Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Early Career Research Fellowships in Buddhist Studies Grant

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Early Career Research Fellowships in Buddhist Studies support pre-tenure scholars with a PhD, enabling them to focus on their research and writing. The fellowship lasts up to nine months, allowing separation from teaching responsibilities. It encourages applications from underemployed scholars and those with high teaching loads, fostering diversity in Buddhist Studies. The fellowship's tenure begins after July 1, 2026, and concludes by June 30, 2028, promoting inclusive research across various Buddhist traditions.

Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Early Career Research Fellowships in Buddhist Studies
Early Career Research Fellowships offer support for research and writing in Buddhist Studies for pre-tenure scholars holding a PhD degree. These fellowships provide scholars time free from teaching and other responsibilities to concentrate on research and writing for the project proposed.
We strongly encourage applications from:
unemployed or underemployed scholarsscholars with high teaching loadsscholars working on their first booksTenured faculty, those who have submitted tenure materials, and emeriti are not eligible.
The fellowship period may last up to nine months, during which time no teaching, commissioned research on other topics, or administrative duties are allowed. Applicants may request a waiver of this requirement if their institutions do not provide leave. The fellowship may be separated into two periods, each of which must be a minimum of three months. If the duration is less than nine months (minimum of six months), the stipend will be prorated.
There are no restrictions as to the location of the work conducted. Each applicant must identify a significant scholarly product (monograph, series of journal articles, translation, etc.) that will result from the fellowship. At the end of the fellowship tenure, a final report will be due describing progress made. Fellows will be asked to report to ACLS any publications based on their fellowship work, once they are published.
When accepting a stipend, fellows must confirm being officially released from teaching, commissioned research, administrative duties, or other employment during the entire fellowship period.
An Early Career Research Fellowship may be held concurrently with other fellowships or grants and with sabbatical pay.
Tenure of the fellowship may begin no earlier than July 1, 2026, and must conclude by June 30, 2028.
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, administered by ACLS, is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity as integral components of merit that enhance the scholarly enterprise. It is a priority of this program that cohorts of fellows and grantees be broadly inclusive of different backgrounds, cultures, and any aspects that make one unique. In Buddhist Studies we seek a range of university affiliations, as well as diversity in languages, topics, Buddhist traditions, and locations of research. The program welcomes applications from all eligible individuals, and selection is made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, or any other aspect of identity.
Fellowship Details
Stipend:
Up to $70,000, to provide release from other duties for devoting full time to the proposed project. The exact stipend will be calculated based on a fellows’ current academic salary and other fellowships, grants, and sabbatical salary to be received during fellowship tenure. There is no additional financial support for dependents.
An award supplement of up to $5,000 for eligible independent scholars, adjunct faculty, and faculty with teaching-intensive roles for costs incurred during the fellowship term, including research support, access to manuscript development workshops, learned society conference attendance, health insurance, or child- or eldercare.
Tenure:
Fellowship period must begin after July 1, 2026, and must end by June 30, 2028. The tenure may last up to nine months (minimum 6 months) and may be divided into two periods, each of which must be a minimum of three months.
All topics, periods, and approaches in Buddhist Studies are welcome.
This is a global competition. There are no restrictions as to the location of the university that has granted the PhD degree, the university of current employment, or the citizenship of the applicant.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a PhD degree conferred (officially awarded) by an accredited university. This is an online form, not a reference letter.(By April 15, 2026) submit 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 applicant is responsible for submitting the dissertation on time in order to meet this requirement. A scholarly product must be proposed. It may be written in any language.The application must be written in English by the applicant.There are no restrictions as to the location of work proposed or the citizenship/residence of applicants.

Ineligibility

No university overhead is permitted.Applicants who have obtained tenure, or who have submitted tenure materials for review by the application deadline are not eligible.