Funding Opportunities

Grants

Job Openings

 

LOUISVILLE INSTITUTE GRANT PROGRAMS 

History and Purpose

Founded in 1990, the Louisville Institute seeks to nurture inquiry and conversation regarding the character, problems, contributions, and prospects of the historic institutions and commitments of American Christianity. It does so by making grants to individuals and non-profit organizations and by convening selected groups for consultations on important and timely issues.

Research proposals should identify an important and fresh research problem that is significant for the churches and American Christians and should state clearly how the project will contribute to American religious life.  In addition to research grants, the Louisville Institute also makes grants to pastors, religious institutions, and others to support projects intended to contribute to the revitalization of American church life.

Mission

The mission of The Louisville Institute is to enrich the religious life of American Christians and to encourage the revitalization of their institutions, by bringing together those who lead religious institutions with those who study them, so that the work of each might inform and strengthen the work of the other.

Competitive Grant Programs

The Louisville Institute offers funding through six competitive grant programs that address different issues and support different groups of grantees.

Summer Stipends

Offers grants to academics and pastors engaged in summer research projects pertaining to American Christianity, especially those related to the priorities of the Louisville Institute.

Christian Faith and Life Grants

Supports research projects by academics and pastors designed to make more accessible to religious believers the themes of Christian faith in relation to the realities of their contemporary lives. Research periods may range from nine weeks to nine months.

Religious Institutions Grants

Supports research projects by academics and pastors designed to encourage reflection on the nature of and challenges to religious organizations and institutions in the contemporary world. Research periods may range from nine weeks to nine months.

Dissertation Fellowships

Supports the final year of Ph.D. or Th.D. dissertation writing for students engaged in research pertaining to American religion. Preference will be given to those proposals that address the current program priorities of the Louisville Institute.

First Book Grant Program for Minority Scholars

Assists junior, non-tenured religion scholars of color to complete a major research project on an issue in American Christianity related to the priorities of the Louisville Institute.

General Grant Program

The Louisville Institute also offers a modest general grant program that supports a limited number of individual and collaborative projects by academics, pastors, or other religious leaders on current program priorities of the Louisville Institute: Christian faith and life, religious institutions, and pastoral leadership. Such grants, for example, might enable a seminary professor to consult with a group of pastors about a research project or cover the costs of convening a research team exploring the nature of pastoral leadership today.

To receive further information about any of these programs, please contact The Louisville Institute at the address below.

The Louisville Institute
1044 Alta Vista Road   
Louisville KY 40205-1798
Telephone: (502) 992-5432
FAX: (502) 894-2286
E-mail: info@louisville-institute.org
Website: www.louisville-institute.org

Society of the Scientific Study of Religion Research Awards

Jack Shand Research Award:

The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion offers an annual research awards competition, for which members are invited to apply. A generous bequest from Jack Shand, a long–term member of SSSR until his death in 2001, has made it possible for SSSR to offer Jack Shand Research Awards to support research in the social scientific study of religion. Each year the SSSR gives research grants in two categories, small and large. Applicants in either category must have finished the Ph.D. degree and must be members of the SSSR. In the case of co–authored requests, one author must be a member. Applicants may not submit proposals to both programs.

Visit the SSSR site for information about this and additional awards and grants

Association for the Sociology of Religion --
Joseph H. Fichter Research Awards

The Association for the Sociology of Religion www.sociologyofreligion.com will make available $23,000 this year for promising research on gender issues, women and religion, and feminist perspectives in the study of religion. Applicants must be members of the ASR at the time of application. Dissertation research is included within the purview of the award. Those who have recently earned the doctorate are especially encouraged to apply.

A proposal of not more than five double-spaced, typed pages should outline the rationale and plan of research. A detailed budget should be attached, as should a vita. Deadline: 1 March postmark.

Further information is available on the ASR Web site at http://www.sociologyofreligion.com/

The Lilly Endowment

The goals of the Lilly Endowment’s Religion division are to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians, primarily by helping to strengthen their churches; to support the recruitment and education of a new generation of talented ministers and other religious leaders; to encourage theological reflection and religious practices that recover the wisdom of the Christian tradition for our contemporary situation; to support scholars and educators who seek to help the American people to better understand contemporary religion and the role it plays in our public and personal lives; and to strengthen the contributions that religious ideas, practices, values and institutions make to the common good of our society. In all these ways, the Lilly Endowment Inc. seeks to support people and organizations striving to generate knowledge, communicate insights, nurture practices, and renew and sustain institutions that provide the religious resources upon which a flourishing and humane society depends.

