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Call for CAS project applications for 2024/2025

The Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) invites researchers to pursue excellent, fundamental, curiosity-driven research in Oslo during the 2024/2025 academic year. Assemble your international dream team of prominent researchers and apply for a research stay at CAS.

Each year, we host three research groups working within and across the following fields:

       - Humanities/Theology

       - Social sciences/Law

       - Natural sciences/Medicine/Mathematics

The research groups stay at CAS, situated at the stately premises of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in Oslo, for one academic year. Each project receives a grant of roughly NOK 3.5 million.

There are no laboratory facilities at CAS. However, projects involving laboratory work, field work and data collection are welcome to apply to develop the theoretical aspects of their research. Laboratory work, field work and data collection must take place either before the stay at CAS or at another suitable place during the stay.

Who may apply?

Only faculty members who hold permanent, full-time, tenured academic positions at CAS' partner institutions in Norway are eligible to apply. The applicants will function as project leader and will assemble and lead their research group at CAS. In order to share leadership responsibilities it is advisable to have a co-leader. The co-leader must also hold a permanent, full-time, tenured academic position at one of CAS' partner institutions. The project leaders can invite prominent researchers from around the world to participate in their projects. Project leaders are encouraged to include Ph.D. candidates or postdoctoral fellows for career development and mentorship.

CAS is modelled to further daily intellectual dialogue. The agreements between the Centre and our partner institutions guarantee that project leaders and group members employed in tenured academic positions at these institutions will be granted sabbatical leave with full salary during their stay at CAS. 

Scholars not employed by one of the Centre’s partner institutions are normally expected to use their sabbatical leave during their stay at CAS. For researchers for whom this is not a possibility, a portion of the project’s budget may be used to cover teaching replacement costs.

The project participants’ stay at CAS vary from a few months to an entire year. Project leaders must be based at CAS for the duration of the academic year, which runs from 15 August to 30 June. If the project has two leaders, they may during shorter periods of the academic year alternate leadership responsibility if their family situation, laboratory work requirements or other central elements of the project make this necessary. The absent project leader must participate remotely during such periods. Fellows are also expected to work full-time on topics relevant to the project while in residence at CAS.

What we offer: a generous service platform and a unique research infrastructure

CAS provides a unique research infrastructure, an extensive service platform and an inspiring, collegial atmosphere. This includes:

       - Five office spaces in well-equipped offices for single or double occupancy.
       - Well-equipped seminar rooms with video conferencing equipment.
       - IT and library services.
       - Assistance with conference and workshop planning.
       - Subsidised lunch in the Centre’s Turret room for all fellows.
       - Pleasant accommodations within walking distance of the Centre (for researchers not based in the Oslo area).
       - Help with finding kindergartens or schools (for visiting researchers bringing their children).

What does the funding cover?

The current budget frame for each project is NOK 3,500,000. The funds can cover:

       - Teaching replacement costs for scholars not associated with CAS’ partner institutions and who have no sabbatical leave.            
                             - Note: CAS does not pay overhead, but it is possible to cover an administration fee.
- Conferences, seminars and workshops organised as part of the group’s accomplishments during the stay at CAS.
- Travel and accommodation* expenses for visiting fellows and their accompanying family members.              
                             - Note: CAS only covers economy class tickets.
- Visits from prominent scholars for internal seminars.
- Travel expenses for family members visiting while the fellow is in residence at the Centre.
- Childcare and school expenses for visiting researchers bringing their children.
- Other expenses, which may include social expenses, special equipment and supplies.

* CAS rents apartments in the vicinity of the Centre (for researchers not based in the Oslo area). The current monthly rates are:

       - 1 bedroom: NOK 16,000
- 2 bedrooms: NOK 20,000
       - 3 bedrooms: NOK 24,000

CAS’ operating budget covers accommodation expenses for project leaders based outside of the Oslo area. This cost therefore does not need to be included in the project budget.

How to apply

Applicants for the academic year of 2024/2025 must submit a complete application through the application portal UNIFOR. Required templates are available in the application portal.

The deadline for submitting applications is 18 October 2022.

All documents must be written in English and submitted as PDF files.

Successful applicants will:

       - Submit a proposal that clearly illustrates the project's potential as a contribution to excellent, fundamental research.
       - Describe how the research at CAS will be led and organised to achieve the objectives of the project.

 The application must contain:

       - A full project description written for specialists in your field (max. 10 A4 pages).

       - A CV (for each project leader). Each project can have a maximum of two leaders. The project leader not submitting the application must sign a letter of intent confirming their participation.
                             - Note: The following CV template must be used. Download the template here.

       - A letter of support from the head of each project leader’s department (max. one A4 page).
                             - Note: At minimum, the letter must confirm that you will keep your salary, and that you will be released from other duties during your period as a project leader at CAS.
                                     We also advise that the letter include a short description of how the project will strengthen and generate value to the research environment at your home institution,
                                     even after the year at CAS has concluded.

       - A short CV (max. one A4 page) and a signed letter of intent for up to four core members whom you intend to invite to long-term stays at CAS.
                             - Note: Please do not submit CVs for any other group members whom you intend to invite to CAS.

       - A short list of other colleagues involved in the project, describing their background, merits and how they will contribute to the project.

       - A preliminary budget.
                             - Note: The following budget template must be used. Download the template here.

In the relevant fields in the application form in the portal, you must fill out the following:

- A project abstract (approximately 100 words).
- Primary and secondary objectives of the project (approximately 100 words).
- A description of how a year at CAS will benefit the project (approximately 300 words).
- A detailed work plan for the year at CAS.
- An ethical self-assessment (approximately 200 words).
                             - Note: Please read CAS’ guidelines for ethics in research.

We encourage all applicants to have all documents, attachments and texts finalised and converted to the right format before registering their application in the portal.

Other requirements:

If the project requires pre-approval from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics, or a similar body, this must be secured by 21 November 2022. Documentation of pre-approval must be submitted as part of the project description in the application portal, or sent by email to Rune Flaten, rune.flaten@cas.oslo.no.

For information about the requirements for the project while at CAS, see “Framework and Requirements for the Project.”

The selection process

Applications that meet our requirements, standard and format will be subject to international peer review.

The CAS Board of Directors will make the final selection in June 2023. CAS will assist project leaders during the planning phase leading up to the groups’ arrival at the Centre in August 2023.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at cas@cas.oslo.no.

CAS has recently revised its applications process and its application form in UNIFOR’s electronic application system. If something is unclear or missing, please let us know.