Dr. Arvydas Grišinas, senior researcher at the Ethnology and Antropology department, has been awarded the 2025-2026 Research Grant for Emerging Scholars.
The research grants of up to $6,000 support early-career scholars in any field of the Baltic studies. Proposals are evaluated according to the scholarly potential of the applicant and the quality and scholarly importance of the proposed work, especially to the development of Baltic Studies. Funds may be used for travel, duplication, materials, equipment, or other needs as specified.
In his project “Fighting with Empathy: Lithuanian Volunteers Supporting Ukraine,” Arvydas Grišinas investigates the culture, practices, identities, and motivations of Lithuanian volunteers who have committed themselves to supporting Ukraine’s resistance against the Russian military invasion. The project seeks to explore how long-term exposure to war, through volunteer networks, sustained media engagement, and direct field experience, shapes perceptions of national security, solidarity, and civic duty. It also seeks to understand the complex dynamics that are at work in shaping mutual understanding, friendship, and other bonds between those who support and those who are being supported. Research methods include surveys, semi-structured interviews, fieldwork, and social media research.