For further information: http://www.lillyendowment.org/guidelines.html.

The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving

The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, is offering its first Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship in the area of religion and philanthropy. This is a one year dissertation fellowship intended to encourage research in the area of faith and giving or religion and philanthropy.

See the following link for more information and the application procedures: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/LakeFamilyInstitute

Job Openings, Positions, and Fellowships

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship in Sociology

The University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Sociology seeks to hire a postdoctoral teaching fellow in sociology with an emphasis in quantitative research methodology, starting Fall 2012. The department offers baccalaureate and master’s degrees in sociology. The successful applicant will teach undergraduate courses in research design and quantitative research methods, among other possible courses. Candidates who can complement this quantitative research methods focus with an ability to teach classical or contemporary sociological theory on the undergraduate level are especially encouraged to apply. This appointment will be for a one-year period. 

Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Sociology by 1 July 2012; teaching interests in quantitative research methods.

Preferred Qualifications: Evidence of commitment to teaching excellence; research interests that enrich teaching expertise; desire and ability to contribute to undergraduate program implementation and expansion; ability to complement existing faculty specializations. 

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate quantitative research methodology courses and other selected undergraduate courses including, if able, classical and/or contemporary sociological theory (three courses per semester); opportunities to conduct collaborative research in a publication-oriented department; and minimal participation in departmental service activities.

Applicants must submit a letter of application that includes discussion of research, teaching, and service goals; a CV; sample publications (including “in press”) or other writing samples; teaching evaluations (if possible); and three letters of recommendation from scholars in the field. Applications must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2012.

Send all application materials to:

Search Chair, Department of Sociology,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
One UTSA Circle,
San Antonio, TX 78249-0655.

Questions about the position can be directed to John Bartkowski
(phone: 210-458-6007; email: john.bartkowski@utsa.edu).

The University of Texas at San Antonio is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Postdoctoral Fellowship at Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion

Individuals with a doctorate in the social sciences are invited to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR).

ISR administers a number of federal and privately funded research initiatives conveying many different interests and approaches in creative efforts to grasp the complexities and interconnections of religion in the life of individuals and societies. The fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with other scholars working on studies of religion from different theoretical and methodological perspectives. Fellows will be expected to publish his or her research in scholarly outlets.

Eligibility:
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Sociology, Political Science, Criminology, Economics or another relevant social science discipline, or be able to defend their dissertation and obtain their doctorate prior to August 31, 2011. Applicants with a track record in research on deviance, prosocial behavior, as well as the sociology of religion are preferred. However, applicants with a background in related areas who are interested in developing research expertise in these designated areas are also eligible. Start date is negotiable.

Stipend:
Fellows receive a twelve-month salary of $44,000 plus benefits.

Application Procedure:
Applicants must submit the required application materials online to be eligible for review. Please go to job postings under Professional at: Baylor University Employment Site

The application will include:

• Current curriculum vita
• Statement of interest
• The statement of interest (5 double-spaced pages maximum) should include:
  • The applicant’s initial ideas for research, including preliminary research questions or potential methodologies;
  • An overview of the applicant’s research experience;
  • The status of the applicant’s completion of doctoral requirements, including a timeline for completion if dissertation has not yet been defended; and
  • three letters of reference

Inquiries:
Questions about the fellowship or application procedures may be directed to Byron Johnson or Rodney Stark, 254-710-7555.

Announcing Mellon Graduate Fellowships for Sociology of Religion at Notre Dame

As the premier university in North America for the academic study of religion, the University of Notre Dame has scores of faculty members, centers, and institutes across departments and schools whose scholarship focuses on religion. Among them is the Center for the Study of Religion and Society (http://csrs.nd.edu/), housed in the Department of Sociology. The Center is pleased to announce Mellon Graduate Fellowships for incoming graduate students.

In order to continue attracting outstanding doctoral students who can take advantage of Notre Dame’s distinction in the study of religion, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded $657,000 to ND to support an initiative in religion across the disciplines. The funding includes generous support for incoming graduate students whose records are outstanding and who will work on religious topics in their academic disciplines. Funding will be awarded to the best students in competition across eight departments, including Sociology. Strong applicants in sociology of religion will be highly competitive for fellowships.

