Funding Opportunities for U.S. Research Scholars

[MARY PETRUSEWICZ]

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS
Announces the Following Funding Opportunities 
for U.S. Research Scholars
for the 1999-2000 Academic Year



1.  U.S. Department of State, Title VIII-Funded Research Scholars Program

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, in conjunction with the United States Department of State, announces the opening of its competition for the Title VIII Research Scholars Program for the academic year 1999-2000.  This U.S. Department of State*funded program will provide fellowships for approximately eight Title VIII research scholars pursuing three- to nine-month projects at universities and research institutions in any of the newly independent states (NIS) of the former Soviet Union, and for twelve Title VIII research scholars pursuing three- to nine-month projects at universities and research institutions in central and eastern Europe, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Baltics.  

Title VIII Research Scholar fellowships are open to U.S. doctoral candidates, scholars and faculty.  We encourage applications from scholars whose projects are focused on an analysis of new developments in the NIS or central or eastern Europe, and whose research goal is to formulate a coherent vision of the future of these transitional regions.  Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate both a need to pursue their research in the NIS or central or eastern Europe, and proficiency in their research language.  Proposals will be reviewed by an independent selection committee of leading U.S. scholars in the social sciences and the humanities.  

Participants in the Research Scholar Program will receive round-trip airfare from their home cities to their host universities, in-country orientation and support (in the NIS), monthly stipend, housing, health insurance, and access to libraries and.archives.  

Application Deadline:  December 15


2.  Regional Scholars Exchange Program.  

ACTR/ACCELS, in conjunction with the United States Information Agency, announces the opening of its competition for the Regional Scholars Exchange Program (RSEP), for the academic year 1999-2000.  This USIA*funded program will provide fellowships for twenty U.S. scholars to pursue four- or six-month research projects at universities and research institutions in any of the newly independent states (NIS) of the former Soviet Union.  The RSEP program is administered by the American Councils in cooperation with the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research.  

The Regional Scholars Exchange Program is open to U.S. citizens who are advanced graduate students, university faculty and scholars at the early stages of their careers, or mid-level faculty who have not had recent opportunities to conduct research projects at institutions in the NIS.  Candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree or be working towards a Ph.D. at the time of application.  Successful applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 55, and must be able to demonstrate a specific need to conduct research in the NIS in one of the 24 designated fields of study.  Applicants should have a high level of proficiency in their NIS language that is sufficient to conduct independent research and engage colleagues.  Preference is given to scholars who have publications (advanced graduate students may cite papers persented at academic conferences) in a particular field.  

Projects eligible for funding under this program are limited to the following disciplines:  American Studies, Business Administration (including business and management education), City Planning and Urban Studies, Civic Education, Conflict Resolution, Criminal Justice, Demography, Economics (including international trade, finance, and investment), Education (including university administration), Ethics and Philosophy, Foreign Policy and International Relations, Government, History, Industrial Labor Relations, Information Technology (Internet and the Application of New Information Technologies in Higher Education), Journalism, Law, Library Science, Management and Marketing, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Work, Sociology, Women*s Studies

The selection committee will give special consideration to applications that seek to increase U.S. knowledge of the non-Russian peoples of the region or that broaden and strengthen international academic linkages beyond the traditional centers.  Selection committee members are asked to recommend host institutions and advisers and identify research centers, libraries, resources, professional associations, and conferences that are likely to be of interest to the participant.  

Participants in the Regional Scholar Exchange Program will receive round-trip airfare from their home cities to their host universities in the NIS, in-country orientation, monthly stipend, health insurance, access to libraries and archives, professional development and alumni activities.  

Application Deadline:  December 15

All Title VIII*funded Research Scholars and USIA*funded Regional Scholars will have in-country support in the NIS from the American Councils.  Headquartered in Washington, DC, the American Councils maintains permanent offices in forty-six cities and twelve countries of the NIS, with a staff of more than 200 full-time U.S. and foreign national employees.  

Further information is available on the American Councils website (www.actr.org) or may be requested by contacting the American Councils.  Please address all requests for information and materials to:  

Mary Petrusewicz
Research Scholar Program Manager
American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS
1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
ph: 202-833-7522
e-mail: petrusewicz at actr.org
website: www.actr.org