Grants & Competitions

American Center for Mongolian Studies
Research Fellowship Program
The American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS), with funding support from the Henry Luce Foundation, is pleased to announce the first year of the American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS) Research Fellowship Program. The ACMS Research Fellowship Program will annually support three fellows to conduct up to 12-months of doctoral dissertation or post-doctoral research in Mongolia on topics in the Social Sciences or Humanities. Previous Mongolian Studies experience is not required, but projects should enhance knowledge of Mongolia and the Mongols within relevant academic disciplines or fields of study. Projects that link research conducted in Mongolia to research in other parts of Asia or across academic fields are especially encouraged.
Fellowship awards will include travel expenses to and from Mongolia, an accommodation and food allowance, and a stipend to cover research expenses. Fellows will also have the opportunity to take intensive Mongolian language courses, select resources for inclusion in the ACMS Library, and participate in an annual academic seminar in Mongolia that will bring together international, regional and local scholars and students.

Research work under this program must begin between September 2008 and March 2009, and last for a continuous 6-12 months. Fellowship recipients will be based in Mongolia for the duration of their fellowship, but research travel in the broader region is encouraged. Dissertation fellows must have an approved dissertation proposal prior to the start of their research work under the fellowship, and Post-Doctoral fellows must begin their fellowship work within five years of the granting of their doctoral degree. Fellowship recipients must be US or Canadian citizens attending or recently graduated from a university in the US or Canada.

Arab American National Museum (AANM)
2008 Book Award.
The Arab American National Museum (AANM) Book Award is now accepting submissions for the 2008 Book Award. The AANM Book Award encourages the publication and excellence of books that preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American Community by celebrating the thoughts and lives of Arab Americans. The purpose of the Awards is to inspire authors, educate readers and foster a respect and understanding of the Arab American culture.

We are accepting submissions (from publishers, editors or authors) for books published between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 in the following categories:

• Adult Non-Fiction in the areas of the Social Sciences and Humanities;
• Adult Fiction, including Arts and Literature
• Poetry
• Children or Young Adult, Fiction or Non-Fiction

For more information, please visit http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/2008-AANM-Book-Award.id.444.htm or contact tlsfritzler@accesscommunity.org.  Submissions are due by February 1, 2009.

University of Southern California
Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship
University of Southern California, the School of Religion, invites applications for a Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship for the 2008-09 academic year. The field of specialization is Islamic Studies. The goal of the fellowship is to nourish humanities scholars early in their career and carries a reduced teaching load of only one course per semester. Compensation will include a competitive salary package and fringe benefits. The Fellow will be expected to teach one course each semester in the School of Religion.

Applicants must have completed their PhD by the date of appointment. Applicants should send an application letter, CV, and a brief description of one’s dissertation and current research. In addition, applicants should request that a dossier or three letters of recommendation be sent to the School of Religion.

Send all materials to: The Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship Committee, Chair, School of Religion, ACB 130, 825 Bloom Walk, University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA 90089-1481. USC values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. Women and men, and members of all racial and ethnic groups, are encouraged to apply. USC is an AA/EOE employer. Review of applications will begin on May 1, 2008.

Canadian Committee of MESA (CANMES)
Graduate Student Travel Grants
For graduate students enrolled in a Canadian University—any field of Middle East studies. Contact: Paul Kingston, University of Toronto at Scarborough (416 287-7113; fax: 416 287-7283; kingston@chass.utoronto.c). Deadline: continually open, submit application two months prior to proposed conference travel.

Columbia University
Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR)
Postdoctoral Fellowship 2008-09 
The Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University invites applications for a two-year appointment of a Postdoctoral Scholar to participate in the research and activities of the Center. The Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration, and Religion conducts research and training on the interfaces of, and tensions between, religion, toleration, and democracy in the world. The center runs graduate courses, supports student-faculty research initiatives, provides student scholarships, and develops new research networks.

The successful candidate will be expected to: teach a graduate level course at SIPA on ‘Religion and Democracy – Implications for The Twin Tolerations’ in the spring semesters of 2008 and 2009; teach a graduate level course at SIPA of his or her own design in the fall semesters on topics revolving around religion and politics; help coordinate a speaker series with religious leaders from the United, States, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and West Africa; and help coordinate activities of the center that are close to the postdoctoral scholar’s professional and academic development.

Key areas that CDTR will focus on in 2007-09 are religion-state relations in India, Indonesia, Senegal, Turkey, France and the United States. The applicant should have interest and experience in organizing conferences, seminars and workshops in the field of religion and politics. Training in the following languages is advantageous, but not required: French, Turkish, bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Hindi or another major language of South Asia.

