American Council of Learned Societies Accepting Applications for The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars and New Professorship Competitions

Programs Place Emerging Scholars of Buddhism in Professional Positions and Create New Teaching Positions in Buddhist Studies

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce the opening of the Buddhism Public Scholars and New Professorships in Buddhist Studies competitions, initiatives made possible by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global. Applications for both competitions must be submitted by January 27, 2026, 9:00 PM EST.     

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars

This year, ACLS has partnered with two international host organizations to create exciting opportunities for our global community of Buddhist Studies scholars: Lion's Roar in Halifax, Nova Scotia and The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, UK.

ACLS will place up to five early-career scholars of Buddhism in one-year professional positions with host institutions that present and interpret knowledge of Buddhist traditions. The selected Buddhism Public Scholars will use their academic knowledge and professional experience to bolster the capacity of museums and publishers in Buddhist art and thought in any tradition and location where Buddhism is practiced.

Organizations participating in this competition are:

• The Courtauld Institute of Art (London, United Kingdom)
• Lion's Roar Foundation (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
• Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis, MN)
• Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art (New York, NY)
• The Tricycle Foundation (New York, NY)

Fellows will receive a stipend, funds for professional development and research expenses, and a relocation allowance, if eligible. Please visit the Buddhism Public Scholars webpage for a breakdown of compensation according to the host location.

Applicants for the Buddhism Public Scholars competition must have a PhD in the humanities or social sciences conferred between September 1, 2020 and June 30, 2026. Applicants must have work authorization in the country in which the host institution is located. Neither ACLS nor the host institution will sponsor scholars for visas.  

ACLS Program Officer Daphne Weber will host two informational webinars for an overview of the hosting organizations and job descriptions, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria for the 2025 Buddhism Public Scholars competition. Register here:

• October 15, 2025, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET
• December 2, 2025, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM ET

Applications will be accepted only through the ACLS online application system. Applicants should not contact any of the host institutions directly.

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation New Professorships in Buddhist Studies

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation New Professorships in Buddhist Studies offer multi-year grants to colleges and universities wishing to establish or expand teaching in Buddhist Studies. Institutions of higher education worldwide are eligible to apply for grants up to $300,000, to be expended over four years.

Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship.

Inspired and informed by the concept of interconnectedness, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global supports programs in arts and culture and Buddhism, and funds initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of humanity and the environment.

SOURCE American Council of Learned Societies