Asian Civilisations Museum Research Fellowships

The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) invites scholars to apply for fellowships in:

• Southeast Asian jewellery;
• Southeast Asian Islamic art;
• Austronesian art;
• Peranakan art; and
• Research relating to Asian port cities

The ACM prizes multi-disciplinary work, cross-cultural studies, and research on ongoing projects at the museum. Research related to the collections at the ACM would be an advantage.

The research fellowship supports in-depth original study and writing on specialised aspects of Asian culture. Applications will be screened by a committee of curators and scholars.

Guidelines for award

Research proposal

The research proposal should clearly outline the area of study and justify how the proposal is relevant to the field, the ACM, and the researcher’s own work. If this proposal is part of a larger project or a collaborative work with another scholar or institution, this should be explained in the application.

We prize multi-disciplinary work, cross-cultural studies, and research on ongoing projects at the ACM. The geographical areas of research should be Southeast Asia, South Asia, China, or the Islamic world.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a PhD or be in the final stages of their dissertation. In addition, applicants with equivalent research qualifications and experience will be considered. Applicants should have completed the bulk of their field work on their proposed project, and be able to write and present papers in English.

Stipend

The monthly stipend is S$5,000. Overseas researchers are offered a one-time grant of S$3,000 as a relocation allowance.

Research fellows are liable for local taxes according to Singapore’s tax regulations. Please refer to the FAQs’ section for more details.

Award period and length of fellowship

The standard duration of the fellowship is nine months (academic year). Candidates may also apply for a period of one semester (four months) or periods as short as one month. In exceptional cases, the fellowship may be extended for a second academic year.

The start and finish period is flexible, though successful candidates are expected to commence their fellowships within the year of the award.

Duties of the research fellow

Research fellows are required to spend most of their time in the ACM or at libraries and research facilities in Singapore. They should participate in the museum’s programmes and interact with curators and other staff.

Research fellows should present a public lecture based on their work in progress. At the end of the fellowship period, research fellows will present a detailed report of their findings.

Selection process and criteria

Applications will be evaluated for their originality, creativity, and how the proposed projects bear upon the annual themes as well as their connection with the ACM’s collections. In general, applicants may not hold another grant during the period of the ACM fellowship.