The Central Eurasia Research Fund (CERF)

ASPS is happy to announce that it now accepting CERF grant applications. The deadlines for receipt of electronic submissions are January 15, 2008 and June 15, 2008. The dates of the announcement of awards are March 1, 2008 and August 1, 2008. The award period is for one year.

CERF grants support research and publications concerning Persianate culture by individual scholars from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Northwest China.

Eligibility: a minimum degree equivalent to a B.A. Grantees may only reapply for a CERF Grant after five years from the receipt of a previous CERF award.

Grants do not exceed US $1500 and provide funding for the following: · Book or monograph publication costs (includes translations from English) · Technical equipment necessary for specific research projects, such as computers, printers, scanners, voice recorders, or digital cameras · Travel expenses for archival research that will result in a scholarly publication

Selection: Awards made twice a year. An ASPS evaluation committee reviews applications. Every effort is made to provide regional balance in the distribution of grants based on:

• Importance of the topic
• Academic merit of the proposed project
• Demonstrated career commitment to the field
• Feasibility of the project
• Potential impact of the research
• Adequate academic and professional experience of the candidate

CERF candidates must submit an electronic application in MS Word format to the Director of the CERF program, Dr. Jo-Ann Gross, at gross@tcnj.edu with the following required information:

1. Name and address, email address, fax number
2. Place and date of birth
3. Citizenship
4. Institutional name and address
5. Research field or discipline
6. Highest degree obtained
7. Title and description of research proposal (1-2 pages) that includes objectives and potential impact of research and/or publication
8. Budget (included detailed account of specific expenses)

Please keep a copy of the application requirements for your records and check off each category prior to application submission. Incomplete applications will be invalidated.

Award and Final Report: Grant recipients must submit a written report and two copies of any publication resulting from the award within two months of the award completion period. The report must include the following: · Name of project and objectives · Extent to which the objectives were met · Impact of project · Receipts of all expenses

Final reports, including receipts of all expenses, must be remitted at the end of the project period in order for the Research Fund to meet its own internal accounting requirements that ensure the Research Fund’s continued operation.