The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars

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 the area of Buddhist art and thought in any tradition and location where Buddhism is practiced. 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 and health insurance at US-based host institutions and receive an award of up to 57,000 GBP at the Courtauld Institute of Art
  • Begin one-year positions in September 2025, 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, project management, 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  

Award Details

  • Tenure: 12 – 24 months beginning in September 2025
  • For US-based host institutions: Compensation equivalent of up to $75,000 plus health insurance. The typical breakdown is:
    • $65,000 paid through institution’s payroll system (subject to payroll taxes and deductions)
    • Up to $5,000 for relocation and up to $5,000 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 typical breakdown is:
    • Up to 48,000 GBP paid through institution’s payroll system
    • Up to 3,800 GBP for relocation and up to 5,200 GBP 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 interpretive social sciences from an accredited university.
    • An applicant must hold a PhD conferred between September 1, 2019 and June 30, 2025.
    • 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 be authorized to work in the country in which the host institution is located:
    • 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. Neither ACLS nor the host institution will sponsor scholars for visas.
    • Applicants to the Courtauld Institute of Art (UK) must have the right to work in the United Kingdom. Neither ACLS nor the host institution will sponsor scholars for visas. 

Application Guidelines

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 Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global’s interest in presenting and interpreting Buddhist knowledge, traditions, and cultures to the broader public

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 (coming soon).

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.

Contact

Please do not contact any of the host organizations with questions. Questions should be directed to BuddhistStudies@acls.org. Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before making inquiries.

Supporting Documents