Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS) - Advanced Academia Fellowships for International Scholars

The Centre for Advanced Study Sofia is an independent institution with strong international and interdisciplinary orientation, promoting freedom of research, scholarly excellence, education and intellectual creativity in the humanities and the social sciences. CAS attracts young talents and outstanding senior scholars by offering institutional conditions conducive to free pursuit of knowledge and dialogue in the framework of individual research fellowships or collaborative multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural enquiries. In partnership with other Institutes for Advanced Study, universities, scholarly and cultural associations, it works to re-establish the tradition of intellectual communities and to facilitate open critical debate and exchange of people and ideas on national and trans-national levels. With its transparent, lean and flexible management, CAS has been, since its inception in 2000, a reliable partner for donors and scholars alike.

The CAS vision is rooted in the belief that

• Enhancing the freedom of education and research and the responsibility of the researcher are crucial for creating important new knowledge;
• Scholarship in the contemporary world is an increasingly transdisciplinary, interactive and global endeavor;
• The exchange of people and ideas in an inspiring environment is a precondition both for the improvement of scholarship and for its public impact;
• Exerting constructive pressure “from outside” on the academic establishment, on the regional academic traditions by radiating a new type of institutional culture and standards for equal exchange of ideas, people and values within Europe, the Balkans and the neighbouring regions.

While being a member of the network of Institutes for Advanced Study, CAS’ development has been attuned to specific national and regional needs. A “brain gain” institution, it serves to propel the standards of academic performance by fostering high-quality research and generation of new knowledge. CAS also sees its role in re-establishing the scholarly agency of the local research community on a European scale, in fostering international cooperation well beyond the region, and in creating more encompassing European and global visions. In the process it acts as a bridge between the local scholarly community and the Bulgarian academic diaspora working abroad. Finally, CAS provides platform for critical debates on contemporary societal issues and works to bring national and regional academic elites to bear on fostering civil society, civic engagement, and cultivation of proficient leadership.

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 (up to 400 euro);
• Research expenses (up to 500 Euro).

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must:

• Be non-Bulgarian citizens; 
• Have completed a PhD in the fields of the humanities and the 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 fellow seminars. Therefore, a good command of English is required.

Moreinfo: http://www.cas.bg/en/news