The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars
ACLS is no longer accepting applications for this 2025-26 competition.
Awardees will be announced in Spring 2026.
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars Fellowships in Buddhist Studies places recent recipients of the PhD in professional positions at host institutions (museums, libraries, and publications) that present and interpret knowledge of Buddhist traditions. The selected Buddhism Public Scholars will use their academic knowledge and professional expertise to bolster the capacity of host institutions in areas such as Buddhist art, Buddhist thought, or Buddhist practice. Host institutions may focus on any Buddhist tradition (or traditions) worldwide. We expect the Buddhism Public Scholars initiative to nurture mutually beneficial partnerships between scholars and hosts that will help disseminate knowledge of Buddhist traditions to broad publics.
Buddhism Public Scholars will:
- Take on substantive, intellectually meaningful responsibilities at cultural institutions
- Receive compensation of:
- up to 75,000 USD and health insurance at US-based host institutions
- up to 57,000 GBP at the Courtauld Institute of Art, UK
- up to 84,000 CAD at Lion’s Roar, Canada
- Begin one-year positions in September 2026, with the option to renew for another 12-months
Host institutions will:
- Benefit from the scholar’s knowledge and professional capacities, including cultural competencies, and strong skills in writing, research, organization, and problem-solving
- Guide the scholar’s contributions to ongoing projects or to the design of new ones
- Provide oversight and access to requisite resources
- Encourage and enable networking and mentorship
Participating Host Institutions
We are proud to be working with the following organizations to host potential Buddhism Public Scholars. Please click on the links below for job descriptions.
- Lion’s Roar Foundation (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
- Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis, MN)
- Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art (New York, NY)
- The Courtauld Institute of Art (London, United Kingdom)
- The Tricycle Foundation (New York, NY)
Applications for these positions are accepted solely through the Buddhism Public Scholars program. Only complete applications, submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System, will be considered.
Award Details
- Tenure: 12 – 24 months beginning in September 2026
- For US-based host institutions: Compensation equivalent of up to 75,000 USD plus health insurance. The typical breakdown is:
- 65,000 USD paid through institution’s payroll system (subject to payroll taxes and deductions)
- Up to 5,000 USD for relocation and up to 5,000 USD for research, travel, home office expenses, or professional development paid by ACLS directly to the scholar
- For the Courtauld Institute of Art: A total award of up to 57,000 GBP. The expected breakdown is:
- Up to 48,742 GBP paid through institution’s payroll system
- Up to 3,800 GBP for relocation and up to 4,458 GBP for research, travel, home office expenses, or professional development paid by ACLS directly to the scholar
- For Lion’s Roar: A total award of up to 84,000 CAD. The typical breakdown is:
- Up to 70,000 CAD paid through institution’s payroll system
- Up to 7,000 CAD for relocation and up to 7,000 CAD for research, travel, home office expenses, or professional development paid by ACLS directly to the scholar
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a PhD in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited university.
- An applicant must hold a PhD conferred between September 1, 2018 and June 30, 2026.
- If the PhD is not conferred (officially awarded) before the application deadline, finalists will be asked to submit a letter from the scholar’s graduate school confirming that the dissertation has been submitted and approved by the graduate school for conferral according to the university calendar. The scholar is responsible for submitting the dissertation on time in order to meet this requirement.
- Applicants must have work authorization (e.g., citizenship or permanent residency) in the country in which the host institution is located. If you are uncertain of your status or would require assistance with a visa, please contact [email protected] to confirm your eligibility. Neither ACLS nor the host institution will sponsor scholars for visas. See FAQ for further information on work authorization.
- Applicants to US-based host institutions must be authorized to work legally in the United States for the duration of the initial 12-month fellowship term. This includes Indigenous individuals residing in the United States through rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794, and those who hold DACA status, Temporary Protected Status, political asylee or refugee status, and other non-permanent status.
- Applicants to the Courtauld Institute of Art (UK) must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
- Applicants to Lion’s Roar (Canada) must be authorized to work legally in Canada for the duration of the initial 12-month fellowship term.
Application Guidelines
- Completed applications must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System no later than 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on January 27, 2026.
- Each applicant may apply for up to two of the available positions, indicating which is the first preference.
Applications must include:
- A completed application form, including a short statement of interest to explain your interest in careers outside the academy and where you see yourself professionally five years from now.
- A cover letter tailored to each selected position and addressed to the host institution (no more than one single-spaced page in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). Applicants applying for two positions will submit two distinct cover letters.
- A resume (no more than one single-spaced page in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). Applicants applying for two positions will submit two resumes.
- A writing sample (no more than five double-spaced pages in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).
- Two letters of recommendation, which should address the applicant’s knowledge of Buddhist traditions, professional competencies, and the fit with the position selected. Applicants applying for two positions will submit two letters of recommendation for each position selected.
Evaluation Criteria
Selection and placement will take place in three stages. The first stage is an initial review of eligibility and other criteria. Finalists emerging from the first stage will be interviewed by the host institution. In the third stage, ACLS will match the preferences of the hosts with the preferences of the applicants and present nominees for positions to the hosts.
The initial review will evaluate applications based on:
- Knowledge of Buddhist traditions and disciplinary competence
- Demonstrated ability to connect academic and non-academic skills and capacities to the responsibilities of the applicant’s selected position(s)
- Applicant’s academic and extra-academic accomplishments
- The capacity of an award to advance the program’s goals of presenting and interpreting Buddhist knowledge, traditions, and cultures to the broader public
Webinars, Workshops, and Resources
| General Information Session | October 15, 2025, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET Register here. |
| General Information Session | December 2, 2025, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET Register here. |
Contact
Please do not contact any of the host organizations with questions. Questions should be directed to [email protected]. Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before making inquiries.