American Research Institute of the South Caucasus

The American Research Institute of the South Caucasus invites proposals from collaborative teams in support of the preservation and conservation of the Republic of Armenia’s archaeological and historical heritage. This ARISC program, generously funded by Project Discovery! and donors, seeks to foster joint work between American and Armenian scholars and institutions dedicated to the proper curation and preservation of heritage materials such as artifacts, sites, and manuscripts. Successful applications will demonstrate substantive collaborations that not only contribute to heritage conservation but also demonstrate efforts to build capacity and enhance local knowledge of current techniques and approaches to heritage management. These grants require active participation of both American and Armenian principal investigators in all aspects of the collaborative project.

The American Research Institute of the South Caucasus (ARISC) announces the availability of fellowships in support of research and mentoring activities in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and/or Georgia). The goals of the fellowship are 1) to support research in and the study of the South Caucasus; 2) to select, recognize and financially support individuals who demonstrate high potential to contribute to research in this region; 3) to support a mentoring relationship that will both develop the academic skills of the mentee and strengthen ties between the US and host country. Projects in all fields in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences are eligible, and all projects must include one or more undergraduate and/or graduate students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and/or Georgia as research assistants/participants. Priority will be given to projects proposing research on entrepreneurship, science and technology, youth leadership, or higher education. This opportunity is open to US citizens who are scholars at the predoctoral, postdoctoral, or advanced professorial levels. Research awards will be made for $2,500 to $6,500, for a maximum of 3 months each to help cover transportation, room, board, incidental expenses, and other expenses needed to support scholar’s research in the South Caucasus. For ARISC grant purposes, mentoring is understood to involve integrating a local scholar into a research project in a fundamental way that involves cultivating skills and knowledge of methods that will contribute to the professional development of the local scholar. The fellows will give ARISC-sponsored presentations on a subject related to their research. Proposals will be peer-reviewed and judged on their quality and on the potential of the research to strengthen scholarship on the South Caucasus. ARISC offers connections with colleagues, institutions, and authorities through its representatives in Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan.