American Center for Mongolian Studies Fellowship 2016

Publish Date: Feb 09, 2016

Deadline: Feb 15, 2016

ACMS Field Research Fellowship Program 2016

The ACMS Field Research Fellowship supports short-term field research projects in Mongolia by students, university and college faculty and other researchers. In order to foster collaborations between student and faculty researchers, joint applications for research fellowships are highly encouraged, although not required.

The ACMS Field Research Fellowship Program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State through a grant from the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.

Program Description

The ACMS Field Research program supports students, post-doctoral scholars, and faculty to conduct field research in Mongolia between May and October of each year. Applicants must be US citizens currently enrolled full-time (students) or employed at least part-time (post-docs and faculty) at a university or college. Students graduating in Spring 2016 are eligible for the program. Undergraduate applicants must have at least third year standing in their program, while graduate applicants can be at a masters, pre-dissertation, or doctoral candidacy level. Post-doctoral scholars and faculty must regularly teach at least one course at a US university or college to be eligible. The program priority for post-doctoral scholars and faculty is to support individuals from non-research intensive universities and colleges, especially those who are helping guide student research projects or who can show how the fellowship experience will enhance their teaching and outreach.

Joint applications submitted by a student and post-doctoral scholar or faculty member are highly encouraged. Joint applicants must submit individual applications, but the applications will be evaluated both individually and jointly during the review process. Joint applications are not required, and individual applications are welcome.

Student Application Requirements

Student research work for the ACMS Field Research Fellowship Program must be conducted under the supervision of a Research Sponsor. In past years, Research Sponsors were required to be on site in Mongolia during a substantial part of the student’s research program. For 2016, well designed research projects that demonstrate close collaboration between the student and Research Sponsor will be considered, even if the Research Sponsor is unable to travel to Mongolia. Preference will be given to projects where the Research Sponsor will be in the field for a substantial part of the student’s research work, and therefore students are highly encouraged to submit joint applications with post-doctoral scholars or faculty members that can act as Research Sponsors.

Research Sponsors should have previous experience conducting academic field research, and agree to work closely with the student in the design, implementation and final write up of the research project. Field research projects should last a minimum of 6 weeks, and be conducted in Mongolia between May and October.

In their applications, students are asked to describe how their participation in the project will support their educational and career goals, and how their project supports the development of US-Mongolian cooperation. Applicants are required to include a letter of support from their Research Sponsors responsible for overseeing the students’ research programs.

Post-Doctoral and Faculty Application Requirements

Post-Doctoral and faculty applicants must have an identified Mongolian institution or individual who will serve as their Research Sponsor in Mongolia. Applicants without formal contacts in Mongolia can contact the ACMS at apply@mongoliacenter.org to inquire about assistance in finding an appropriate Research Sponsor.

Research Sponsors should have relevant experience in supporting academic field research, and agree to host the fellow's research project. Field research projects should last a minimum of 3 weeks, and be conducted in Mongolia between May and October.

In their applications, post-doctoral applicants are asked to describe how their participation in the project will support their teaching, outreach, and career goals, and how their project supports the development of US-Mongolian cooperation. Applicants are required to include a letter of support from their Research Sponsors.

Applications to the 2016 Program

***Please note: Due to funding constraints only US citizens are eligible to apply to the program in 2016***

***Please note: First-time applicants with strong applications will be rated above strong applicants who have recently received an ACMS Field Fellowship. While it is possible to again be awarded an ACMS Field Fellowship a second time, please be aware that chances may not be in your favor.

The American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS), with funding support from the US State Department Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Council of American Oversees Research Centers, invites applications for the seventh year of the ACMS Field Research Fellowship Program to support short-term student, post-doctoral, or faculty field research in Mongolia in the Summer or Fall 2015. The program will provide awards of up to $4,000 to approximately 4-8 students, post-docs, or faculty.

The field research project should be conducted in conjunction with a Research Sponsor, such as a faculty member or senior researcher, and involve at least 6 weeks for students or 3 weeks for post-docs or faculty of fieldwork in Mongolia. Preference is given to projects in which the Research Sponsor will work directly with the researcher in the field in Mongolia.

Deadline for receipt of complete applications: February 15th, 2016

Apply online now by following this link.

Note: Your application is not saved until you click the "submit" button on the last page of the online application form, so you may initially work through the application without submitting the form to see all required data. It is advisable to prepare your data for the application in advance before attempting to submit your complete application.

All inquiries about the program should be sent to: apply@mongoliacenter.org

Instructions for applying are available directly below:

 
Award Amounts

The program will provide up to $4,000 per individual award (allowable expenses include domestic and international airfare, in country transportation, and up to $1,000 per month for a research stipend unless otherwise agreed upon; a detailed budget is required) or up to $8,000 per joint award. Applicants are encouraged to apply for funding from other sources in addition to the US-Mongolia Field Research Fellowship program to support their work. Demonstrations of other applications or receipt of other sources of support will be viewed favorably by the review committee, and Field Research fellowships may be used to supplement other funding awards. The goal of the program is to assist as many researchers as possible to participate in a field research experience in Mongolia.

 
Selection Process

Research projects in any field, including humanities, sciences and social sciences are eligible. Prior experience conducting research in Mongolia is not a requirement for applicants or students' Research Sponsors. Final selection is made by a selection committee comprising members of the academic and professional communities in Ulaanbaatar utilizing uniform evaluation criteria. The application is due by February 15, 2016, and selection announcements will be made by the end of March 2016.

