The National Endowment for the Humanities Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities provide support of up to $50,400 for US scholars conducting humanities research in any country of East-Central Europe and Eurasia. A wide range of humanities topics are eligible for support; however, all projects must involve at least one collaborator from the region and field-based research in the region itself. In addition, applicants must hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree and have a working knowledge of one or more of the languages of East-Central Europe or Eurasia, or be able to demonstrate that such language proficiency is not critical for the successful completion of their particular projects. Applications with a strong regional focus and the potential to strengthen academic linkages beyond the traditional centers are particularly encouraged.The Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities Program is a program of American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS in cooperation with The National Council for Eurasian and East European Research (NCEEER) supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• Countries Eligible for Research
• Eligible Fields of Research
• Eligible Applicants
• Collaboration
• Amount and Tenure of Awards
• Selection, Notification, and Placement
• Application Components
• Submission of Applications

Albania Armenia Azerbaijan Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Georgia

Hungary Kazakhstan Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Moldova Montenegro

Poland Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine

NCEEER administers this program in conjunction with the American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS.

NCEEER administers fellowships involving the countries of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. American Councils administers fellowships involving the countries of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

The 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act states: "The term 'humanities' includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism, and theory of the arts; aspects of social sciences which have a humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life." Scholars conducting research that falls under this definition are eligible for support from the Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities program.

The NEH does not fund any creative or performing arts such as the writing of fiction or poetry, painting, sculpting, composing or performing music, acting, directing, and dance. Critical, historical, and theoretical studies of the arts, however, are eligible for NEH support.

Individuals who are eligible to participate in the Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities program are as follows:

• Scholars who hold a Ph.D. degree or other relevant terminal degree; NEH fellowships are for persons who have already completed their formal professional training. Consequently, degree candidates and persons seeking support for work in pursuit of a degree are not eligible to hold NEH fellowships administered by independent institutions.
• Scholars who demonstrate a specific need to conduct collaborative research on topics in the humanities in the countries of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and/or Ukraine;
• Scholars who have a level of reading, writing and speaking proficiency in a language of the region that is sufficient to conduct independent research and engage colleagues, or who are able to demonstrate that such proficiency is not essential to the successful completion of the research;
• Scholars prepared to present an authoritative and persuasive plan for collaborative research;
• Scholars who are able to begin their projects between June 2010 and May 2011 and complete their NEH research by August 31, 2011. Applicants must plan to spend a minimum of four consecutive months carrying out their research (maximum of twelve consecutive months), of which at least two consecutive months must be spent conducting research in the field;
• Scholars who are able to devote full time to their research projects and will not accept teaching assignments or undertake any other major activities during the tenure of their award.; and
• Scholars who have U.S. citizenship, permanent resident status, or three years of continuous residency in the U.S. before the date of application.

All applications will receive consideration without regard to any factor such as race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, or disability.

A primary purpose of this fellowship is to foster and support collaborative relationships between American scholars and their counterparts from Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Candidates for the fellowship should demonstrate, therefore, that their projects have a significant collaborative element. However, funding is not restricted to projects based on already well-established collaborations. American Councils and NCEEER welcome applications from scholars, particularly junior post-doctoral scholars, who plan to use the fellowship period to explore opportunities and create collaborative links in the region as much as to take advantage of previously established links. In any case, candidates should make clear in their proposals how they expect the collaboration to contribute to the success of their research and what efforts they have made to build contacts with potential collaborators.

Fellowship recipients must devote their full time to their research projects and may not accept teaching assignments or undertake any other major activities during the tenure of their award. Tenure must be continuous and last from four to twelve consecutive months. At least two consecutive months of the Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities program must be spent conducting research in one of the countries of Eastern Europe or Eurasia, though projects requiring a full four months or more in the field are strongly encouraged.

Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities fellows may not receive more than $50,400 in NEH funds for a grant period of from six to twelve months nor more than $25,200 in NEH funds for a grant period of four to five months.

All applications are reviewed and evaluated in the United States by a selection panel comprised of leading American scholars. Scholars awarded Grants will be notified of the results by American Councils or by NCEEER by May 15, 2010. American Councils and NCEEER assist with placement, if desired, at Eurasian or Eastern European institutions and universities appropriate for each selected research project. American Councils and NCEEER will facilitate visa and registration requests and provide logistical support, if necessary.

Applications to the Collaborative Research Grants in the Humanities Program are comprised of the following components:

1. A four-page application form
2. A proposed budget form
3. A research proposal that addresses the overall goals of the project and describes ways in which collaboration will contribute to the attainment of these goals (ten pages maximum)
4. Research synopsis in host-country language or demonstration that language proficiency is not essential to the successful completion of the project
5. Archive list and/or questionnaire for interviews or surveys, if necessary for research
6. Curriculum vitae (CV) of the US applicant
7. Resume or curriculum vitae (CV) of proposed collaborator(s)
8. Two letters of recommendation
9. A clear photocopy of the inside page of the US applicant's passport and photocopy of green card (if applicable)

Scholars conducting research in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, or Slovenia should contact NCEEER for information and advice on preparing applications; scholars conducting research in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Ukraine should contact American Councils.

All applicants must submit completed applications as follows: an original and five collated copies, plus appropriate supporting documents to American Councils (proposals for countries under NCEEER's jurisdiction should also be sent to American Councils) at the address listed below. Applications must be postmarked by the close of business on the deadline date of February 15, 2010. Faxed and e-mailed copies of applications will not be accepted. Applications submitted without required copies will not be considered. Applicants should also retain a copy of the application for their records, as no applications will be returned after the end of the competition. Program organizers reserve the right to verify all of the information indicated in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible.

Programs must begin between June 2010 and May 2011 and be completed by August 31st, 2011. Applicants must plan to spend a minimum of four consecutive months carrying out their research (maximum of twelve consecutive months), of which at least two consecutive months must be spent conducting research in the field.

Program Officer, Russian and Eurasian Outbound Programs
American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 833-7522