CENTRAL EURASIA RESEARCH FUND (CERF)
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Deadline January 15, 2025
CERF grants support original research leading to the publication of a book or monograph concerning Persianate culture by individual scholars from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Grants do not exceed US $1500 and provide funding for the following: publication costs for a book or monograph, technical equipment necessary for specific research projects, such as computers, printers, scanners, voice recorders, or digital cameras; travel expenses for archival research that will directly result in an original book or monograph. The deadline for receipt of electronic submissions is January 15th of each year. Awards are announced on March 1st. The award period is for one year.
CERF does not support the publication of periodical articles. The publication of previously published works, including translations from English, will be considered only in exceptional circumstances when the applicant can demonstrate a critical need for such a work. Applications for projects based on original archival or field research and those leading to the publication of previously unpublished manuscripts, lithographs, documentary sources or material culture are strongly encouraged.
A CERF Evaluation Committee composed of 3 members of ASPS, in addition to the CERF Director, evaluates the applications. Every effort is made to provide regional balance in the distribution of grants based on:
• Importance of the topic
• Academic merit of the proposed project
• Demonstrated career commitment to the field
• Feasibility of the project
• Potential impact of the research
• Adequate academic and professional experience of the candidate
APPLICATION
CERF candidates must submit an electronic application in English in MS Word format by January 15, 2025 to the Director of the CERF Program, Dr. Jo-Ann Gross, at gross@tcnj.edu, with the following required information. Please be sure to keep a copy of the application requirements for your records and check off each category prior to application submission. Incomplete applications will be invalidated.
1. Background Information – Curriculum Vitae that includes:
-Name, home address, telephone, and email address
-Place and date of birth
-Citizenship
-Name and address of institutional affiliation or place of employment
-Research field or discipline
-Education (degrees obtained)
-Publications
-Conference presentations
-Works in progress
2. Research Proposal:
-Title of proposed book project
-Project description (2-3 typewritten pages). Must include the objectives and methodology of the project, and an outline or ‘table of contents’ with a brief description of the chapters
-Language of publication
3. Budget
-A detailed account of specific expenses
FINAL REPORT
Grantees must submit a final report at the end of the project in order for the CERF to meet its own accounting requirements that ensure the CERF’s continued operation. Two copies of any publications resulting from the award should be included with the report, which should include the following:
-Name of project and objectives
-Extent to which the objectives were met
-Impact of the project
-Receipts of all expenses
2024 CERF Recipients:
The CERF Committee is pleased to announce four 2024 awards:
Prof. Ahmad Wali Alimi, Department of Historical Studies, Kabul University ($1500) to support the purchase of a laptop computer and the editing and printing costs for the publication of A Study of Afghan-Soviet Relations during the Reign of the Muhammadzai Dynasty (1929-1987).
Dr. Sherzod Davrukov, Center of Written Heritage of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan ($1500) to support the purchase of a digital
camera and printer and travel expenses to conduct research in Ishkashim for the book The Divan of Muborak Vakhani: A Unique Manuscript from Badakhshan.
camera and printer and travel expenses to conduct research in Ishkashim for the book The Divan of Muborak Vakhani: A Unique Manuscript from Badakhshan.
Ms, Ovsara Madaliyeva, Abu Rayham Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences ($1500) to support the purchase of a laptop computer and to cover travel expenses to conduct archival research in Kokand, Samarkand and Bukhara for the book Persian Poetry in the Kokand Literary Environment in the Early 19th Century.
Prof. Qahramon Yakubov, Dept. of History of Central Asia, Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan ($1500) to support travel expenses to conduct archival research in Khiva and Karakalpakstan for the book Waqf in Khorezm under the Qonghrat Dynasty: Politics, Islamic Law and Society.
2024 CERF Committee:
Peyvand Firouzeh (University of Sydney)
Rob Haug (University of Cincinnati)
Karolina Rakowiecka-Asgari (Jagiellonian University)
2023 CERF Recipients:
The CERF Committee is pleased to announce three 2023 awards:
Dr. Davlatkhoja Davutov, Chief Researcher, National Museum of Tajikistan, Department of Archaeology and Numismatics ($1500) for technical equipment and the publication of The Shol Treasure of Copper Vessels from the 11th-12th Century (to be published posthumously).
