ASCSA Announces Available Positions and Fellowships

Founded in 1881, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) is the most significant resource in Greece for American scholars in the fields of Greek language, literature, history, archaeology, philosophy, and art, from pre-Hellenic times to the present. It offers two major research libraries: the Blegen, with over 113,000 volumes dedicated to the ancient Mediterranean world; and the Gennadius, with over 146,000 volumes and archives devoted to post-classical Hellenic civilization and, more broadly, the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean. The School also provides centers for advanced research in archaeological and related topics at its excavations in the Athenian Agora and Corinth, and houses an archaeological sciences laboratory at the main campus in Athens. By agreement with the Greek government, the ASCSA is authorized to serve as liaison with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports on behalf of American students and scholars for the acquisition of permits to conduct archaeological work and to study collections.

Since its inception in 1994, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship program at the ASCSA has demonstrated its effectiveness by supporting projects for 60 scholars with distinguished research and teaching careers in the humanities.

Eligibility:  Postdoctoral scholars and professionals in all fields relevant to the mission of the ASCSA who are US citizens, or foreign nationals who have lived in the US for the three years immediately preceding the application deadline. Applicants must already hold their Ph.D. or have completed all requirements, except for the actual conferral of the degree, by the application deadline.

Terms:  Two to four fellows will be selected for awards of 4, 5, or 9 months duration. The monthly stipend per fellow is $4,200 allocated from a total pool of $75,600 per year. Applicants should indicate their preference for the length and dates of tenure of the award to coincide with the American School’s academic year: 9 months, Sept. 2020-beginning of June 2021; 4 months, Sept. – Dec.; 5 months, January to the beginning of June. School fees are waived, and the award provides lunches at Loring Hall five days per week. The NEH Fellow will pay for travel costs, housing, residence permit, and other living expenses from the stipend. A final report is due at the end of the award period, and the ASCSA expects that copies of all publications that result from research conducted as a Fellow of the ASCSA will be contributed to the relevant library of the School. The NEH Fellow is also required to send one copy of all books and electronic copies of articles directly to the NEH.

Application: Submit Senior “Associate Membership with Fellowship” Application online on the ASCSA web site by October 31. Link to application: https://ascsa.submittable.com/submit/115299/associate-membership-with-fellowship-application

The following items should be included in the application submitted online on the ASCSA web site:

1.   Short abstract of the project (up to 300 words).
2.   A statement of the project (up to five pages, single spaced), including desired number of months in Greece, a timetable, explicit goals, a selected bibliography, the importance of the work, the methodologies involved (where applicable), and the reasons it should occur at the ASCSA.
3.   Current curriculum vitae.  If not a US citizen, state US visa status /date of residence.
4.   Names of three recommenders who are individuals familiar with applicant’s work and field of interest. Include a list of names, positions, and addresses of the referees.  Instructions for recommenders to submit letters will be sent through the application portal. Please make sure your recommenders have submitted their letters by November 4. These letters should comment on the feasibility of the project and the applicant’s ability to carry it out successfully.

The following criteria will be used by the Selection Committee when considering applications.
1.  Are the objectives and approaches clearly stated and coherent?
2.  Will the project result in an important and original contribution?
3.  Are the research perspectives and methodologies appropriate?
4.  Is the projected timetable reasonable for the tenure of the fellowship?
5.  What resources are necessary? Does the ASCSA provide resources that are not available at the home institution?

Term: Early September to June 1.

Eligibility: A senior scholar working in any area related to the mission of the School who possesses a significant record of publication and teaching and is affiliated with a Cooperating Institution. Preference will be given to those who have not received recent funding from the School. Previous holders of the Whitehead may apply if the previous term was at least five years prior.

Project: The Whitehead Distinguished Scholar shall pursue research on a project that utilizes the facilities of the School and enriches its academic program. Whitehead Scholars also participate in the academic life of the School in a variety of ways, especially by working closely with Regular and Student Associate members of the School during the winter term (late November to late March) on the subject of their expertise, and are encouraged to join School trips and excursions throughout Greece. A more detailed description of this position and a list of past Scholars’ work with members is available on the School’s website: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/apply/fellowships-and-grants/postdoctoral-and-senior-scholars

Applicants are encouraged to consult with the Mellon Professor, Sylvian Fachard, well in advance of the October 31 deadline when planning their proposed contributions to the academic program of the School. Please be advised that Loring Hall may be under renovations in the fall of 2020, and the academic year schedule may have to be adjusted accordingly. Project proposals should be flexible enough to accommodate possible changes.

Compensation: Stipend of $40,000 plus round-trip coach airfare to Athens, board at Loring Hall for the Whitehead Scholar (one-half senior rate for spouse, and one-half student rate for dependents), School housing, and hotel and transportation on up to four of the five field trips (western and northern Greece, Peloponnesos, central Greece, Crete, and the Corinthia and Argolid) and transportation on all winter Attica excursions.

• Brief statement of interest (1 page)
• Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) including list of publications
• Statement of current and projected research (max. 3 pages)
• Proposed contribution to the academic program (max. 3 pages)
• Account of the frequency and length of earlier visits to Greece