Guidelines for Submitting Research Group Proposals

GENERAL GUIDELINES

As of November 2011, all aplications must be done online, including submission of all documents and relevant material.

A detailed, technical guideline may be downloaded at the following link:

For downloading this section, please click:  Technical guidelines

Please note some changes in the guidelines for submitting research proposals. They are highlighted throughout the text. The Israel Institute for Advanced Studies encourages scholars and scientists from all over the world to submit proposals for research groups. All scientific research topics or fields of study are eligible for application. Occasionally, the IAS Academic Committee initiates the formation of a research group.

We are currently planning one research group with a different format. It is explained at the end of this section

COMPOSITION AND CREATION OF RESEARCH GROUPS
Research groups are convened by a proposal initiator(s) who nominates a total of eight candidate fellows, including him/herself. Groups are comprised of at least four scholars from abroad. The initiator is responsible for coordinating the group's activities. As a rule, full-time appointments cannot be shared by two scholars, and in general no more than two scholars can be nominated from the same institution. Former fellows can participate in new research groups after three years have elapsed from their previous term at the Institute. Nominations for candidate fellows must specify the potential contribution of each candidate to the project. Group members need not have worked together or collaborated on research in the past. The selection of candidates should strengthen the collaborative work of the research group. In addition to the eight full-time appointments, research groups can include short-term visitors to the IAS. In general, each group can invite up to two visiting scholars from overseas for the duration of two months. The group is welcome to invite local visiting scholars as well. Each group may hire one assistant. Assistants are usually graduate students in fields of study closely related to the group's area of research.

PERIOD OF RESIDENCE
The Institute's academic year runs from September 1st to August 31st. Proposals should include a request for a five-month, six-month or ten-month residency period. The long-term groups and the six-month groups begin September 1st. The five-month groups begin March 1. Applicants should be aware that the scheduling of research groups is limited by the number of groups chosen, the length of their residence at the Institute and the availability of faculty workspace and guest apartments. Efforts are made to satisfy the scheduling preferences of each group.

We are aiming to have at least one ten-month long research group at the Institute for 2012-2013.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
The application submission is a two-step process. The first is conceptual and the requirements are outlined in the section titled Stage One - Application Submission. Once the Academic Committee approves the conceptual proposal, the second stage of the submission process can begin. This stage focuses on the group participants and obtaining nominee consent, and is explained in the section titled Stage Two - Nominee Consent.

Stage One - APPLICATION SUBMISSION

The entire proposal must be written in English (an additional translation in Hebrew may also be submitted) and must contain the following:

I. A project title.

II.An abstract of up to 200 words.

III. Main body of the proposal (approximately 6-8 pages):

      A. A description of the project including subtopics and questions to be addressed. The proposal should include a description of the contribution it will make to the discipline.

      B. List of proposed participants (fellows and potential visitors), including institutional affiliation and a short summary of their relevant research (2-3 lines per participant).

      C. Preferred starting date and duration of residency at the Institute.

      D. Specific needs of the research group (e.g. access to restricted libraries or collections, special computer software or other equipment).

      E. Proposed conferences, seminars or other activities that the group plans to initiate for the benefit of the academic community outside of the Institute.

4. As of November 2011, all aplications must be done online, including submission of all documents and relevant materrial.

   A detailed, technical guideline may be downloaded at the following link:

   Technical guidelines

Stage Two - NOMINEE CONSENT

Upon receiving approval of the conceptual proposal, the proposal initiator is required to submit a listing of all suggested group participants with their consent, for review by the Director and the Academic Committee. The IAS secretary will inform all applicants, sometime during January - March, of the required date of submission for nominee consent.

Nominated fellows must agree to reside in Jerusalem for the duration of their fellowship.

Nominees must be informed that their appointment is subject to the approval of the IAS Academic Committee.

Submission of a proposal does not constitute a commitment on the part of the Institute or the nominee until a proposal is approved. Nominee consent is considered a "declaration of intent." Once a group has been created and fellows and visitors have been approved, any changes to the list of participants or the status of a participant must be determined in consultation with the Director of the Institute and the IAS Academic Committee.

IV. A curriculum vitae for each participant, including his/her list of publications – mention should be made of each researcher’s contribution to the field.

V. The group coordinator is requested to submit articles and books published by the nominees that are relevant to the research topic.

VI. A listing of anticipated results of the research group.

Pilot Format

For the academic year 2012-2013, the IAS is introducing a pilot project for one research group which will be organized according to new guidelines.

Initially, the organizer(s) will present the subject matter to be studied, together with a list of tentative, possible participants without mutual commitment (in contrast to the current guidelines where the eight group member names must be submitted in advance, together with their consent for Stage II of the evaluation). Once the subject and the principal organizers are approved by the Academic Committee, a call for additional applications will be launched on our website. The name of the selected group and the anticipated focus of its research will be posted. It will then be open to applications from the academic community at large.

Acceptance of the rest of the participating group members will be done jointly with the IAS and the group organizers.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS AND NOTIFICATION
The deadline for submitting research group proposals is December 15th, at least one year and nine months prior to the beginning date of residency.

The IAS Academic Committee announces decisions regarding the selection of groups from four to six months after the deadline.

Rejected proposals may be resubmitted the following year.

EVALUATION PROCESS

Proposals are evaluated by the Institute's Academic Committee, appointed by the Rector of The Hebrew University, the President of The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Yad Hanadiv Foundation.

Israel Institute for Advanced Studies in Jerusalem (IAS)

at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Edmond J. Safra, Givat Ram Campus

Jerusalem, Israel 91904

Tel: 972-2-6584735

Fax: 972-2-6523429

E-mail: Advanc@vms.huji.ac.il