Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Research Fellowship Application

The Stephen F. Cohen–Robert C. Tucker Dissertation Research Fellowship (CTDRF) Program for Russian Historical Studies will provide a maximum stipend of $28,000 for doctoral students at US universities, regardless of citizenship, toconduct dissertation research in Russian historical studies. The program is open to students in any discipline whose dissertation topics are within 19th-early 21st century Russian historical studies.

The program is open to students in any discipline as long as their dissertation topics are within the scope of 19th–early 21st century Russian historical studies.  Please read carefully the fellowship scope and eligibility on the program website before starting the application process. 

Only current ASEEES student members are eligible to apply. If you are currently not a member, you can become a member first and then apply.
 

Application Deadline:  January 29, 2025, 11:59pm Hawaii Time

Application Requirements:

• Completed online application form
• Research proposal (max. 2000 words) 
• Curriculum vitae 
• Graduate transcript(s) 
• Two (2) letters of professional reference 
• One (1) language evaluation reference*

* All applicants must submit a language evaluation, regardless of whether they are a native speaker of their primary research language. Language evaluators will be asked to indicate how long and in what context they know the applicant and rank the applicant’s language skills in reading, writing, speaking. While a professional language instructor or faculty member is preferred, applicants whose primary research languages are less commonly taught may also designate a native speaker of the language to evaluate their language skills. The language evaluator cannot be related to the applicant.

Application Instructions:

• Review the program website and the application form first to make sure you are eligible and that you have the necessary information and documents to upload.
• You can save an incomplete draft of the application and return to it later. However, once you hit "Submit", you will not be able to edit.
• It is your responsibility to make sure that your reference letters are submitted by your referees by the deadline. You should let them know that they will receive an email prompt.
• The application deadline is firm.  No late applications will be accepted.
• Do not send any applications to ASEEES via e-mail or mail. All documents must be uploaded below.  Do not send your transcripts, proposals or other documents to the ASEEES office. They will be discarded.

Research Proposal:

Your research proposal is the most critical part of the application. Please limit the statement to 2,000 words, excluding footnotes and the bibliography. Longer proposals will not be considered.

Please follow this outline when preparing your proposal, being certain to use the section headings provided and explicitly addressing all of the requested information.

a) Research Objective: Describe in detail your research question(s) and objective(s). How do approaches, concepts, and debates in your discipline and/or Russian historical studies inform your research?

b) Preparatory Work Completed: Describe the preparatory work you have completed such as research conducted, contacts made, etc. The selection committee expects you to have completed all preparatory work that can be done in the US before you begin your proposed research abroad.

c) Research Plan: Explain your research plan, including the timeline and locations where you intend to undertake your research. Please include:  

• Information regarding the institution(s) where you would like to conduct your research and why your research would benefit from conducting research at that institution;
• Specific materials, sources, libraries, archives (including the archive name/number, if known), and consultations with local colleagues upon which you will draw for your research;
• Description of any problems you foresee in carrying out the proposed research and any alternate plans you have conceived should your original proposal prove to be unfeasible; and
• Any relevant correspondence you have had with the scholars or institutions with which you would like to work (please attach any letters of affiliation to the end of the research proposal).

d) Research Methodology: Describe in detail your intended research methodology. How does your research engage with methods and approaches within your discipline and/or Russian historical studies?

e) Impact of Research: Provide a brief description of the significance of the proposed research for the field of Russian historical studies.