Advanced Academia Fellowships at CAS Sofia

The Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS Sofia) announces a Call for Applications for its 2020/2021 In-Residence Advanced Academia Fellowships for fundamental research in the fields of the humanities and the social sciences. 

OBJECTIVE

CAS Sofia is an independent Institute with international and multidisciplinary profile. Located in Sofia, Bulgaria, it promotes high-level scholarship in the social sciences and the humanities. In addition to supporting focus-group research, CAS Sofia invites outstanding scholars to pursue their individual research projects during in-residence periods of up to five months. The invited Fellows participate in the intellectual life and the scholarly community of the Centre (Bulgarian and foreign fellows) while working on projects of their own choice. Fellows receive adequate material and intellectual support and can profit from the Centre's wide international networks, international seminar- and guest-lecturer programme. CAS Sofia assists Fellows in all practical matters concerning travel, residence and research in Sofia.

FORMAT

CAS Sofia provides in-residence fellowships of two- to five- month duration to post-doctoral non-Bulgarian researchers. Junior as well as Senior scholars are invited to apply. 

  • The selected Fellows are entitled to: 
  • A monthly stipend of 800 euro* (liable to 10% income tax) to cover living expenses related to the stay in Sofia. 
  • Accommodation in Sofia, comprising living quarters and working space. The Fellows will also have free access to the CAS library and electronic resources/databases. 
  • Travel allowance (up to 400 euro);
  • Research expenses (up to 500 Euro).

DURATION AND CONDITIONS

Candidates may apply for two periods: 

  • 1 October 2020 - 28 February 2021 (Winter semester)
  • 1 March 2021 - 31 July 2021 (Summer semester)

N.B. The final invitation for fellowship depends on the ranking of the application and the preferred period. Availability for both periods is an advantage for the applicant. Please, indicate in the application form whether you prefer one or either period.

The selected Fellows shall take part in the regular Fellow seminars and the other scientific events organized by the Centre (workshops, conferences, lectures, etc.) and present their project in lectures or seminars. The results of their work shall be summarized in a paper (in English), to be published in the electronic CAS Working Paper Series. 

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must:

  • Be non-Bulgarian citizens; 
  • Have completed a PhD in the fields of the humanities and the social sciences; 
  • International research experience (participation in projects and refereed conferences) and publications in peer-reviewed academic editions are strong advantages. 

WORKING LANGUAGE

As an international academic institution CAS conducts most of its work in English, which is also the language of the fellow seminars. Therefore, a good command of English is required.

APPLICATION

Links for downloading: 

Please carefully consider the former two documents when preparing your application. For Junior scholars (up to 8 years after PhD defense**) only: two letters of recommendation by scholars familiar with the applicant’s academic work should be emailed to CAS by the referees. 

All application documents should be presented in English and sent by e-mail to dimov@cas.bg with a subject entry “Advanced Academia Fellowships.” 

Deadline for applications: March 31, 2020

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • High quality of the candidate's academic portfolio and publications, participation in international research;
  • Innovative fundamental research proposal with significant contribution;
  • Interdisciplinary and/or comparative approaches are an advantage.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection will be carried out by the international Academic Council of CAS based on evaluation of the potential of the candidate relative to his/her career stage and the quality of the proposed project. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an on-line interview on the 22nd and/or 23th of June, 2020. The results will be announced in July 2020 by e-mail and at the website of the institute: http://www.cas.bg/. Members of the CAS Academic Council do not disclose to candidates their assessment reports.

The Academic Council reserves the right, in cases of candidatures with equal assessment, to give preferentiality to candidates who have not been CAS Fellows during the preceding 5 years or have already been granted two CAS fellowships. 

CONTACT PERSON AND MAILING ADDRESS

Mr. Dimiter Dimov, e-mail: dimov@cas.bg 
Centre for Advanced Study Sofia; Sofia 1000, 7-B, Stefan Karadja Str, 
tel.: + 359 2 9803704 / fax: + 359 2 9803662 

Institution
Application date
Duration
2-5 months
Discipline
Humanities
Social sciences