Funding Initiative
Volkswagen Stiftung, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University, Washington University, Stanford Humanities Center, The Getty Research Institute,
The Transatlantic Academy

Post-doctoral Fellowships in the Humanities at Universities and Research Institutes in the U.S.

Deadline: November 30, 2011

1. Introduction

The Post-doctoral Fellowships at American Universities are provided by the Volkswagen Foundation in close cooperation with the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University, Washington University, Stanford Humanities Center, The Getty Research Institute, and The Transatlantic Academy. In this program the Volkswagen Foundation will partner with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation which will fund a number of American post-docs in the humanities spending a year at academic institutions in Germany.

The fellowships are granted for 9 - 12 months and aim at supporting post-doctoral studies at the above-mentioned universities and institutes as well as at universities or research institutes of the candidate’s choice. Scholars shall be given the chance to
- pursue a specific research topic in the humanities in an attractive international environment,
- organize a workshop and participate in ongoing seminars in order to establish contacts with colleagues in the U.S.,
- take advantage of rich interdisciplinary scholarly discussions and research networks,
- use the local libraries, archives, and other facilities, and to attend international conferences, symposia etc.,
- get access to a non-German university system by teaching courses to undergraduate and graduate students, depending on the needs of the relevant academic departments.

The respective target group are promising young scholars in their post-doctoral research phase based at German institutions who want to strengthen their research capacity in a specific field of the humanities which can be expected to have a strong impact on their individual research profile and expertise. Scholars who work in an interdisciplinary field are especially encouraged to apply. The applicants should have finished their Ph. D. between one and no more than five years ago. Candidates who apply for a fellowship at an institution not listed above will have to provide a letter by the institution of their choice stating that it will support the candidate’s application and host the person during the respective academy year.

The grants will be awarded for 9 - 12 months and cover a monthly salary as paid by German universities (Arbeitgeberbrutto) plus international health insurance, travel expenses/rent (including one additional flight to Germany, conference participation in North America, and a workshop at the beginning of the stay). Subsidies for children can be applied for separately according to the information on family-related benefits of the Foundation (see www.volkswagenstiftung.de -> service -> download center -> 2. general information for applicants and grant recipients). The final sum granted will gradually differ depending on the living costs at the locality selected (see below). On additional request, small amounts can also be made available for follow-up activities such as visits of researchers from host university/institution to the German institution to which the candidate returns and – at a later stage – for joint projects (for which funds will have to be applied for separately).
The universities/institutes will support the fellows to arrange the necessary contacts at the university and its faculties or the institute respectively. Each year the scholars at some of the institutions mentioned above are invited to work on projects related to an annual theme. Proposals should but do not have to be linked to the proposed thematic scope.

Up to 12 fellowships per year can be funded. Grants will be made to the German institution that employs the respective candidate.

The selection of the candidates will be jointly organized by the Volkswagen Foundation and the host universities/institutes in a two-step procedure. After a pre-selection of the proposals received there will be a second round, including personal presentations and interviews of shortlisted candidates. For that purpose a selection committee will be established, nominated by the Volkswagen Foundation and some of the host universities/institutes.

2. The Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University

The Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University intends to give young Germans scholars the opportunity to take advantage of its libraries, archives, and other facilities, thereby providing opportunities for research and interdisciplinary exchange. Fellows will be able to strengthen their research knowledge and profile in a specific field of the humanities in an international perspective. The Center supports projects that share its commitment to interdisciplinarity and internationality. Applications from all fields within the humanities and the allied social sciences are welcome.
The fellowships granted for 9 - 12 months (starting in September) aim at supporting post-doctoral studies at the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University. The scheduled budget can include items which add up to 100,000 Euro. Final sums will be granted according to the budget items included in the application provided that they comply with the guidelines.

3. Washington University in St. Louis

The University’s research thrives on a rich history of success, deep support from many sources, well-established collaborations with industry, academic colleagues, and — most important — an engaged faculty, students and staff who work interdisciplinarily. The University encompasses more than 90 programs and 1,500 courses in order to develop scholars intellectually, personally and professionally. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences involved in the program welcomes proposals from a wide range of the humanities. The fellowships granted for 9 - 12 months (starting in mid-August) aim at supporting post-doctoral studies at Washington University. The scheduled budget can include items which add up to 80,000 Euro. Final sums will be granted according to the budget items included in the application provided that they comply with the guidelines.

4. Stanford Humanities Center

Founded in 1980, the Stanford Humanities Center is a multidisciplinary research institute dedicated to advancing knowledge about culture, philosophy, history, and the arts. The Center's programs strengthen the intellectual and creative life of the university, foster innovative scholarship and teaching, and act as a hub for humanistic activity on campus. Volkswagen Foundation post-doctoral fellows will be integrated into the Center’s annual scholarly community of up to 45 fellows and visitors. Applications in the digital humanities and those that cross disciplinary boundaries are particularly welcome.
The fellowships granted for 9 – 12 months (starting in September) aim at supporting post-doctorial studies at the Stanford Humanities Center. The scheduled budget can include items, which add up to 100,000 Euro. Final sums will be granted according to the budget items included in the application, provided that they comply with the guidelines.