Ms. Sabohat Donayorova, Khorog State University, Department of Literature and Journalism, Khorog, Tajikistan ($1500) for the publication of The Print Media of Gorno-Badakhshan from the Soviet Era to the Independent Republic of Tajikistan: A Study of the Newspaper“Badakhshan”.
Mr. Abdurahmon Sharifzoda, National Museum of Tajikistan, Department of Archaeology and Numismatics ($1500) for the purchase of a digital camera and laptop leading to the publication of a catalog of Kushan coins contained in the National Museum of Tajikistan,Dushanbe.
2023 CERF Committee:
Daniel Beben (Nazarbaev University)
Louise Marlow (Wellesley College)
Karolina Rakowiecka-Asgari (Jagiellonian University)
2022 CERF Recipients:
The CERF Committee is pleased to announce one 2022 award:
Dr. M.S. Musoev, Director, Department of Manuscript Heritage of the National Museum of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan ($1500) for the publication of a Catalog of the Collection of Manuscripts, Lithographic Books and Historical Documents housed in the Department of Manuscript Heritage of the National Museum of Tajikistan.
2022 CERF Committee:
Jo-Ann Gross (The College of New Jersey)
Beatrice Manz (Tufts University)
Gabrielle van den Berg (Leiden University)
2021 CERF Recipients:
The CERF Committee is pleased to announce two 2021 awards:
Bibisulton Navbahorova, Center for Written Heritage of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan ($1500) for the publication of the Diwan-i Mirzaibad-i Shidzi. This 19th century manuscript by the Badakhshani poet Mirzaibad-i Shidzi is contained in the Berthels collection of the Center for Written Heritage of the National Academy of Sciences in Dushanbe.
Dr. Nabijon Rahimov, Khujand State University, Khujand, Tajikistan ($1500) for the publication of a monograph with map and field data on the archaeological sites in the Sughd Region of Tajikistan. Dr. Rahimov has been involved in the study of archaeological sites in Sughd since 1980.
2021 CERF Committee:
Jo-Ann Gross (The College of New Jersey)
Beatrice Manz (Tufts University)
Gabrielle van den Berg (Leiden University)
Eligibility
A minimum degree equivalent to a B.A. Grantees may only reapply for a CERF Grant after five years from the receipt of a previous CERF award. No more than two awards may be granted in total, and preference will be given to first time applicants.
Selection
Awards are made once a year. An ASPS evaluation committee reviews applications. Every effort is made to provide regional balance in the distribution of grants based on:
- Importance of the topic
- Academic merit of the proposed project
- Demonstrated career commitment to the field
- Feasibility of the project
- Potential impact of the research
- Adequate academic and professional experience of the candidate
Application
CERF candidates must submit an electronic application in MS Word format by January 15th, 2025 to the Director of the CERF program, Dr. Jo-Ann Gross, at gross@tcnj.edu with the following required information:
A. Background Information
- Name and address, email address, fax number
- Place and date of birth
- Citizenship
- Institutional name and address
- Research field or discipline
- Highest degree obtained
B. Research Proposal
- Title of research project
- Description of project (1-2 typewritten pages). The description should include: Theme, Purpose, Methodology, Potential impact and importance of the publication, and Language of publication
C. Budget (including detailed account of specific expenses)
Please keep a copy of the application requirements for your records and check off each category prior to application submission. Incomplete applications will be invalidated.
Award and Final Report
Grant recipients must submit a written report and two copies of any publication resulting from the award within two months of the award completion period. The report must include the following: name of project and objectives; extent to which the objectives were met; impact of project; receipts of all expenses.
Final reports, including receipts of all expenses, must be remitted at the end of the project period in order for the CERF to meet its own internal accounting requirements that ensure the CERF’s continued operation.