The ACMS is committed to equitable access and participation without regard to gender, race, national origin, color, disability or age. Due to the requirements of the funding organization, participants must be citizens of the United States. The ACMS will work with all applicants to overcome barriers, however applicants with disabilities should be aware that disability accommodations in Mongolia may be limited. Applicants need to be aware that there may be limited to no access to regular medical treatment in Mongolia, and applicant’s health status should permit travel to and within Mongolia in order to be eligible for this program.

 
General Terms and Conditions for 2016 Program

1. All applicants must be citizens of the USA, and must be enrolled full-time (students) or employed part-time (post-docs and faculty) at a college or university. Students graduating in spring 2016 are eligible to apply. Students who are graduating before the start of their field research project should indicate their future study plans and how the field research fellowship will fit into those plans.

2. Student fellowship recipients must spend a minimum of 6 weeks or post-doctoral and faculty fellowship recipients must spend a minimum of 3 weeks in Mongolia conducting their research projects between May and October 2016. Each student fellowship recipient must work with a Research Sponsor who will oversee their research work. Research Sponsors are generally faculty members or senior researchers with a track record of research project oversight. For 2016, well designed research projects that demonstrate close collaboration between the student and Research Sponsor will be considered, even if the Research Sponsor is unable to travel to Mongolia. Preference will be given to projects where the Research Sponsor will be in the field for a substantial part of the student’s research work. US students may work with a Research Sponsor from either a US or Mongolian institution. Student applicants are encouraged to submit joint proposals with a post-doctoral or faculty applicant.

3. Post-doctoral and faculty fellowship recipients must work with a Mongolian Research Sponsor with relevant experience and skills to host and facilitate the research project. Post-doctoral and faculty applicants are encouraged to submit joint proposals with a student applicant.

4. Undergraduate applicants must have at least third year standing in their program, while graduate applicants can be at a masters to doctoral dissertation level.

5. Post-doctoral and faculty applicants must teach part-time at a US university or college to be eligible for this program. The program priority is to support faculty from non-research intensive universities and colleges, especially faculty who are helping guide student research projects or who can show how the experience will enhance their teaching and outreach.

6. Student applications must include a complete online application (https://mongoliacenter.org/field_application.html) and supplementary materials in the form of university transcripts, cv or resume, and letter of support from the Research Sponsor. Applications must be received by the ACMS by February 15, 2016. The supplementary application materials may be submitted either by mail to the ACMS office at University of Pennsylvania or as an email attachment to the email address:apply@mongoliacenter.org . Letters of support and transcripts may be scanned and submitted separately from other documents. If applicants choose to send their supplementary materials by mail, applicants should notify the ACMS to expect the materials by sending a short e-mail to apply@mongoliacenter.org to ensure the materials are included in the application. Supplementary materials sent by mail must be received by February 15, 2016 for the application to be considered.

7. Post-doctoral and faculty applications must include a complete online application (https://mongoliacenter.org/field_application.html) and supplementary materials in the form of cv or resume and letter of support from the Research Sponsor. Applications must be received by the ACMS by February 15, 2016. The supplementary application materials may be submitted either by mail to the ACMS office at University of Pennsylvania or as an email attachment to the email address:apply@mongoliacenter.org . Letters of support may be scanned and submitted separately from other documents. If applicants choose to send their supplementary materials by mail, applicants should notify the ACMS to expect the materials by sending a short e-mail to apply@mongoliacenter.org to ensure the materials are included in the application. Supplementary materials sent by mail must be received by February 15, 2016 for the application to be considered.

8. All applicants must be current members of the ACMS to be considered for the program.

9. All travel between the US and Mongolia that uses funds from the fellowship program must meet the provisions of the Fly America Act. Details about these provisions will be provided to Fellowship recipients.

10. A portion of the fellowship stipend will be withheld until the recipient submits their final report on their fellowship experience. The final report will include reflections on both the research conducted, and how the research experience is expected to impact future academic and career development.

11. Award recipients are responsible for paying all taxes related to their awards. The fellowship funds awarded are generally considered income in the United States and Mongolia, and therefore must be reported to the tax authorities. The ACMS bears no responsibility for withholding or remitting taxes related to these awards.

12. Award recipients are responsible for ensuring proper medical and evacuation insurance coverage during their time in the field in Mongolia. Proof of insurance coverage will be required before disbursement of fellowship funds.

13. The ACMS reserves the right to adjust the amounts and types of awards given under this program, as well as the general terms and conditions, before award agreements are reached with each recipient.

 

Additional Information

In conjunction with a fellow’s Researcher Sponsor, the ACMS offices in the US and Ulaanbaatar are available to assist the scholars chosen for the program to prepare for their research in Mongolia by providing pre-departure information on Mongolia, assisting with logistics such as travel arrangements to and from Mongolia and within the country, and helping to locate research materials and local contacts. The Research Sponsors for each project are responsible for overseeing the scholars' living arrangements (if applicable) and research program during their time in Mongolia.

All participants are required to submit a final report on their field experience that reflects on both their research program, and how the experience might impact their academic or career development. Poster presentations are organized at the Association of Asian Studies annual meeting to allow participants an opportunity to report on their research experience, and recipients are encouraged to participate if possible.


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http://mongoliacenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=35&Itemid=142

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Disciplines

Eurasian Studies

Study Levels

Research

Opportunity Types

Fellowships

Eligible Countries

United States

Host Countries

Mongolia