Further Afield: Hong Kong

Hi from Hong Kong! I’m enjoying a short stay here at the end of my month of research, taking in one of the most interesting cities in the world and still managing to get a little more work done.

The view from my 19th floor hotel window, looking north to the "mid-levels."

 I arrived in Hong Kong yesterday with one goal: talk to some of the people behind the Weiboscope project at Hong Kong University. As I mentioned in my earlier post, my own research deals with online public opinion, and Weiboscope is probably the biggest name out there for public research into the China’s Sina Weibo social media platform. I’ve been working with my own set of data from Sina Weibo, and today I was very pleased to be able to compare notes with one of the individuals responsible for working on Weiboscope. He was able to give me a number of useful tips as I consider how to analyze my own data and also had some information to share about the HKU team’s experience collecting this data across a number of years. It was a relatively short visit to HKU but definitely worth my time.

The original main building at HKU.

A lotus pond dedicated to Sun Yat-Sen, with a statue of the man himself at left.

Since I didn’t have any further work appointments today, I took the time to wander around the university and the city for a bit. This is my second trip to Hong Kong, but my first was a brief couple of days staying in Kowloon nearly ten years ago. This time I’m staying on and exploring Hong Kong Island itself, which is a very cool place to be if you enjoy cities. To me, Hong Kong feels like the vertical scale (and grit!) of Manhattan built on the street plan of London, populated mainly by Chinese and some other Asian nationalities (Korean, Vietnamese, Indian etc.) with a notable Western minority. It really is a unique mix. It also has an interesting geography in which the original city and downtown area, now called “Central” as in “Occupy Central,” is built on a thin strip of land and reclaimed harbor wedged between the water and the island’s mountain, Victoria Peak. This makes it easy to orient yourself – downhill is north, uphill is south! – but can also make it a bit of a hike to get around if you’re headed in the wrong direction. On the other hand, east-west transportation is ably served by the Hong Kong MTR Island Line, easily one of the finest subways in the world.

For my explorations, this meant simply walking east since I’m staying at the west end of the island. The sheer density is both entrancing and overwhelming. Countless tiny Chinese congee restaurants, noodle shops, electronics stores and pharmacies are packed in between Japanese fine dining, Indian lunch buffets, luxury outlets, and all the other trappings of globalization like 7-Eleven, Starbucks, etc. Looking down an alley between two buildings reveals lanes of stalls with every kind of knick-knack for sale, and crowds of people rush to catch double decker buses that drive on the left. An eclectic mix, to say the least. The fact that despite a decade of Mandarin Chinese study I can’t speak a word of Cantonese, the main language here, only adds to the experience. It simply doesn’t feel like anywhere else in the world, Chinese, British, or otherwise. And at night, it has what must be the greatest skyline on the globe.

A typical view looking up one of Hong Kong's narrow streets.

It's not all buildings and people: here's some natural beauty away from the city itself, on Lantau Island.

Anyway, you probably get the picture! It’s a city worth a visit.

I’m happy to be heading back to the US on Friday. Overall, this has been an extremely successful research trip with nearly 25 interviews conducted in 30 days across three different cities, along with getting a lot of great feedback on a research paper presented in Shanghai with Prof. Dickson. Thanks again to the Sigur Center for the invaluable support!

Research on the Mainland: Beijing and Shanghai

Hello from Shanghai! My name is Jackson Woods and I’m a Ph.D. student in political science, conducting summer field research for my dissertation with the help of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies.

My research deals with Chinese public opinion online, especially around foreign policy issues. In the midst of my fourth week here in China, I look back and find myself amazed at how much I’ve learned in such a short period of time. My first twenty-two days were spent in Beijing, and during that time I got to conduct nearly twenty-five interviews with experts ranging from professors at big-name universities to founders of well-known media publications to notable independent voices who’ve found themselves challenging the state. As important as all the other data is for my research – news articles and reports, millions of social media postings, and more – there’s nothing like hearing about these issues straight from those involved in China’s domestic foreign policy debates.

