The International Catacomb Society is an MA 501 (c)(3) nonprofit educational organization located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The mission is to provide for and to promote awareness of the need for the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the Jewish catacombs in Rome, and of other sites which likewise manifest the cultures and customs of religions under the Roman Empire, and to document such activities.

The Shohet Scholars Grant Program of the International Catacomb Society is inviting applications for Shohet Scholars Grant Program for Research on the Ancient Mediterranean for the year 2018-2019. The US, as well as Non-US citizens, are eligible to apply for this fellowship programme.

Course Level: Scholarships are available to pursue research.

Available Subject: Shohet Scholars may do their research in the fields of Archeology, art history, classical studies, history, comparative religions, or related subjects.

Scholarship Benefits: at this time, awards in the range of $2,000 to $30,000 will be made.

Number of Scholarships: One to four grants are awarded each year.

Eligibility Criteria: The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for the scholarship:

  • Scholars of all institutional affiliations and independent scholars may apply for Shohet Scholar funding if they are individual or institutional members of the ICS at the time of the application submission deadline of January 15, 2018, and in possession of a doctoral degree or the equivalent. Preference will be given to applicants in the early postdoctoral or launching stage of their careers (i.e., persons awarded the doctorate within six years prior to the application deadline).
  • Non-U.S. citizens may apply if a co-applicant is a legal resident or native or naturalized citizen of the U.S.A., meets all eligibility requirements, and has a genuinely collaborative and credited leadership role in the proposal. Co-applicants must submit as individuals all the necessary forms except for the research proposal, list of permissions, and budget proposal, which may be filed jointly.
  • Employees, contractors, and members of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board of the ICS and their families are ineligible. No applicant will be denied consideration or selection because of race, religion, or ethnic origin. Any fraudulent misrepresentation of self and information about a proposal will result in a disqualification.

Eligible Nationalities: The US, as well as Non-US citizens, are eligible to apply for this fellowship programme.

Method of Application: Applications, supporting documents, and communications with the Shohet Scholars Program must be in English and should be submitted as email attachments in Word or PDF format to shohetscholars-at-catacombsociety.org.

Include copies of the following:

  • Applicant cover sheet
  • Applicant’s curriculum vitae (4 pages or less)
  • Research proposal not exceeding 2000 words (10 pages, double-spaced)
  • Abstract of the proposed research and its significance (100 words or less)
  • Statement of permissions acquired for research and/or publication if the applicant proposes to conduct archaeological fieldwork or advance a project involving items in museum collections or archives, or for other situations requiring permissions
  • Budget proposal—see guidelines below

In addition to the application materials submitted by the applicant, the following documents are also required:

  • Letters of recommendation from two individuals should be emailed directly by the writers to the Shohet Scholars Program. These letters should address, in particular, characteristics and personal qualities indicative of the likelihood the applicant will carry out the research, contribute to the objectives of the program, and make a significant contribution to his or her field.
  • A letter from the applicant’s department chairperson or other institutional officer confirming institutional support for the project should be emailed directly to the Shohet Scholars Program.

Scholarship Application Deadline: January 15, 2018.

Scholarship Link