AISLS fellowships support two to six months of research in Sri Lanka by US citizens who already hold a PhD or the equivalent at the time they begin their fellowship tenure. Both scholars with little or no experience in Sri Lanka as well as specialists are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: Dec. 1, 2024
Projects in all fields in the social sciences and humanities are eligible. Proposals in other areas that contribute to the understanding of Sri Lankan history, culture, or society are also invited. Applicants need not have prior research experience in Sri Lanka. Proposals will be judged on their quality, on the extent to which they fall into one of the targeted categories listed below, and on their potential to strengthen US scholarship on Sri Lanka and develop links between US and Sri Lankan scholars. All applications, including those from US citizens resident outside the United States, must address all three of these criteria.
All proposals should fall into one of the following categories:
- Proposals by scholars with an established interest in Sri Lanka, who can show that their research will contribute to the understanding of historical or contemporary connections with other parts of the world. Such connections may take the form of substantive links, or they make take the form of relating processes or events in Sri Lanka to analogous processes and events elsewhere.
- Proposals by scholars whose primary interest is not in Sri Lanka, but who wish to include consideration of Sri Lanka as part of a wider project.
- Proposals by scholars whose primary interest has not been in Sri Lanka, but who wish to undertake, or examine the feasibility of undertaking, a major research project there.
- Applicants must hold US citizenship.
- Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent academic degree or show that they will hold such a degree before taking up the fellowship. Scholars at all ranks are eligible. Members of the AISLS Board of Directors are not eligible. Please see the AISLS policy on board membership and fellowships.
- No individual may be awarded AISLS fellowships for more than seven months over any three consecutive fellowship competitions.
- Applicants must plan to spend at least two months in Sri Lanka and should normally complete the fellowship (including travel back to the United States) before December 31, 2026. The time in Sri Lanka supported by the fellowship need not be continuous (e.g., it might be divided between the summers of 2025 and 2026), but only one round trip airfare will be reimbursed.
- A per diem of $3,700/month, for a period of two to six months.
- Reimbursement for round trip airfare between the United States and Colombo, for an amount up to $2,000. Travel must comply with the Fly America Act. Details will be provided to successful applicants.
- A very limited budget for research expenses, to be negotiated according to need and funding limitations. Fellows will be required to provide documentation for these expenses.