Getting to do this research involved a lot of different pieces that have to fall into place and not a little bit of luck. Mostly, it’s a story of using connections to make connections. For example, a friend who I met on a previous trip to Beijing with my committee chair introduced me to a professor in his department at Tsinghua University on my second day here. In the middle of our conversation, that professor sent me the WeChat contact information for a researcher at the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences. (Note that WeChat is an absolutely essential smartphone app in China which everybody uses to the complete exclusion of texting, phone, etc.) After accepting my friend request on WeChat, that researcher in turn talked to her institute head, which meant that two weeks later I found myself at lunch with the research institute staff and a visiting scholar from Taiwan, talking with another expert who’s written multiple books about online opinion in China! Flexibility and follow-up are the key phrases for this kind of work.

Renmin University - site of a few interviews during my stay in Beijing

More broadly, it's great to be back in China. I've lived in Beijing for two years (2008-2009 and 2013-2014) and, while it will never really feel "like home," it's certainly familiar. Between hitting all of my culinary favorites and catching up with friends working in the city, I got to enjoy an unprecedentedly beautiful couple of weeks. Anyone who has read about China probably knows about the terrible air pollution, but with a few exceptions we had nearly three weeks of blue skies during my visit. The city felt entirely different, as residents walked down the street pointing their camera phones at the sky and fluffy blue clouds floated over familiar buildings that I'm more used to seeing shrouded in grayish-brown haze. I don't know if this was the result of policy or just a string of great luck, but I'm not complaining either way.

The view from my window in the Liudaokou neighborhood.

A more typical view on a previous visit to Beijing.

After keeping busy in Beijing, I’m now in Shanghai attending a conference at Shanghai Jiaotong University with scholars from both the US and China presenting their latest research, and next week I’ll be heading to Hong Kong. Already I've made a lot of useful connections with professors on both sides of the Pacific, which is nearly as valuable as the interviews. I also enjoy the contrast between Beijing and Shanghai quite a bit – where Beijing carries the weight of hundreds of years as China’s capital under a modern veneer, Shanghai feels like a true “world city.” I like them both in their own way, and I had a great time in Beijing, but it's cool to see the "leading edge" of the PRC. Of course, there’ve been a lot of cool experiences besides just work and nice weather, but those will have to wait for the next post(s). Until then!

Myself, my adviser Prof. Bruce Dickson, and Chunhua Chen, another GWU political science Ph.D. student who's currently doing field research in Beijing for the entire year. On the campus of Peking University.

Announcing Sigur Center 2015 Summer Language and Research Grants

 The Sigur Center for Asian Studies is pleased to announce grants for language study and field research for Summer 2015. Students with an interest in furthering their Asian language skills or conducting field research in Asia are highly encouraged to apply. All GW students are eligible for Language Grants. Asian Field Research Grants are open to MA and PhD students. Students may apply regardless of nationality.

  

All grant applications are due by February 27, 2015. Please find links to application materials and details for each grant below: 

Grant for Asian Language Study in Korea, Japan or China

Grant for Chinese Language Study in Taiwan



Grant for Asian Field Research

Please direct all inquiries regarding Sigur Center Language and Research Grants 

to Mary Howard, Asian Studies Program Assistant at asia@gwu.edu.

Tips for Field Research in Asia

1. Start before going. This is a list of things you should get together before leaving: letter from advisor(s); letter from university; letter from local affiliated institution (if you have one); business card; and short summary of your project. You will probably need this to access local libraries such as the Jawarhalal Nehru University's (below). Make a rough draft of your research schedule detailing the aims of your trip and how you intend to achieve them. Save up time upon arrival by making a list with addresses of places you want to go (e.g., libraries, archives, government offices, universities) and take some time to become acquainted with their location. The same goes for people who you might want to meet: make a list of contacts and email them in advance (but don't rely on this, see below). I'm assuming you have visited your research area previously, but if not, you need to think about items such as local phone, Internet and transport.

Jawarhalal Nehru University, New Delhi

2. Don't rely on e-mails. Few things will hamper down your research as waiting for people to reply to your emails. The truth is that most people will never prioritize (or even read) an email from an unknown student posing strange questions about a remote topic. In the hierarchy of research communication, emails should come last, followed shortly by the telephone. Of course, getting hold of someone's mobile number is always better than having his or her office number. But even phone conversations can lead to dead ends. As many researchers discover, scheduled meetings often get cancelled at the last minute. If this happens, the fallback option is simply to show up at the person's workplace - sometimes you do need to be a bit pushy. Naturally, you must be careful not to come across as rude (i.e., apologize, explain that you won't take much time) but, in general, it's worth taking the risk. My experience is that once people see you they'll grant you a couple of minutes or so, mainly because it will get you out off their backs.

