The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars Professional Positions at Museums

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars Fellowships in Buddhist Studies places recent recipients of the PhD in professional positions at host institutions (museums, libraries, and publications) that present and interpret knowledge of Buddhist traditions. The selected Buddhism Public Scholars will use their academic knowledge and professional expertise to bolster the capacity of host institutions in the area of Buddhist art and thought in any tradition and location where Buddhism is practiced. We expect the Buddhism Public Scholars initiative to nurture mutually beneficial partnerships between scholars and hosts that will help disseminate knowledge of Buddhist traditions to broad publics.

Buddhism Public Scholars will:

• Take on substantive, intellectually meaningful responsibilities at cultural institutions
• ​Receive compensation
• Begin one-year positions in September 2026, with the option to renew for another 12-months 

Host institutions will:

• Benefit from the scholar’s knowledge and professional capacities, including cultural competencies, and strong skills in writing, project management, and problem-solving
• ​Guide the scholar’s contributions to ongoing projects or to the design of new ones 
• Provide oversight and access to requisite resources 
• Encourage and enable networking and mentorship  

Award Details

• Tenure: 12 – 24 months beginning in September 2026
• Compensation details coming soon

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a PhD in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited university.
  • An applicant must hold a PhD conferred between September 1, 2020 and June 30, 2026.
  • If the PhD is not conferred (officially awarded) before the application deadline, finalists will be asked to submit a letter from the scholar’s graduate school confirming that the dissertation has been submitted and approved by the graduate school for conferral according to the university calendar. The scholar is responsible for submitting the dissertation on time in order to meet this requirement.
• Applicants must have work authorization (e.g., citizenship or permanent residency) in the country in which the host institution is located. If you are uncertain of your status or would require assistance with a visa, please contact BuddhistStudies@acls.org to confirm your eligibility. Neither ACLS nor the host institution will sponsor scholars for visas. See FAQ for further information on work authorization.

Application Guidelines

• Completed applications must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System no later than 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on January 27, 2026.
• Each applicant may apply for up to two of the available positions, indicating which is the first preference. 

Applications must include:

• A completed application form, including a short statement of interest to explain your interest in careers outside the academy and where you see yourself professionally five years from now.
• ​A cover letter tailored to each selected position and addressed to the host institution (no more than one single-spaced page in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). Applicants applying for two positions will submit two distinct cover letters.
• A resume (no more than one single-spaced page in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). Applicants applying for two positions will submit two resumes.
• A writing sample (no more than five double-spaced pages in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).
• Two letters of recommendation, which should address the applicant’s knowledge of Buddhist traditions, professional competencies, and the fit with the position selected. Applicants applying for two positions will submit two letters of recommendation for each position selected.

Evaluation Criteria

Selection and placement will take place in three stages. The first stage is an initial review of eligibility and other criteria. Finalists emerging from the first stage will be interviewed by the host institution. In the third stage, ACLS will match the preferences of the hosts with the preferences of the applicants and present nominees for positions to the hosts.

The initial review will evaluate applications based on:

• Knowledge of Buddhist traditions and disciplinary competence
• Demonstrated ability to connect academic and non-academic skills and capacities to the responsibilities of the applicant’s selected position(s)
• Applicant’s academic and extra-academic accomplishments
• The capacity of an award to advance the program’s goals of presenting and interpreting Buddhist knowledge, traditions, and cultures to the broader public

Participating Host Institutions

Information about host institutions and job descriptions coming soon.

Applications for these positions are accepted solely through the Buddhism Public Scholars program. Only complete applications, submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System, will be considered.

Contact

Please do not contact any of the host organizations with questions. Questions should be directed to BuddhistStudies@acls.org. Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before making inquiries.

Supporting Documents

• 2025-26 Sample Application for The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars Coming Soon