Applicants should have defended their PhD dissertations no later than August 2006. The fellowship period will start January 2008, if possible sooner. The fellow will receive a stipend of $50,000 including fringe benefits that provide health insurance and access to Columbia University Student Housing. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a statement describing their research interests, as well as a writing sample, and arrange to have three letters of reference sent on their behalf. Applications will be considered on a running basis until the position is filled. All application materials should be sent via email to: Professor Alfred Stepan, Director of the Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at cdtr@columbia.edu; www.sipa.columbia.edu/cdtr.

Council for International Exchange of Scholars
Fulbright Scholar Program
Grants for US Faculty and Professionals
Announcing the opening of the Traditional Scholar Program on March 1, 2008. Research, lecture or combine both through single- or multi-country awards to the Middle East and North Africa. Deadline: August 1, 2008.

Two Distinguished Chair awards in Israel. Deadline: August 1, 2008.

For information, contact: Council for International Exchange of Scholars, 3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5L, Washington, DC 20008-3009 (202 686-7877; fax: 202 362-3442; apprequest@cies.iie.org; www.cies.org). The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

University of Illinois-Chicago
Jewish-Muslim Initiative
Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Illinois-Chicago, the Jewish-Muslim Initiative, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Spring semester of 2009. The successful candidate will teach one undergraduate class, give two or three public lectures, and participate in the life of the university. The class may compare Jewish and Muslim views on any topic, or be on any aspect of historical Jewish-Muslim relations. Applicants welcome from History, Philosophy, Religion, Law, Political Science and other disciplines, or from either a Jewish Studies or an Islamic Studies Department. Successful candidates should display interest in both the Jewish and the Muslim tradition, but need have expertise in only one of them. Applicants should submit a CV, including the names of at least three referees, and a sample of written work. Send to: Sam Fleischacker, Jewish/Muslim Search Committee, Philosophy Department (M/C 267), 1407 University Hall, 601 South Morgan Street, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607-7104. The Postdoctoral fellowship will also be available for the Spring semester of 2010. Inquiries regarding 2010 are being accepted at this time.
                UIC ranks among the nation's top 50 universities in federal research funding and is Chicago's largest university with 25,000 students,12,000 faculty and staff, 15 colleges and the state's major public medical center. It is an urban, largely commuter campus, with one of the most diverse student populations in the United States. The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. For full consideration, applications should be in by April 25, 2008.

THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY is an independent private institution founded in 1930 to create a community of scholars focused on intellectual inquiry, free from teaching and other university obligations.  Each year scholars from around the world apply to come to the Institute to pursue their own research.  Those who are chosen are offered a membership for a set period and a stipend.  Members receive access to the extensive resources of the Institute, including offices, access to libraries, subsidized restaurant and housing facilities, and some secretarial services. 

THE SCHOOL OF HISTORICAL STUDIES supports scholarship in all fields of historical research, but is concerned principally with the history of western, near eastern and Asian civilizations, with particular emphasis upon Greek and Roman civilization, the history of Europe (medieval, early modern, and modern), the Islamic world, East Asian studies, the history of art, the history of science, philosophy, and modern international relations.  The School also offers the Edward T. Cone Membership in Music Studies.  Each year the School welcomes approximately forty Members.  Most are working on topics in the above mentioned fields, but each year the School also selects some scholars working in other areas of historical research.  Members in the School are appointed for either one term (first term Sept. 21 to Dec. 18, second term Jan. 4 to April 2) or for two terms, amounting to a full academic year.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS include the PhD (or equivalent) at the time of application and a substantial record of publication.  The School takes into account the stage of the scholar’s academic career when considering the list of publications, but in general applicants should have at least several articles already published in scholarly publications in order to be considered eligible.  Qualified candidates of any nationality are invited to apply.  Scholars are not required to have a current institutional affiliation. 

MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED to remain in residence in Princeton during term time. Members’ only other obligation is to pursue their own research.  If they wish, they may also participate in seminars and meetings within the Institute, and there are ample opportunities for contacts with scholars at nearby universities. 

FUNDING FOR MEMBERS comes from a variety of sources including the Institute for Advanced Study’s own endowment, grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The School will also welcome scholars sponsored by the American Council of Learned Societies through the Frederick Burkhardt Fellowships for recently tenured professors.  (Applications for that program must be submitted directly to ACLS.  For information see the ACLS website at http://www.acls.org/burkguide.htm.) 

INSTITUTE STIPENDS will normally be offered up to a maximum of $65,000 for the full academic year, or $32,750 for one term. A few senior scholars will be offered additional funding to help make up for losses in salary.  Up to three Assistant Professors who meet additional eligibility requirements will be selected for Mellon Fellowships that will provide full year support matching their salaries and benefits at the time of application.  (Detailed information about this program is on the website:  http://www.hs.ias.edu/mellon.htm.)  Stipends may be supplemented by other grants, including sabbatical salaries, but if the total exceeds the salary at the time of application the stipend will be reduced accordingly.  