3. Sort out your office space. Unless you to intend to spend your day at home (and then you should be asking yourself why going?), you need to take some time to consider where you will be working. Researchers conducting archival research will have a slight easier life on this point. Nonetheless, they still need to think about library opening hours, where to have lunch/water and, most importantly, Internet access (none of the libraries/archives that I visited in India provides wireless access). Alternatives are, in my experience, limited to two options: (1) Internet cafes and (2) co-working spaces. In regards to the former, you should prepare beforehand a list of Internet cafes that are convenient for you and that will enable you to work for extended periods of time (i.e., a bar or a sports bar will probably not be a very good choice). Moreover, in India, I have found that many of the places offering Internet access online, do not once you are there (e.g., most Coffee Days and Costa Cafes do not). Ideally, you should check with someone and/or ask recommendations from locals. Online resources (such as blogs) often provide lists of Internets cafes in your research area (in the case of Mumbai, I found a very helpful map at the Mumbai Boss). The other option is co-working spaces. In Delhi, I was lucky enough to find a social networking cafe in Hauz Khaz village called Book Your Dream, which offers Wi-Fi, coffee with cookies and a beautiful lake view. All this in exchange for a contribution (left to your discretion) to an NGO promoting education in local slums.

My office at Book Your Dream in Haus Khaz Village, Delhi

4. Organize a photo library. Turns out your phone camera and tablet are an excellent field research tool. If you are like me, then you'll have filled their memory after a couple of days with pictures of libraries, interview subjects, street scenes, posters, slums, pages of books, documents and videos of political rallies. My advise on this unfolds in five parts. First, create a folder in your computer for all the photos that you will take during your field trip. Do not mix these with the non-research related photos that you might have taken during this trip. Second, you should to copy your phone/tablet photos to your laptop as often as possible so that you always have sufficient space for new pictures/videos. It is always frustrating to delete potentially important material from your phone in order to make up space for more. Third, once you have copied them, reduce the size of the files so that they do not take an inordinate amount of space. Fourth, after doing this, you should copy them again to a backup device (e.g., external drive, dropbox, self-email, etc). The thing to remember here is to have the photos saved in more than one source. Finally, when possible (this can be done once you're back from field research), organize the photo files in your computer into categories. This will facilitate searching through them.

Note to self: do not ride the Delhi metro at rush hour

5. Don't scare people with your CV. Extensive experience with grant application might give researchers the impression that listing their achievements is a natural way to introduce oneself. Yet, when it comes to field research, the opposite may well be true. Unless your CV increases the chances of interviewing someone or being entrusted with data, you should seek to reduce the information about you to the bare minimum: you name, your university and your field of study. In my experience researching in India, I have found that interview subject are sometimes scared off by too much information about my academic curriculum (or my personal trajectory). Instead, a much better strategy is to compliment the person who you are talking to and thanking her for the time granted. Naturally, this involves doing some background work about the person (i.e., if you want to talk to an academic, you should read some of her or his articles in advance) before meeting her.

Diogo Lemos

PhD candidate 

Department of Political Science 

GWU

EU Funded Doctoral Fellowship on Rising Powers

Applications are invited for 3 Early Stage Researcher (ESR) positions in the Marie Curie Initial Training Network PRIMO – Power and Region in a Multipolar Order.

PRIMO is a European Commission funded doctoral training network that involves universities in Germany, the UK, Turkey, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, and Portugal, as well as non-academic institutional participants. It develops innovative research training in the field of International Relations, in particular with respect to the growing importance of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa in international politics and the global economy. The programme combines theoretical approaches, a rigorous mixed research methodology, practical training, and the acquisition of substantial empirical expertise on regional and emerging powers, with career opportunities in academia or the private sector.

3 open PhD positions are soon closing:

German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Hamburg (Deadline: February 28)

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (Deadline: March 11)

University of Hamburg, Hamburg (Deadline: March 11)

All PhD positions include:

·         Generous salary (country specific) according to the EU Marie Curie framework for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs)

·         Attractive secondment opportunities to other partners in the network

·         State of the art training in methods and transferable skills.