Support for Mellon Fellows includes continuing summer stipends, research funding, and special interdisciplinary workshops. Mellon Fellows will receive a normal graduate stipend plus four years of summer funding at $5,000 each summer. Presidential Fellows who are Mellon Fellows will receive, in addition to their already higher stipends, five summers of additional support at $3,000 per summer

Nominations for Mellon Fellowship are made by departments, based on the strength of graduate school applications. Details are available at http://rmellon.nd.edu.
In addition to its notable strengths in sociology of religion, noted above, the University of Notre Dame has centers of excellence in politics and religion, law and religion, religion and international development, religion and peace-building, literature and religion, medieval studies, religious and intellectual history, sacred music, the philosophy of religion, and other related areas. Notre Dame also has one of the best theology departments in the world.

Exceptionally strong prospective graduate students interested in the sociology of religion are encouraged to apply to the Sociology graduate program at Notre Dame and to express interest in these fellowships. Prospective applicants with questions may contact Christian Smith, chris.smith@nd.edu, or the Department of Sociology’s Director of Graduate Studies, William Carbonaro, wcarbona@nd.edu.

Now Accepting Research Fellowship Proposals for“Psychology and Spiritual Formation” for 2013-2014

Biola University’s Center for Christian Thought, with the help of a generous grant from The John Templeton Foundation, will grant semester- and year-long residential Research Fellowships to fund approximately eight researchers per semester focused on the theme "Psychology and Spiritual Formation" during the 2013-2014 academic year. The aim of this theme is to bring relevant psychological research into meaningful conversation with theological research concerning Christian spiritual formation. Proposal requests from non-Biola-affiliated scholars will be for $70,000 to $90,000 (plus up to a $6,000 per semester housing stipend and relocation expenses) for projects lasting the full 2013-14 academic year and $35,000 to $45,000 (plus up to a $6,000 per semester housing stipend and relocation expenses) for projects lasting one semester that academic year. A post-doc fellowship may also be available pending qualified applicants and available funding. Proposal requests from Biola faculty will be for half-time course releases, amounting to $10,000 per semester of release. Completed applications are due by November 1, 2012. For more information, visit cct.biola.edu.

Vice President: Professional Opportunity Available Immediately at Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities

Overview

The ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, founded in 1899, serves as the collective voice of U.S. Catholic higher education. Through programs and services, ACCU strengthens and promotes the Catholic identity and mission of its member institutions so that all associated with Catholic higher education can contribute to the greater good of the world and the Church.

ACCU is currently seeking a Vice President, who will provide senior leadership, build effective relationships, and demonstrate superior judgment skills. The Vice President, who must be of considerable skill and possess a high level of integrity and experience, will report to the President/CEO and assist with implementing new and ongoing programs and projects. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to think strategically, plan tactically, and execute relentlessly. The Vice President will oversee an operating budget of $1.2 million and an $800,000 endowment fund.

Required Qualifications
• Senior management and administrative leadership experience.
• Knowledge of Catholic higher education mission and identity.
• Academic and research experience in Catholic higher education.
• Financial operations background; development experience a plus.
• Ability to manage change successfully.
• Must embody confidence, professionalism, poise, flexibility, and energy.

Responsibilities include the following, as well as others still emerging as part of ACCU’s strategic planning process:
Association Management
• Oversee association budgets and grant initiatives.
• Direct data collection and dissemination of higher education research and respond to member inquiries.
• Manage research-related pages of ACCU’s website; develop and maintain ACCU’s onsite and digital library.
• Provide on-site program support to all staff in the absence of the president.
• Oversee legal matters and interact with member university attorneys.
• Share responsibility with the president for organizing the annual meeting, board/committee meetings, and seminars that benefit ACCU membership; and for creating new revenue streams such as from online learning.
• Be a significant resource to Catholic higher education presidents and others on issues of Catholic mission and identity, especially the academic dimensions.
• Recruit and oversee interns.
• Represent ACCU to its external constituents.

Research and Communications
• Cultivate productive, cooperative research initiatives with ACCU institutions, government agencies, associations, foundations, research institutes, and individuals engaged in Catholic higher education research.
• Make available Catholic higher education data, particularly in support of priority projects, by collaborating with CHERC members, CARA, graduate students, and other interested researchers who can conduct original research or analyze existing national data sets.
• Following the lead of the president and with the assistance of the communications director, maintain positive communication with members of the religious and secular press, as well as with representatives of foundations and consultants serving Catholic higher education.

Required Experience
• Ten years executive-level experience, preferably at an ACCU member school.
• Strong aptitude in higher education research and data analysis.
• Doctoral or other terminal degree preferred.
• Proficiency in office systems.

Please send cover letter, with salary requirements, to ACCU, One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC, 20036, ATTN: Director of Operations; or by e-mail to accu@accunet.org. No phone calls, please.