Apply for American Council of Learned Societies SISECSE Workshop

The Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE) is a two-week residential workshop, that provides scholars of Eastern Europe time and space to dedicate to their own research and writing in a collaborative and interdisciplinary setting.

Writing Workshops & Immersive Discussions

• In addition to conducting the own research, scholars will also have the opportunity to participate in small group writing workshops, as well as a series of immersive discussions on a broad topic of shared academic interest.
• In 2024, discussions will explore “The Humanities and Interpretive Social Sciences in a Time of Emergency, or Thinking Urgently.” During periods of crisis, whether they are natural disasters, violent conflicts, or global pandemics, the humanities provide critical insights and new perspectives that contribute to the understanding of the human condition, offer solace and reflection, and help them navigate uncertainty. Participants will consider diverse questions: How do the humanities or interpretive social sciences help them make sense of crises and the challenges they present? In what ways can humanistic research foster resilience, empathy, and collective action? How can humanistic scholarship inform policy-making and decision-making processes during emergencies? What distinct perspectives do different fields and disciplines offer?
• Discussions will be held over several meals and in one seminar session.

Benefits

• The program will offer a travel stipend and cover accommodation and per diem expenses for the two-week residency.
• Institute members will be expected to be in residence and to participate in all planned events for the duration of the institute.
• Scholars will also be provided with opportunities to travel locally during this time.
• Scholars should apply with their own research proposals through the ACLS online system.
• SISECSE will also provide participating scholars with the opportunity to undertake local fieldwork, including archival research, work in museum collections, interviews, site surveys, or other forms of data collection. Fieldwork is not a requirement for participation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must have a PhD degree conferred (officially awarded) by an accredited university. An established scholar who can demonstrate the equivalent of the PhD in publications and professional experience may also qualify.
  • If the PhD is not conferred (officially awarded) by the application deadline, the applicant must submit:
    • (At the time of application) an institutional statement signed by a university official (dissertation advisor or departmental chair) confirming that the applicant is on schedule to complete the PhD by April 15, 2024.
    • (By April 15, 2024) a letter from the applicant’s graduate school confirming that the dissertation has been submitted and approved by the graduate school for conferral according to the university calendar.
• The competition is open to scholars in any field or discipline in the humanities or interpretive social sciences pursuing postdoctoral or advanced research in East Central and Southeastern Europe, including Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.
• Applicants must have an affiliation—a long-term regular research or teaching appointment—with an institution (i.e., college, museum, university) in North America (Canada, Mexico, US) or East Central and Southeastern Europe.
• There are no restrictions as to the citizenship of applicants.
• The application must be submitted in English, but the written work produced may be in any language.

For more information, visit ACLS.