For more information & application instructions, please visit:

http://www.wiso.uni-hamburg.de/projekte/primo/start/

Job Opening: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Memory & Reconciliation in Asia Pacific

Position Description:

Memory & Reconciliation in Asia Pacific (www.gwu.edu/~memory) is a research and policy project located at the Sigur Center for Asian Studies in the Elliott School. Created in 2003, it aims at studying both lingering historical issues and efforts at reconciliation in the Asia Pacific region. The project has sponsored numerous lectures and conferenecs and maintained a online database. We are looking for highly motivated undergraduates to assist faculty members in updating the online database and carrying out relevant research.

Approximate Hours Per Week:  up to 20 hours

Hourly Wage: $ 15 /hour

Qualifications:

• Interest in/knowledge of East Asian history and politics
• Web development and social media experience
• Minimum 3.25 GPA
• Knowledge fo an East Asian language would be helpful but is not required
• Must be a current GW undergraduate student

Application Procedures:

• Apply via GWork to position number   792886
• Required documents: Resume, cover letter, transcript
• Specify the number of hours you are available to work in your cover letter
• Due to the high volume of expected applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

New subscriptions at The Japan Resource Center

The Japan Resource Center is pleased to announce a trial database subscription, Maisaku.  It contains daily Mainichi Shinbun from 1872 to the present, the weekly journal Ekonomisuto since 1989, the English newspaper The Mainichi since 2008 and more.  Explore the database on the GRC website http://library.gwu.edu/collections/GRC  through Oct. 23, 2013 and please fill in the online feedback form to let us know what you think!

The Japan Resource Center (JRC) was established in 2005 to provide support for advanced study on Japan to the George Washington University community, especially those at the Elliott School of International Affairs as well as to the business circle and researchers of Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Adding up to the collection, the scope of the JRC’s collection includes the history, politics, economy, public policy, national security, culture, and foreign relations of Japan after the Meiji Restoration (1868), with a weight on the 20th century, in accordance with the academic focus of the Elliott School.  The collection format consists of monographs, periodicals, newspapers, references and databases.

For more information contact:

Yukako Tatsumi

Japan Resource Center Librarian

ytatsumi@email.gwu.edu

2013 Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit Now Accepting Applications

Now Accepting Applications for the 2013 Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit (CLS)

CLS, now in its third year, is a three-day conference hosted between Duke University and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. CLS aims to strengthen Duke-UNC collaboration by bringing together undergraduate and graduate students from Duke, UNC, and other top universities in the US and China with acute and demonstrated interests in US-China affairs. CLS aims not only to offer a series of esteemed US-China speakers to the general Duke and UNC public, but also to generate interdisciplinary interest and discussion, create opportunities for research presentation and collaboration, and present networking opportunities to explore potential careers and other China-related opportunities for delegates and attendants. The conference will create a networking platform for members of both campuses to discuss issues related to the growing US-China rivalry and present and collaborate on innovative ideas for tackling future issues.

In addition to applying to be a delegate, students can be chosen as moderators for panels during the conference. We also encourage applicants who would like to present relevant research at the conference to apply.

This year’s conference theme is Sustainability: the sustainability of China’s environmental policies, its economic policies and trade relations with the United States, prevalent political trends and models, as well as issues of cultural and social transition.

For a tentative schedule along with a list of confirmed speakers please visit our website, dukeunccls.org.

The link to the application is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fD1AK0wOAfN2Q86ktuZSm6dBv7v8Tg_rHf5P9S_pEtM/viewform

Application is due FEBRUARY 22, 11:59 PM. All interviews will be conducted before March 7 and all decisions 

made by March 8. Please contact dukeunccls@gmail.com with any questions.

Announcing Sigur Center 2013 Language and Research Grants

Summer Asian Language Fellow, Kalisha Holmes on the Great Wall

The Sigur Center for Asian Studies is pleased to announce grants for language study and field research for Summer 2013. Students with an interest in furthering their Asian language skills or conducting field research in Asia are highly encouraged to apply. All GW BA, MA and PhD students are eligible for Language Grants. Asian Field Research Grants are open to MA and PhD students. Students may apply regardless of nationality. 

