Competition

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation New Professorships in Buddhist Studies

Apply

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.

Grant Details

  • Institutions of higher education worldwide are eligible to apply for grants up to $300,000 (to be expended over four years) in support of new teaching positions in Buddhist studies. 
  • The proposed position must be a new position, not a replacement for a retirement or for an otherwise vacated position in the same or very similar field.
  • The establishment of the position must contribute significantly to the institution. This has been taken to mean establishing a curriculum in Buddhist Studies where none has existed or where such a curriculum was in clear and urgent need of support.
  • Award funds should be used only for the new professor’s salary, benefits, and research expenses, not for indirect or administrative costs, or office expenses.
  • In addition, applicant institutions are eligible to request funds for costs related to a competitive search for the proposed position. The request must not exceed the $300,000 maximum.
  • A letter must be attached to the application from the institution’s president, vice-chancellor, rector, provost, or dean expressing the institution’s commitment to maintain the seeded position as a permanent, tenure-track post after the expiration of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation’s funding, consistent with the university’s policies on tenure-track positions. At institutions without a tenure-track system, the applicant institution must commit to continuing the position for a substantial period after the expiration of grant funding and must provide a description of how this commitment fits its contractual practices.
  • The heart of the application is a statement outlining the proposed position—its responsibilities, departmental location, its rank, the fit with the institution’s mission and curricular plans, and the qualifications sought in potential appointees. The statement should describe the process of identifying the appointee.
  • Completed applications must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System (ofa.acls.org) no later than 9PM Eastern Time, January 11, 2022.

Eligibility

  • Institutions of higher education worldwide–accredited colleges and universities–are eligible to apply.
  • The application must be written in English.
  • This is a global competition. There are no requirements regarding the location of the institution or the language(s) of instruction.
  • Applications must include a multi-year plan for matching at least 1/3 of Foundation funding over the grant period, but the matching ratio need not be the same each year. (Please see a sample schedule for sequenced funding that meets the matching requirement here.)

Evaluation Criteria

  • The strength of the institution’s commitment to establishing a tenure-track position in Buddhist Studies. At institutions without a tenure-track system, the applicant must commit to continuing the position for a substantial period after the expiration of grant funding and must provide a description of how this commitment fits its contractual practices.
  • Coherence and cogency of presentation
  • Feasibility of the proposed budget and plan of establishing the new position
  • The institution’s record in teaching and research

Contact

Questions should be directed to [email protected]. Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before making inquiries.

Supporting Documents