The Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study (NDIAS) is dedicated to fostering and supporting integrative scholarship addressing ultimate questions at the intersection of the arts, engineering, the humanities, law, and the formal, natural, and social sciences, especially those that transcend disciplinary boundaries. The NDIAS encourages scholars to include questions of values in their analyses, to integrate diverse disciplines, and to ask how their findings advance civilization. The Institute offers its fellows the opportunity to engage not only in analysis but also in evaluating what should be done, to analyze the world in substantive and collaborative ways, and to think through the implications of present behavior for the future of the world.
***New for 2020-2021: Call for Applications on the Nature of Trust***
In response to new and emerging opportunities, the NDIAS has added a thematic option to its call for fellowship applications for academic year 2020-2021. The NDIAS is particularly interested in fostering interdisciplinary study of the nature of trust, with a broad range of perspectives, topics, and methods. Fellowship applications are encouraged from all eligible scholars and scientists whose work engages the theme and who are interested in advancing their project through interdisciplinary reflection, discussion, and collaboration at the NDIAS. Potential research proposal topics on the trust theme may address, but are not limited to:
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the social, technological, biological, economic, and psychological dimensions to how trust may be manifested;
- the moral and rational demands we have when it comes to belief, evidence, intellectual humility, and social forms of knowledge;
- concepts of trust related to public information, discourse, speech, and the media, in historical as well as modern contexts;
- trust as a component in transactions and finance;
- evolutionary modeling of trust and interdependence;
- institutional features that promote or inhibit trust (both contemporary and historical);
- the role of design thinking, network theory, and data science in promoting or inhibiting trust;
- the role of trust in theological inquiry and in religious traditions; and
- creative research and research in the arts that explore trust, doubt, and related virtues.
Applicants for the Trust theme should briefly describe the dimension of trust/connection with the theme in their research statement.
Note: Applications from scholars working on projects outside this theme are also still encouraged.
Residential Fellowship Online Application
Research Support
Residential Fellows receive up to $90,000 per academic year, subsidized housing (for those who currently reside outside of the South Bend area), a research allowance of up to $500 per semester, a private office in the NDIAS, a computer and printer, access to the university’s library and other facilities, and access to NDIAS weekly seminars and other special events. The NDIAS offers residential fellowships for periods ranging from three weeks to a full academic year (fall and spring semesters, August through May), though preference is given to candidates who are able to join the Institute for the entire academic year.
Eligibility
The Institute welcomes applications from faculty, scholars, public intellectuals, fellows from other institutes, and professional researchers in all disciplines, including the arts, engineering, the humanities, law, and the formal, natural, and social sciences with projects that are creative, innovative, or align with the intellectual orientation of the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study. The Institute also welcomes those who are beginning their careers with promise and have appropriate projects.
The Institute seeks applicants with:
- excellent records of scholarly, artistic, or research accomplishment in their field(s);
- projects related to the 2020-2021 application theme of the nature of trust;
- projects that touch on other normative, integrative, or ultimate questions, especially as they engage the Catholic intellectual tradition (though projects need not focus on Catholic topics or subjects);
- projects characterized by clarity of thought, coherence, and impact;
- the ability to interact with other fellows and to engage in collegial discussions of research presentations; and
- a willingness to contribute to a cooperative community of scholars.
Scholars from other institutions, researchers at national laboratories, fellows from other institutes, as well as faculty from Notre Dame are invited to apply.
One goal of the fellowship selection process is the creation of a diverse and collaborative community of scholars with a range of disciplines and academic ranks.
Applicants who are members of traditionally under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. There are no citizenship requirements for fellowships; non-U.S. nationals are welcome to apply.
In some instances, the Institute may seek out scholars who address an area of pressing concern to the University, the academy, or the world or scholars who work on problems and issues that would benefit from collaboration or from the rethinking of a discipline or disciplinary approach.
Fellowship Expectations
The Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study is a residential institute that values collegial interaction and a vibrant intellectual exchange on major issues and questions of value. The greatest advances do not occur in solitude, but in the company of others who share a passion for advancement and are open to dialogue and collaboration.
Fellows are expected to be free of their regular commitments and to have their primary office at the Institute so they may devote themselves full time to the work outlined in their proposal and participate fully in the engaging and cooperative community of scholars at the Institute.
All NDIAS Fellows are expected to reside in the South Bend area and to remain in residence at the University of Notre Dame during the period of their fellowship (except for vacation periods, holidays, and University breaks). To facilitate their creativity and productivity, Fellows attend weekly seminars and other events hosted by the Institute, present their research twice each semester at the Institute’s seminars, and engage the University community intellectually in a distinctive and appropriate manner.
While in residence, NDIAS Fellows are invited to actively participate in the intellectual and cultural community at Notre Dame. Additionally, there are many opportunities to engage with colleagues and scholars from the University of Notre Dame, from universities in Chicago and nearby, and with guest speakers through the Institute’s additional events.
Fellows are asked to continue the tradition of participating in NDIAS-sponsored events including lectures, symposia, and conferences.
Evaluation of Applications
Fellowship applications are evaluated with great care and at several levels of review to ensure objectivity and consistency. Fellowship applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:
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the academic strength of the proposal;
- the clarity and compelling nature of relevant methodologies and project organization and objectives, as explained in the proposal;
- the applicant’s ability to address the nature of trust or other major questions, meta issues, and questions of value;
- the potential for producing significant research;
- how the proposed research aligns with the intellectual parameters of the Institute;
the applicant’s ability to contribute to a cooperative community of interdisciplinary scholars, as explained in their letters of reference; and - the significance of the research proposed by each applicant vis-à-vis other proposals submitted.
Because of the numerous criteria involved in selecting fellows, application files are reviewed and evaluated by leading scholars in the respective disciplines and fields, serving as external reviewers. The final major review, conducted by the Institute’s Selection Committee (which is made up of an interdisciplinary group of scholars), consists of a thorough review of applications as well as the evaluation of internal and external reviewers. This committee is charged with making final recommendations on the selection of NDIAS Fellows.
Indirect Costs / Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs
Fellowship salaries may be paid directly to a Fellow’s home institution. However, NDIAS fellowships are funded with internal Notre Dame funds and not through an external grant. NDIAS fellowships include no funding for indirect costs and Notre Dame does not recover indirect costs (F&A) on these funds. During the term of their fellowships, NDIAS Fellows are in residence at the University of Notre Dame, live on campus, work in Notre Dame facilities, and interact with members of the Notre Dame academic community. Institutional support (including staff support, facilities, materials, housing, weekly seminars, preparation and execution of the Visiting Faculty Agreement, processing appointment and payments, etc.) is provided principally by Notre Dame.
Residential Fellowship Online Application
The NDAS Fellowship application period for 2020-2021 closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 16, 2019. Awards will be announced in spring 2020. Please direct questions to Kristian Olsen, NDIAS Fellowships Program Manager, at kolsen1@nd.edu.