All grant applications are due by February 15, 2013. Please find links to application materials and details for each grant below:

Sigur Center Summer Grant for Chinese Language Study in Taiwan 

**Please note that the Sigur Center has substantial funding specifically dedicated to sending students to study Chinese in Taiwan. We strongly recommend that, if you would like to study Chinese abroad, you apply for this grant. If you want to study in China, you must apply for the Asian Language Grant, which has no such specific monies for Chinese language study.**

Sigur Center Summer Grant for Korean Language Study in Korea

Sigur Center Summer Grant for Asian Language Study in Asia

Sigur Center Summer Grant for Asian Field Research

* (MA and PhD students only)

Requirements:
Those selected for these grants must submit four blog posts throughout the course of the program and, during the fall semester, participate in an informal discussion with Sigur Center staff and other grant recipients about your experience abroad. Find a full list of requirements for each specific grant by clicking on the grants above, or visiting the Sigur Center website HERE. 

             Please email gsigur@gwu.edu with any questions.

The University of Hawai'i Looking For Conference Participants

Conference Participants Wanted

The School of Pacific and Asian Studies (SPAS) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) seeks papers, performances, and panel proposals for its 24th annual graduate student conference. The conference will be held on the UHM campus in Honolulu, HI on April 3-5, 2013. The theme this year is “CONTINUITY, CHANGE, AND CONTESTATION: MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND TRANSNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE ASIA-PACIFIC.”

In particular, we are looking for papers that:

Incorporate multidisciplinary approaches

Challenge approaches based on a national or regional focus

Engage new and emerging trends in Pacific and/or Asian Studies

Involve any original research on Asia and/or the Pacific

Present Asian and/or Pacific performance practices

As this year's theme indicates, we are interested in accepting papers, performances, and panel proposals that continue, change, and/or contest disciplinary and regional approaches to the study of the Asia/Pacific. With this goal in mind, we also encourage those with a background in the arts to apply with performance proposals. 

We are happy to announce that we have two keynote speakers joining us this year: Dr. Naoki Sakai (Cornell University) and Dr. Barbara Andaya (University of Hawai'i at Mānoa). Information about our keynotes can be found on our website. 

Please submit the application form by February 1, 2013. When submitting the application, please rename the file from “2013 SPAS Abstract Submission Form.doc” to “Applicant’sLastName_Applicant’sFirstName.doc” and email it to gradconf@hawaii.eduby the submission deadline.

Additionally, all accepted papers/panels will have discussants, so presenters should be prepared to submit their papers by March 18, 2013.

Abstract submission deadline: February 1, 2013

For the submission form, please visit the 2013 SPAS Graduate Conference Website: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/spas/?page_id=881

Limited partial travel grants to the conference site may be available.

If you have any questions, please contact the conference planning committee at gradconf@hawaii.edu. For more information, please refer to our Facebook page, “2013 SPAS Graduate Conference.” 

We look forward to receiving your abstracts!

Opportunity to Present Undergraduate Research on Capitol Hill

Present your Undergraduate Research on Capitol Hill!

In the Spring of 2013 the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) will host its 17th annual undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill. This event will help members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students whom these programs impact.

Deadline for Submission is November 1, 2012.
CUR is calling for students to submit an abstract of their research that represents any of CUR's disciplinary divisions (Arts and Humanities, Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Health Sciences, Mathematics/Computer Science, Physics/Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences). In order to ensure proper review of applications, the above are the only disciplines that may apply. Should your research be inter-disciplinary, please select the division that most closely describes your research.

Abstract submissions will only be accepted by using CUR’s on-line submission form. Prior to submitting the form, students should gather the contact information for all co-authors, advisors and sponsors (if applicable), prepare a short vitae/resume, and poster abstract. A document listing the information required for submission can be found by visiting: http://www.cur.org/conferences_and_events/student_events/posters_on_the_hill_information_for_submission/ <http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/utilities/emailct.asp?A830B49DC9238158EEC90FB426B14F26316C487831C17283B05AD8A75B24607C>
  
For more information, and the link to submit an application, please visit: http://www.cur.org/conferences_and_events/student_events/posters_on_the_hill_call_for_abstracts/ <http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/utilities/emailct.asp?C9B50E616B245C00EBC4C91CEA4E1F1A1401BB6F3DF199D18069A0694309FF9E> .  You will note that CUR requires either the student’s home institution must have an institutional membership, or the faculty mentor or student must have an individual membership.  Please know that GW is indeed an institutional member of CUR. 
Please be sure that both portions (the electronic application and the electronic recommendation letter) are submitted by November 1, 2012.

