Jan Patočka Fellowship Program 2019-2020, Czech Republic

Objective

The Jan Patočka Fellowship Program aims to foster research inspired by Jan Patočka’s work and legacy and committed to all fields of his intellectual endeavors. It enables Czech researchers to work on a project of their own choice.

The fellowship is open to all academic disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Research proposals related to one of the Institute’s main research fields are especially encouraged.

Conditions

Jan Patočka Fellows will be invited to spend 6 months between July 2019 and June 2020 at the IWM to pursue their research projects. Senior Visiting Fellows will receive a stipend of EUR 4,000 per month, Junior Visiting Fellows EUR 2,000 per month to cover accommodation, living expenses, travel, health insurance and any incidental costs related to their stay in Vienna.

In addition, the IWM provides the fellows with office space including access to internet, in-house research and administrative facilities as well as other services free of charge. The fellows will join the scholarly community and participate in the activities of the Institute.

Eligibility

Candidates for the Jan Patočka Junior Visiting Fellowship:

• must be Czech citizens
• must currently be pursuing a doctoral degree or have recently obtained a PhD in any discipline in the humanities or social sciences
• must not be older than 35 years

Jan Patočka Senior Visiting Fellowships are granted by invitation only.

Application

Applications must be submitted via the application form and should include:

1. a concise research proposal in English (max. 8,000 characters incl. spaces) outlining:
   • the academic problem(s) addressed
   • a critical consideration of current relevant literature
   • the research goals and expected results
   • a work and time schedule (if the duration of the project exceeds the six-month term at the IWM, please indicate which part will be completed during the fellowship)
2. a curriculum vitae
3. a list of publications
4. two letters of recommendation by scholars familiar with the applicant’s academic work

Please submit all your application materials as PDF files!

Deadline for Application:
January 11, 2019

Selection

Junior and Senior Fellows will be selected by a jury of experts. Applicants will be notified of the jury decision in February 2019. The jury is not required to publicly justify its decisions.

The Czech philosopher Jan Patočka (1907–1977) is considered one of the most important Central European thinkers of the 20th century. With a few short exceptions, Patočka was banned from teaching and publishing in communist Czechoslovakia. However, he became an intellectual and moral authority, most notably through his legendary underground seminars.
Patočka was a co-founder and speaker of the civil rights movement Charter 77. He died in March 1977 after a series of police interrogations. This program is dedicated to commemorating his name and work.