Call for Applications: Advanced Academia Fellowships for International Scholars
01 October 2014
The Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS Sofia) announces a Call for Applications for its 2015/2016 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 700 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 (400 euro)
  
• Research expenses (100 euro p.m.)
  

DURATION AND CONDITIONS
Candidates may apply for two periods:

1. 1 March 2015 - 31 July 2015 (Summer semester)
   
2. 1 October 2015 - 28 February 2016 (Winter 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 will take part in the regular Fellow seminars and the other scientific events organized by the Centre (workshops, conferences, lectures, etc.) and are invited to present and discuss 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 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 presentations of research results. Therefore, a good command of English is highly desirable.
APPLICATION
Links for downloading:

• [url=http://cas.bg/uploads/files/Call Adv Academia Intl/Intl_Application_Form_CAS_Advanced_Academia_2015_2016.doc]Application Form[/url]
  
• [url=http://cas.bg/uploads/files/Call Adv Academia Intl/Intl_Reference_Form_CAS_Advanced_Academia_2015-2016.doc]Reference Form[/url]
  
• [url=http://cas.bg/uploads/files/Call Adv Academia Intl/Intl_Checklist_CAS_Advanced_Academia_2015_2016.doc]Application Checklist[/url]
  

Please carefully consider these two documents when preparing your application. They can be downloaded also from www.cas.bg.
For Junior scholars (up to 12 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.
Extensions to this period may be allowed in case of eligible career breaks which must be properly documented (maternity leave, long-term illness leave, national service).
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: October 1, 2014
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. In some special cases candidates may be invited for an interview. The results will be announced by the end of January 2015 by e-mail and at the website of the institute: http://www.cas.bg/. Members of the CAS Academic Council do not disclose their assessment reports on the applications to candidates.
The Academic Council reserves the right, in cases of candidatures with equal quality, to grant advantage to candidates that have not been CAS Fellows within the preceding 3 years / have not repeatedly held CAS fellowships in the past.
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