Further information and application materials may be found on the School’s web site, www.hs.ias.edu.  Inquiries may be sent by email to the Administrative Officer at mzelazny@ias.edu or by post to:  School of Historical Studies, Institute for Advanced Study, Einstein Drive, Princeton NJ 08540.  Completed applications must be submitted by November 1, 2008.

INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, SCHOLAR RESCUE FUND FELLOWSHIPS
Fellowships for Threatened Academics: Professors, Researchers and Lecturers
The Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) provides fellowships for established scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. These fellowships permit professors, researchers and other senior academics to find temporary refuge at universities and colleges anywhere in the world, enabling them to pursue their academic work and to continue to share their knowledge with students, colleagues, and the community at large. When conditions improve, these scholars will return home to help rebuild universities and societies ravaged by fear, conflict and repression.  During the fellowship, conditions in a scholar's home country may improve, permitting safe return; if safe return is not possible, the scholar may use the fellowship period to identify a longer-term opportunity.
How the Scholar Rescue Fund Works:

• Professors, established researchers and other senior academics from any country, field or discipline may qualify.  Preference is given to scholars with a PhD or other highest degree in their field; who have extensive teaching or research experience at a university, college or other institution of higher learning; who demonstrate superior academic accomplishment or promise; and whose selection is likely to benefit the academic community in the home and/or host country or region. Applications from female scholars and under-represented groups are strongly encouraged.
• Fellowship recipients are expected to resume their teaching, lecturing, research, writing and publishing at an academic institution outside the region of threat.
• Fellowships are awarded for visiting academic positions ranging from 3 months to one calendar year.  Awards are issued for up to US $25,000, plus health insurance with the final amount dependent upon the location of the host institution, the cost of living, and the value of any additional contributions from the host institution or other source.
• Fellowships are disbursed through host academic institutions for direct support of scholar-grantees.  In most cases, host campuses are asked to match the SRF fellowship award through partial salary/stipend support, research materials, medical insurance, and other in-kind assistance.
• Applications are accepted at any time. Emergency applications receive urgent consideration. Non-emergency applications will be considered according to the following schedule:

Spring 2008: Application received by March 5; decision by April 30.
Fall 2008: Applications received by October 1; decision by November 1.
Winter 2009: Applications received by January 15; decision by March 1.

*If you are a scholar from Iraq, or seeking support on behalf of an Iraqi scholar, please direct all questions or queries to the telephone number above or write directly to the Iraq Scholar Rescue Fund at IraqSRF@iie.org.  Kindly include "SRF Iraq Project" in the subject line.

Iranian Women’s Studies Foundation
Hammed Shahidian Critical Feminist Paper Award
In memory of Hammed Shahidian and in continuing his scholarship, the Iranian Women's Studies Foundation has established the Hammed Shahidian Critical Feminist Paper at the 2006 IWSF Montreal Conference. 

1. The paper may be about Iranian women’s studies in the social sciences, humanities and the arts.
2. The paper should be unpublished.
3. The paper must be submitted and written in Persian or English.
4. The paper must be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 200 words.
5. The paper should follow a consistent way of writing, stating the problem, presenting evidence, analysis of evidence and conclusions, organized under proper subheadings with a bibliography.
6. The paper should not exceed 5000 words (excluding the bibliography).
7. The paper should be submitted double spaced online or in print. Papers will not be returned.

 Applicants should identify in their cover letter the following categories: Student (undergraduate or graduate), independent writer, researcher or activist and submit a short biography. Papers will be reviewed by two reviewers. The name of the winner will be announced during the annual IWSF conference. The winner is encouraged, but not required, to attend and present the paper. The amount of the award is 500 US dollars. The awarded paper will be published by the IWSF. For information, or to submit, contact: Iranian Women's Studies Foundation, PO Box 380882, Cambridge MA 02238 (617 492-9001; fax: 617 492-9001; Iranianwsf@aol.com; Iwsf.org). Deadline: May 1, 2008.   

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Fellowships in the Social Sciences & Humanities 2009-10
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars awards academic year residential fellowships to men and women from any country with outstanding project proposals on national and/or international issues. Topics and Scholarship should relate to key public policy challenges or provide the historical and/or cultural framework to illuminate policy issues of contemporary importance. Fellows are provided private offices, access to the Library of Congress, Windows-based computers, and research assistants. For eligibility requirements and application guidelines, please contact: Scholar Selection & Services Office, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004-3027 (202 691-4170; fax: 202 691-4001; fellowships@wilsoncenter.org). If you wish to download the application or apply online, please visit: www.wilsoncenter.org. Application deadline: October 1, 2008.