Competition

Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships in China Studies

Maintaining the vitality of the field of China Studies in the US

The deadline for this program has passed. The description below is for information purposes only. Awardees in the 2021-22 competition will be announced in the spring.

In cooperation with the Henry Luce Foundation, ACLS has embarked on a three-year bridging initiative to reassess and reconfigure the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies.  We will convene scholars at all ranks, higher education leaders, journalists, and other readers of research and writing on China to re-imagine and transform our program to meet the needs of China studies in the 21st century.

Fellowships in 2021-22 will support research, writing, and curriculum development.  An intensive retreat on the future of the field, on progress of fellowship projects, and on their curricular implications will be held in June 2022.

Fellowships are financially supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, with additional funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Short-term research fellowships will enable recent PhDs (without tenure and within eight years of the PhD), and with heavy teaching and service responsibilities, to carry out projects in research and writing. These flexible, short-term awards may be used for access to online archives, travel, conference participation, childcare or other familial responsibilities, as well as other needs identified in the application essay for accomplishing the proposed objectives.  Fellows will be asked to share the planned impact of their projects for curriculum development at the June 2022 retreat, whose purpose is to build teacher-scholar cohorts in China studies.

Each short-term fellowship provides a stipend of $15,000 (three months’ work over a period of twelve months).  It also provides an additional $5000 allowance for attendance at the summer retreat in 2022.  Short-term fellowships do not require leave from university responsibilities.

Long-term research fellowships will enable recent PhDs (without tenure and within eight years of the PhD) to take leaves from university responsibilities for four to eight months to carry out projects in research and writing.  During the fellowship tenure, which must consist of consecutive semesters or quarters, Fellows must be on leave from teaching and service.  No employment is allowed, so that full time may be devoted to the project.  Fellows will be asked to share the planned impact of their projects for curriculum development at the June 2022 retreat, whose purpose is to build teacher-scholar cohorts in China studies.

Each long-term fellowship provides a stipend of $5000 per month for a minimum of four months and a maximum of 8 months. The minimum stipend is $20,000; the maximum is $40,000.  The fellowship also provides an additional $5000 allowance for attendance at the summer retreat in 2022.

Early Career fellowships emphasize the importance of research in China by the applicant. The application essay should describe the research the applicant intends to do, or has done, in China, if any.  (Applicants who do not propose work in China should explain how they will gain access to sources.)

Research in Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan is eligible. Research may also be conducted on Chinese culture and society outside these areas, as required by the research plan.  In each case, the selection committee will consider the quality and intensity of the project’s focus on topics related to China.

Proposals must reflect an understanding of the contemporary academic and research environment in China.  A working knowledge of the Chinese language is required.

The fellowship period must begin between June 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.

Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships promote inclusion, equity, and diversity as integral components of merit that enhance the scholarly enterprise. It is a priority that every cohort of Fellows and grantees is broadly inclusive of different backgrounds, cultures, and any aspects that make one unique. In China studies we seek balance in regard to national origin, educational background, and current university affiliation, as well as in disciplinary approaches, topics, and historical periods studied.

Fellowship Details

  • Amount:
    1. Stipend for short-term fellowships: $15,000 calculated as $5,000 per month for three months’ work accomplished over a twelve-month period. An additional $5,000 allowance will be provided for attendance at the 2022 summer retreat.
    2. Stipend for long-term fellowships: Minimum $20,000, maximum $40,000 calculated as $5,000 per month for four to eight months’ work accomplished full time, i.e., with leave from all university responsibilities.  An additional $5,000 allowance will be provided for attendance at the 2022 summer retreat.
  • Tenure: the fellowship period must begin between June 2022 and September 2023. Short-term fellowships support three months’ work over a twelve-month period.  No leave is required. Long-term fellowships support four to eight consecutive months of work.  No other employment or university service is permitted.
  • Eligibility
    1. An applicant must hold a PhD from an institution in the United States or Canada, OR be a US or Canadian citizen/permanent resident with a PhD from any institution. The PhD degree must be completed by November 1, 2021. If the degree is not completed by the deadline, please see the FAQs.
    2. An applicant who is not a US or Canadian citizen/permanent resident must have an affiliation, or a long-term regular research or teaching appointment, with a university or college in the United States or Canada.
    3. An applicant must hold a PhD degree conferred no earlier than January 1, 2013.
    4. Applicants who have obtained tenure, or who have submitted tenure materials for review by the application deadline are not eligible.
  • Early Career fellowships support research and writing toward a scholarly product in English that has clearly defined implications for curriculum development. 
  • Priority will be given to proposals based on the applicant’s research in China. Research in Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan is eligible. In addition, proposals based on research outside these areas will also be considered.
  • A working knowledge of Chinese is required.
  • Stipends may be used for research costs (including travel, access to online archives, and conference participation) and living expenses (including childcare and other familial responsibilities)., The application essay should state how these costs will support the project’s objectives, but no budget is required.  
  • A final report is required on completion of the fellowship period.
  • Deadline: Completed applications must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship Application system no later than 9PM Eastern Time, November 1, 2021.
  • Notifications will be sent by May 2022.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of

  • The research design and intellectual organization of the project
  • The importance of proposed research in the context of existing literature, which must be identified
  • The ability of the applicant to accomplish the proposed research, based on academic training and success of previous research projects
  • The impact the project will have on curriculum development
  • The feasibility of the plan of work.

Contact

Please email [email protected] with questions. Before submitting an inquiry, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Supporting Documents