The research primarily focuses on the sounds and syntax of the Teguima language. This information and research are also used to assist in the revitalization efforts of this language. Students can assist in creating a Loteria game (a traditional board game) in collaboration with people who identify as Opata or Opata descendants, including Teguima words. This will involve helping with translations, helping with the design and drawing of the images on the playing cards, and participating in discussions with community collaborators.
Students will transcribe texts, organize data in spreadsheets, and participate in data analysis and interpretation discussions. Transcription work will primarily be done on a 18th century text of religious writings (e.g., sermons, confessional manual) that includes writing in Spanish, Teguima, and Latin. Students will transcribe individually, and they will meet to compare transcriptions, questions, and observations about the text. Organizing data involves searching for certain words across various archival and modern dictionaries of the Teguima language, writing them into a comparative spreadsheet, and interpreting patterns in the data. Students will also participate in the analysis of the data they collect, including looking at the transcriptions for certain verbs, verbal morphemes, and word order.
- Transcription (50%)
- Planning / informational meetings (10%)
- Data processing and organizing (10%)
- Data analysis (10%)
- Loteria project (drawing, designing of playing cards): (10%)
- Background/context reading (10%)
- Humanities EXPLORE Programming: Attend a quarterly meeting when possible and participate in asynchronous Canvas experiential learning reflection.
Eligibility & Qualifications
- You must be a declared or proposed major or minor in a Humanities Division department and have good academic standing. If proposed, declare by June.
- Eligible majors: Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism, Classical Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- Eligible minors: Black Studies, Classical Studies, East Asian Studies, History of Consciousness, History, Italian Studies, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- You have work authorization (required)
- You can work independently and collaboratively (required)
- You are proficient in Spanish
- You’re able to read cursive writing
- You have basic knowledge of linguistic concepts
What You’ll Learn
As part of this project, you’ll receive training in transcription methods, historical linguistics, and applied linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, and syntax. You’ll also learn about the historical and cultural context of the Opata people, how languages change over time, and the basics of language revitalization. Through hands-on work with archival materials and community-based projects, you’ll gain experience analyzing linguistic data, conducting archival research, and supporting Indigenous-led revitalization efforts across borders.
How To Apply
- Updated resume
- 1-page cover letter addressing:
- Why you’re interested in this role
- How your background and skills apply
- What you hope to gain from the experience
- Address your letter to Christian Ruvalcaba
Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate! For application help, see Humanities Career Engagement.
Questions? Email Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu
The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, the UCSC Humanities Division, and private donors generously support the Humanities EXPLORE Program.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
