The US-Mongolia Field Research program supports students to conduct field research in Mongolia between May and October of each year. Applicants are either US or Mongolian citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled full-time in a university or college in the United States or Mongolia (Please note: due to funding constraints only US citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the program in 2010). Students graduating in spring 2010 are eligible for the program. Undergraduate applicants must have at least third year standing in their program, while graduate applicants can be at a masters or pre-dissertation doctoral level (first two years of a PhD program). Doctoral students seeking funding for dissertation research are not eligible for this fellowship. For doctoral or post-doctoral research fellowships see: ACMS Research Fellowship Program.

• 2006 Fellowship Recipients
• 2007 Fellowship Recipients
• 2008 Fellowship Recipients
• 2009 Fellowship Recipients

Photo: Catherine Tsuji

In their applications, students are asked to describe how their participation in the project will support their educational and career goals, and how their project supports the development of US-Mongolian cooperation and the field of Mongolian Studies. Applicants are required to include a letter of support from their Research Sponsor responsible for overseeing the students’ research program.

***Please note: Due to funding constraints only US citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply to the program in 2010***

The American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS), with funding support from the US State Department Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau, is pleased to announce the fifth year of the ACMS US-Mongolia Field Research Fellowship Program to support student field research in Mongolia in summer or fall 2010. The program will provide $500-$3000 grants to approximately 5-10 students from US universities to conduct academic field research in Mongolia between May and October 2010. Student applicants can be at an advanced undergraduate, masters or pre-dissertation doctoral level, and all fields of study are eligible. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled full-time in a university or college in the United States. Students graduating in spring 2010 are eligible to apply. Students seeking funding for dissertation or post-doctoral research are encouraged to apply for the ACMS Research Fellowship program.

The field research project should be conducted in conjunction with a Research Sponsor, such as a faculty member or senior researcher, and involve at least 6 weeks of fieldwork in Mongolia. Preference is given to projects in which the Research Sponsor will work directly with the student researcher in the field in Mongolia. To open the program to more potential collaborations, in 2010 the program will continue to consider funding well designed projects that demonstrate close collaboration between the student researcher and the Research Sponsor, even if the Research Sponsor is unable to travel to Mongolia to oversee the field research work. See the ACMS Faculty Research Fellowship for opportunities to fund Research Sponsor travel to and from Mongolia.

• Application Coversheet (.doc)
• Application (.pdf)
• General Terms and Conditions (.pdf)

For students attending university in the United Sates, the program will provide $500-$3000 to cover international travel and/or in-country living and research expenses. Students are encouraged to apply for funding from other sources in addition to the Field Research Fellowship program to support their work. Demonstrations of applications or receipt of other sources of support will be viewed favorably by the review committee, and Field Research fellowships may be used to supplement other funding awards. The goal of the program is to assist as many students as possible to participate in a field research experience in Mongolia.

Research projects in any field, including humanities, sciences and social sciences are eligible. Final selection is made by a selection committee comprising members of the academic and professional communities in Ulaanbaatar. The application is due by March 1, 2010, and selection announcements will be made at the beginning of April, 2010.

The ACMS is committed to equitable access and participation without regard to gender, race, national origin, color, disability or age. Due to the requirements of the funding organization, participants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or citizens of Mongolia. The ACMS will work with all applicants to overcome barriers, however applicants with disabilities should be aware that disability accommodations in Mongolia may be limited. Applicants need to be aware that there may be limited to no access to regular medical treatment in Mongolia, and applicant’s health status should permit travel to and within Mongolia in order to be eligible for this program.

1. All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the USA, and must be enrolled full-time in a college or university in the USA. Students graduating in spring 2010 are eligible to apply. Students who are graduating before the start of their field research project should indicate their future study plans and how the field research fellowship will fit into those plans.

Terms and Conditions

3. Undergraduate applicants must have at least third year standing in their program, while graduate applicants can be at a masters or pre-dissertation doctoral level (first two years of a PhD program). Doctoral students seeking funding for dissertation research are not eligible for this fellowship.

4. Applications must include all 6 required documents, and must be in English. Applications must be received by the ACMS by March 1, 2010. Applications may be submitted either by mail to the ACMS offices in Ulaanbaatar or at University of Wisconsin or as an email attachment to the email address: info @ mongoliacenter.org. Letters of support and transcripts may be submitted separately from other documents.

5. All applicants must be current members of the ACMS to be considered for the program.

6. All travel between the US and Mongolia that uses funds from the fellowship program must meet the provisions of the Fly America Act. Details about these provisions will be provided to Fellowship recipients.

7. A portion of the fellowship stipend will be withheld until the recipient submits their final report on their fellowship experience. The final report will include reflections on both the research conducted, and how the research experience is expected to impact future academic and career development.

8. Award recipients are responsible for paying all taxes related to their awards. The fellowship funds awarded are generally considered income in the United States and Mongolia, and therefore must be reported to the tax authorities. The ACMS bears no responsibility for withholding or remitting taxes related to these awards.

9. Fellows are responsible for ensuring proper medical and evacuation insurance coverage during their time in the field in Mongolia. Proof of insurance coverage will be required before disbursement of fellowship funds.

10. The ACMS reserves the right to adjust the amounts and types of awards given under this program, as well as the general terms and conditions, before award agreements are reached with each recipient.

In conjunction with the student’s Researcher Sponsor, the ACMS offices in the US and Ulaanbaatar are available to assist the students chosen for the program to prepare for their research in Mongolia by providing pre-departure information on Mongolia, assisting with logistics such as travel arrangements to and from Mongolia and within the country, and helping to locate research materials and local contacts. The Research Sponsors for each project are responsible for overseeing the students’ living arrangements and academic program during their time at the research site.

All participants are required to submit a final report on their field experience that reflects on both their research program, and how the experience might impact their academic and career development. Poster presentations are organized at the Association of Asian Studies annual meeting to allow participants an opportunity to report on their research experience.