IRB
WIELD has an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which may review applications from scholars whose projects fit within WIELD’s core mission of documenting endangered/fragmented languages. Our IRB (IORG#: IORG0011715) is registered with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with approval through May 10, 2026.
Note that no project that involves minors may be considered. Answers to questions about who may apply and how to apply are given below. (Our organization-internal appendix that covers the review process for our IRB can be accessed here.)
Who May Apply?
Any scholar working with endangered/fragmented languages may apply. Scholars need not have a university affiliation, but they may be asked to provide evidence of their training and ability to undertake their proposed research project.
Which Projects May Qualify for Review?
Only projects that fit within WIELD’s mission and do not involve working with minors (subjects under 18 years of age) may be considered.
How May Scholars Apply?
The application questions and instructions can be accessed here. Submitted applications are reviewed by members of WIELD’s IRB. The review time might take up to six months.
Who Sits on WIELD’s Current IRB?
Our IRB includes professional linguists with active affiliations with other institutions. It also includes experts who now work in industry or who are scholars outside of linguistics. The current chair of our IRB is Dr. Timothy Henry-Rodriguez, who currently teaches linguistics at California State University, Fullerton.