THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY is an independent private institution founded in 1930 to create a community of scholars focused on intellectual inquiry, free from teaching and other university obligations. Each year scholars from around the world apply to come to the Institute to pursue their own research. Those who are chosen are offered a membership for a set period. Members receive access to the extensive resources of the Institute, including offices, access to libraries, subsidized restaurant and housing facilities, and some secretarial services.

THE SCHOOL OF HISTORICAL STUDIES supports scholarship in all fields of historical research, but is concerned principally with the history of western, near eastern and Asian civilizations, with particular emphasis upon Greek and Roman civilization, the history of Europe (medieval, early modern, and modern), the Islamic world, East Asian studies, art history, the history of science, and late modern history with a special emphasis on the history of international relations. The School also offers the Edward T. Cone Membership in Music Studies. Each year the School welcomes approximately forty Members selected on the basis of both external and internal review. Most are working on topics in the above mentioned fields, but each year the School also selects some scholars working in other areas of historical research. Members in the School are appointed for either one term (first term Sept. 21 to Dec. 18, second term Jan. 11 to April 9) or for two terms, amounting to a full academic year.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS include a substantial record of publication and a PhD awarded by no later than December 31, 2018. (Scholars with a PhD awarded in 2019 are expected to wait at least one year before applying.) The School takes into account the stage of the scholar’s academic career when evaluating the list of publications, but applicants should have at least several articles already in print in scholarly publications in order to be considered eligible. Qualified candidates of any nationality are invited to apply. Scholars are not required to have a current institutional affiliation.

MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED to remain in residence in Princeton during term time. Members’ only other obligation is to pursue their own research. If they wish, they may also participate in seminars and meetings within the Institute, and there are ample opportunities for contacts with scholars at nearby universities.

INSTITUTE STIPENDS will normally be offered up to a maximum of $78,000 for the full academic year, or $39,000 for one term. A few senior scholars will be offered additional funding to help make up for losses in salary. Stipends may be supplemented by other grants, including sabbatical salaries, but if the total exceeds the salary at the time of application the Institute stipend will be reduced accordingly. Scholars with full sabbatical funding, other grants, retirement funding, or other means may apply for a non-stipendiary membership. Institute stipends are intended to replace lost salary to fund Members; they are not intended to pay for teaching replacements in Members’ home institutions. A few Assistant Professors who meet additional eligibility requirements will be selected for Mellon Fellowships that will provide full year support matching their salaries and benefits at the time of application. (Detailed information about this program is on the website: https://www.hs.ias.edu/mellon.) Some short-term visitorships (for less than a full term, and without stipend) are also available on an ad-hoc basis. (To inquire about visitorship opportunities contact the Administrative Officer at HSao@ias.edu.)

FUNDING FOR MEMBERS comes from a variety of sources. The Center for Spain in America supports one John Elliott Member pursuing research in the history and culture of Early Modern Spain. The Patricia Crone membership supports one scholar working in the field of Near Eastern Studies. The Starr Foundation membership and the Roger E. Covey membership each support Members in the field of East Asian Studies The Edward T. Cone membership annually supports one scholar in Music Studies. A Gerda Henkel membership will be offered to one scholar from the European Union, and there are other named memberships that are not tied to any specific field or nationality. Some Members will also be supported by the Institute's own endowment or through foundation grants. The School also welcomes scholars sponsored by the ACLS through the Frederick Burkhardt Fellowships for recently tenured professors. (To apply see: https://www.acls.org/programs/burkhardt/.) Specific sources of funding will be determined after scholars have been selected.

Further information and membership application materials may be found on the School’s web site, www.hs.ias.edu. (Updated application materials for the 2020-2021 academic year will be posted there in early June.) Inquiries may be sent by email to the Director of Membership Programs at hsappquery@ias.edu or by post to: Member Programs, School of Historical Studies, Institute for Advanced Study, Einstein Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. Completed membership applications must be submitted by October 15, 2019.