For more information about the Posters on the Hill program, please visit http://www.cur.org/postersession.html<http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/utilities/emailct.asp?709038275EE3480D2057F7897D9BB075A57B826947083B9468FE58EAB07E674B> .

Further questions?  Contact research@gwu.edu

Cosmos Scholars Grant Program

COSMOS SCHOLARS
A Grant Program of
The Cosmos Club Foundation
In Support of Graduate Students
At Washington Area Universities
2012-2013

Purpose

The Cosmos Club Foundation's Young Scholars Grant Program provides grants to graduate students at local Washington-area universities to meet unexpected and otherwise unsupported aspects of their research.

Scope of Program

There is no restriction as to academic field, but the project should be focused on objective scholarly research rather than commercial or political activity, social activism, or other non-academic goals. The number of grants to be awarded is not rigidly fixed, but is expected to be at least fifteen. Amounts of awards will be determined individually, and are contemplated to be in the range of $500 to $3,000.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled, on a full-time or part-time basis, in a program leading to a graduate degree (Masters or Doctoral) at one of the local institutions listed below under "Eligible Institutions".

Budget

Grants will not exceed $3,000. Every research proposal must include (in the space provided on the application form) a brief budget statement that lists clearly the funds requested and explains how the money will be allocated. The budget should also state what other support has been sought or received for the work proposed (a field for this is on the application form).

Items of equipment and special supplies are eligible, but the equipment should be expendable. Items that the institution ought to provide or that graduate students can be expected to own are not eligible. Items and services that will outlive the project are not considered expendable and are generally not eligible.

Travel for field research, or to research facilities to consult documents or to study artifacts in situ or to conduct cultural exploration is generally eligible. Travel to consult with an expert practitioner may be considered. Travel to attend professional meetings to present an accepted paper or poster exhibit may also be considered. Travel to a conference simply for networking or job-hunting is not eligible. Applicants should keep in mind the virtues of economically modest travel requests.

Guidelines

The major criterion for selection is the excellence of the research proposal, which must introduce the problem, state the hypothesis, and explain how the research will apply to the problem.

It is essential to make the project description understandable to scholars in other fields, while retaining enough detail to satisfy a specialist in the field of the proposal.

We do not support work which will be conducted prior to the announced date of awards, or so soon thereafter that the funds, if awarded, could not be applied to it.

Funds for tuition or related expenses for personal professional education will not be provided.

Generally funds will not be provided to support remuneration to participants in studies or stipends for research assistants.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Please note: The Application Procedures change slightly from year to year, but the entire application must be submitted online at www.cosmosclubfoundation.org. Applications for a given year's program usually are accepted beginning in late summer, when revised procedures are posted on the Foundation's web site. The deadline for submission is midnight Eastern Daylight Time November 1, 2012.

More details, and a link to the application form, may be found here.

Questions and other messages may be sent as e-mail messages to grants@cosmosclubfoundation.org.

Evaluation and Selection

Successful proposals will be selected by the Cosmos Club Foundation Trustees after evaluation and recommendation by panels chosen by the Foundation. Proposals will be judged on both substance and clarity. The Foundation may make awards in amounts different from those requested. Decisions of the Foundation are final and are not subject to review. Winners' names will be posted on the Foundation web site usually by early February. Recipients of grants will also receive a letter requiring a reply to the Foundation before funds will be disbursed.

Conditions of Award

Cosmos Scholars are expected to provide a summary report of the results of the project in support of which they have received awards, and to indicate how the award contributed to the project. This report is expected within one year of the date of the award, and the Foundation may post the report on its web site. Cosmos Scholars may also be invited to present their results at a special Cosmos Club Foundation function organized to recognize them and their accomplishments. Publications resulting from supported research must acknowledge the Cosmos Club Foundation's support.

Eligible Institutions

American University
The Catholic University of America
Corcoran College of Art + Design
Gallaudet University
George Mason University
The George Washington University
Georgetown University
Howard University
Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
Marymount University
Trinity University
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
University of the District of Columbia
University of Maryland, College Park

Cosmos Scholars

The Cosmos Club Foundation's Young Scholars Awards have been presented annually* since 1998, with the invaluable assistance of the Consortium of Universities of the Metropolitan Washington Area for the years 1998-2007. Through the 2012 academic year, the program, now named the Cosmos Scholars Grant Program, has provided 278 grants to graduate students at local Washington-area universities.

