Smolny Beyond Borders (SBB), an initiative of Bard College and Bard College Berlin, is pleased to announce an open call for applications for the Smolny Academic Fellowships. These fellowships are designed for scholars whose academic careers and intellectual freedom have been disrupted by political and military conflicts in Ukraine, Belarus, Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, Russia, and the broader Eurasian region.

Through year-long, paid academic positions, fellows will contribute to SBB’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum by teaching online courses, conducting research, and participating in academic and public events. Fellows will join a global academic network committed to fostering intellectual freedom, pluralism, and critical inquiry, with opportunities to engage with Bard College’s broader scholarly community.

Fellowship Benefits

• A year-long fellowship with a competitive stipend ($14400 per year before taxes).
• Opportunities to teach online university-level courses and deliver public lectures.
• Pedagogical training in student-centered and online teaching methodologies.
• Support for presenting research at academic conferences and public forums through Bard’s Gagarin Center/Smolny Beyond Borders Initiative, including the Gagarin Center Conference ($1600 per year).
• Integration into Bard’s global academic network, with access to resources and collaborative opportunities.

Eligibility

• Displaced scholars from Belarus, Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, Russia and other regions affected by ongoing political and military crises.
• Fluent in both Russian and English.
• A Ph.D or equivalent qualification is required.
• Demonstrated academic or creative achievements and a strong commitment to liberal arts education.
• Experience or interest in teaching in a liberal arts and sciences curriculum.
• Priority will be given to scholars whose work reflects a commitment to academic freedom and the principles of liberal arts education, including critical inquiry and interdisciplinary learning.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Teaching: Deliver a minimum of one semester-long online course (or two mini-courses) per semester (equivalent to 4 US credits total).
• Research and Publications: Conduct research in the proposed field of study and submit at least one article manuscript for publication.
• Conference Participation: Present scholarly research at a minimum of one academic conference annually.
• Public Engagement: Participate in at least one Smolny Beyond Borders (SBB) public event per semester.
• Content Contributions: Regularly contribute to the SBB website’s news or opinions section, with a minimum of two submissions per semester.
• Collaborative Engagement: Engage in collaborative research, educational, and outreach activities with other SBB fellows.

Application Timeline

• Application deadline: January 15, 2025
• Fellowships begin: February 1, 2025

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following:

• A curriculum vitae (CV).
• A statement of teaching philosophy and interest in liberal arts education, and a research and teaching proposal (maximum 6,000 characters including spaces).
• Contact information for two academic references.
• Two course descriptions including course title, subject, course level, language of instruction.
• Applications should be submitted through a Form.

Contact Information

For more details, email gagarincenter@smolny.org

Join Smolny Beyond Borders to reclaim academic freedom, shape new perspectives, and contribute to a pluralistic and critical intellectual environment.