Who is eligible for the fellowship?
We are inviting junior and mid-level researchers from academic and non-academic fields, as well as independent researchers from the media, NGOs and the private sector to apply for the fellowship. Applicants should:
In addition, the successful applicants must:
- Be a citizen and permanent resident of Myanmar, or a Myanmar citizen living in a neighboring country interested in studying Myanmar border issues and/or migration issues;
- Possess (at a minimum) a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, preferably gained within the last five years;
- Be sufficiently proficient in English writing, reading and speaking to complete scholarly work;
- Demonstrate interest in development-related issues through their work experience or study.
In addition, the successful applicants must:
- Be committed to undertaking a research project through the fellowship period up to the completion of a revised research report;
- Be able to attend two-week training programs in Chiang Mai, Thailand, one at the beginning and one toward the end of the fellowship program; and attend shorter (one-week) workshops in Yangon, Myanmar during the course of the year.
What does the fellowship program include?
The grant awards will vary depending on the specifics of the proposed project. The award will cover research expenses ranging from $1,600 to $3,200 USD per project. In addition, each awardee will receive a stipend of about $300 USD per month for the 12-month period. The program will also cover fellows' travel expenses and accommodation for the scheduled workshops in Chiang Mai and Yangon.
In addition to a grant, fellows will benefit from intellectual guidance and mentoring by faculty members from Chiang Mai University. They will have the opportunity to participate in workshops to enhance their research skills, on topics such as research conceptualization, research methods, data analysis and report writing. In the final months of the program, fellows will produce working papers on their research and findings. Working papers of sufficiently high quality will be published under RCSD auspices.
In addition to a grant, fellows will benefit from intellectual guidance and mentoring by faculty members from Chiang Mai University. They will have the opportunity to participate in workshops to enhance their research skills, on topics such as research conceptualization, research methods, data analysis and report writing. In the final months of the program, fellows will produce working papers on their research and findings. Working papers of sufficiently high quality will be published under RCSD auspices.
Timeline for the program
The fellowship program will be twelve months long. Fellows will attend a two-week training workshop on research conceptualization in Chiang Mai at the beginning of the program. Approximately six to eight months will be devoted to data collection in the field. During this period, there will be additional workshops held in Yangon. Two to three months will be devoted to data analysis and writing the first draft of the report. Toward the end of the program (in August), fellows will come to Chiang Mai for two weeks to attend a workshop on data analysis and report writing. Fellows are welcome to stay in Chiang Mai for a longer period to consult with their mentors and finalize their reports. Fellows will submit their final, edited and revised report in English during the twelfth month of the program.