* The absence of a list labeled "2000" reflects a change of the month of the award from December to January.

Selection of Cosmos Scholars for 2012

After an arduous process of review, 22 Cosmos Scholars have been selected from a field of 197 applicants. Their names, institutions, and proposal titles appear in the table on this web site. Regrettably, limited resources prevented us from supporting many worthwhile projects, or granting the level of support requested for many of those selected. We congratulate the new Cosmos Scholars and thank all applicants for their participation.

Job Opening: Research and Program Assistant The Nuclear Debates in Asia project

Research and Program Assistant

The Nuclear Debates in Asia project

Sigur Center for Asian Studies

George Washington University

Position Summary

The Research and Program Assistant (RPA) will provide research, administrative, logistical, program, and budget support to the Sigur Center for Asian Studies. The incumbent will work primarily on the Rising Powers Initiative and will be the primary point of contact for all research, programmatic, and financial needs for a team of more than 20 researchers in the United States and Asia. This position will be research-intensive and those duties will occupy approximately 50 percent of the incumbent’s attention. The RPA will compose substantive, high-level briefing memos and background papers on nuclear issues in key countries in East, Southeast, and South Asia for the project team by synthesizing and analyzing large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data. The balance of the RPA’s effort will be devoted to programmatic and administrative responsibilities.

The Rising Powers Initiative (RPI) is comprised of a set of interrelated research projects that explore various dynamics within the following major and aspiring powers in Asia and Eurasia: ASEAN, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Russia. The discrete projects included within the RPI are: Worldviews of Rising Powers: Exploring Domestic Foreign Policy Debates; Worldviews of Aspiring Powers: Implications for the United States and Global Leadership; Major Powers, Rising Powers, and Identity Shifts in Asia: Implications for Regional and Global Security Cooperation; The Nuclear Debates in Asia: Balancing Risks and Rewards; and Asian Powers and Economic Challenges. While the incumbent will support all projects, s/he will be especially involved in the Nuclear Debates in Asia: Balancing Risks and Rewardsproject led by Professors Deepa Ollapally and Mike Mochizuki. This is an excellent opportunity for a young professional with background in Asia, nuclear issues, and international relations to play a major role in a cutting-edge, rapidly-growing research initiative.

Salary: $31,000 - $35,000 depending on experience

To apply: Send resume and cover letter to sigurcenter503@gmail.com. No calls, please.

Job Duties

·         Acts as primary point of contact for a team of 20 experts researching nuclear proliferation issues in Asia. Provides desktop research on Asian countries’ voting records in nuclear issues in international fora. Researches range of domestic debates on nuclear energy and nuclear security in key Asian countries. Composes substantive briefing memos and background papers on nuclear issues in select countries in East, Southeast, and South Asia for the project team by synthesizing and analyzing large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data.

·         Manages program budgets, grants, and all financial transactions. Processes reimbursements, honoraria, and all other project payments.

·         Organizes and executes all project-related public events, private conferences, and meetings. This includes coordinating all travel arrangements, catering, and all other logistical needs.

·         Maintains, updates, and manages project website. Maintains and manages project listservs and announcements. Writes, edits, designs, and produces a variety of publications and prepares background materials for project participants.

·         In conjunction with project directors, manages all internal and external reporting associated with these projects.

·         Serves as primary administrative support staff for associated projects.

·         Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Desired Qualifications

·         BA preferably in Asian Studies, International Relations, Political Science, or Public Policy

·         Substantial knowledge of nuclear issues in Asia

·         Knowledge of a modern Asian language

·         Demonstrated experience and interest in Asia and international affairs

·         Excellent writing and editing skills

·         Professional experience using social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, and blogs)

·         Graphic design experience using InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, or similar programs

·         Prior professional experience with project or program management

·         Experience with website design and management

·         Cross-cultural experience and/or working in an international environment

·         Excellent communication, customer service, and organizational skills

·         Grants management and proposal writing experience

·         Familiarity with accounting systems and other financial management tools

·         Event/conference planning experience

·         Excellent organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple tasks while meeting multiple deadlines

·         Familiarity with word processing, database management, Excel, and PowerPoint

·         Ability to work with little supervision, but also teamwork skills

Application Procedure

Send resume and cover letter to sigurcenter503@gmail.com. No calls, please.