5. The Getty Research Institute

The Getty Research Institute dedicates itself to further knowledge and to advance the understanding of the visual arts. Its Research Library with special collections of rare materials and digital resources serves an international community of scholars and the interested public. The residential scholars program seeks to "integrate the often isolated territory of art history into the wider sphere of the humanities".
The fellowships granted for 9 months (starting in September) aim at supporting post-doctoral studies at The Getty Research Institute. The scheduled budget can include items which add up to 80,000 Euro. Board and lodging will be provided by the host institution. Final sums will be granted according to the budget items included in the application provided that they comply with the guidelines. In 2012/13 the annual theme for the Getty Center will be "Color".

6. The Transatlantic Academy

The Transatlantic Academy was established in 2007 to bring together renowned senior scholars with promising junior fellows from Europe and North America to Washington, D.C., in order to work on a single theme during its academic year. The Academy provides an intellectual and logistic center for in-depth debates and research on contemporary political, economic, and social issues. This approach is an innovative and powerful means of bringing leading minds from academia and think tanks together to examine the nature and implications of major trends and challenges to the transatlantic community.
The fellowships granted for 9 months (starting in September) aim at supporting post-doctoral studies at The Transatlantic Academy. In this case the candidate should apply for his or her position (Arbeitgeberbrutto) and include items such as insurance and rent into the budget. The scheduled budget can include items which add up to 70,000 Euro. Final sums will be granted according to the budget items included in the application provided that they comply with the guidelines. Money for travel, a workshop, etc., will be covered by the Volkswagen Foundation through the Transatlantic Academy directly.
In 2012/2013 the annual theme will be “The Future of the Western Liberal Order”.

7. Other Institutions

Proposed host institutions not listed above must be renowned universities or research institutions.
The fellowships granted for 9 - 12 months aim at supporting post-doctoral studies at the institutions. The scheduled budget can include items which add up to 80,000 – 100,000 Euro (depending on the chosen locality). Final sums will be granted according to the budget items included in the application provided that they comply with the guidelines.

8. How to Apply and Checklist

Applications must be written in English and submitted to the Volkswagen Foundation electronically via the application system:

https://portal.volkswagenstiftung.de/vwsantrag/login.do
The printed and signed cover sheet provided there has to be sent to the Volkswagen Foundation. The deadline is November 30, 2011. The personal presentations of shortlisted candidates and the final decision of the selection committee are scheduled for March 2012.

The Volkswagen Foundation must be informed if the candidate has a pending application or plans to apply for a fellowship provided by another institution. The Volkswagen Foundation can award grants to academic institutions only. Applications outside of universities and well-known publicly-maintained research institutions are asked to provide details on the legal status, statutes, trustees and boards, charitable/non-profit status, budgeting and auditing of the institution to be funded. Please include an annual report of the applying institution.

Please make sure that your application includes the following documents:
Cover Letter (in English)
Research Proposal (in English)
Outline and substantiation of the research topic to be pursued, its relation to previous research, its importance for the intended career, and the expectations with respect to the stay at the universities/institutions.
One topic for a course to be offered and realized at the hosting faculty (undergraduate/graduate students) including a preliminary course syllabus.
Please note that research proposals of more than 10 pages (arial, 12, 1,5 spaced, max. 17,000 characters excluding spaces) are not accepted.

Budget (in Euro) as follows:
Personnel expenditure (60,000 Euro (salary) plus foreign allowance supplements),
Travel expenses (travel from Germany and back, international health insurance, rent and accommodation costs, workshop, visa),
Recurring non-personnel expenses,
Non-recurrent expenses.
German and English summary of proposal (max. one page each)
Curriculum vitae (in English, max. 2 pages)
Bibliography (max. 2 pages)
Copies of university certificates (M. A. and Ph. D.)
Up to three short publications of interest; if these do not exist; please hand in a copy of your Ph. D.–thesis (with summary in English)
Letter of Confirmation to administer the funds and to grant leave of absence by the German University/Institution (see form)

Letter of Confirmation to support the candidate’s application by the potential host institution if not listed in the call (see form).

Contact:

The International Team
Dr. Almut Steinbach
Phone: +49 (0) 511 8381-370
E-mail: steinbach @volkswagenstiftung.de

VolkswagenStiftung
Kastanienallee 35
30519 Hannover Germany
www.volkswagenstiftung.de

Information on
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation www.mellon.org
The Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University www.mahindrahumanities.fas.harvard.edu
Washington University www.artsci.wustl.edu
Stanford Humanities Center http://shc.stanford.edu/
The Getty Research Institute http://www.getty.edu/research/
The Transatlantic Academy www.transatlanticacademy.org