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

• Humanities/Theology
• Social sciences/Law
• Natural sciences/Medicine/Mathematics

Our primary objective is to further excellent research by providing its fellows with uninterrupted time for research.

The research groups stay at CAS in Drammensveien 78, Oslo, for one academic year. Each project receives a roughly NOK 3.5 million grant.

Who can apply?

All faculty members who hold permanent research positions at CAS' partner institutions in Norway are eligible to submit a project proposal, and assemble and lead the corresponding research group at CAS.

The Centre’s partner institutions are:

University of Oslo (UiO), University of Bergen (UiB), UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), University of Stavanger (UiS), University of Agder (UiA), Norwegian Univeristy of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), Norwegian Business School (BI), Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (MF), Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), and Center for International Climate and Environmental Research Oslo (CICERO).

Project leaders and group members employed in permanent research positions at these institutions are granted sabbatical leave by their home institution during their stay at CAS.

Project leaders can invite researchers from around the world at any stage of their careers to participate in the project -- whether for an entire year or for a few months. CAS projects often include Ph.D. candidates and/or postdoctoral fellows, which promotes career development and mentorship.

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

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

• eight pleasant and well-equipped office spaces (six offices) per project.
• IT and library services.
• assistance with conference and workshop planning.
• help with accommodations (for researchers not based in Oslo).
• help with finding kindergartens and/or schools (for researchers bringing family members).
• subsidised lunch.

There are no laboratory facilities at CAS. All laboratory work, fieldwork, and collection of data should be completed before the year at CAS begins. As a result, the work at CAS should focus on the analytical stage of the research; the processing, synthesising, theorisation, and communication of research results.

Since the central tenet of CAS is to facilitate daily intellectual dialogue, the project leaders must be based at CAS throughout the academic year, which runs from 15 August to 30 June. It is also expected that fellows, while in residence at CAS, will work full-time on issues relevant to the project.

What does the funding cover?

The current budget frame for each project is NOK 3.500.000. The funds should cover:

• Travel and accommodation expenses for visiting scholars and their family members.
• Seminars and conferences.
• Publication expenses while in residency at CAS.
• Child care and school expenses.
• Buy-out/teaching replacement expenses for scholars not associated with our partner institutions, and who have no sabbatical.

How to apply

The selection of CAS projects is organized as a two-step process. For the first round, applicants are asked to submit a proposal containing:

• A brief project description detailing the project’s central issues, originality, and academic importance in relation to developments in the field (2-4 pages).
• Information about the project leader(s), including name(s), current workplace(s), relevant publications, involvement in the field concerned, and relevant leadership experience (1-2 pages).
• A letter of support from the Head of your section. It is advisable to include in the letter a short description of how the project will strengthen and give added value to the research environment at the applicant's home institution, also succeeding the CAS year (1 page). If the project have two leaders from different departments or institutions, a letter of support must be submitted from both departments or institutions.

Successful applicants will:

• Submit a proposal that clearly illustrates the project's potential as a contribution to excellent, fundamental research.
• Explain why a year at CAS will be beneficial to the project.

Note:

• Each project can have a maximum of two leaders. Co-project leaders must sign a letter of intent confirming their participation.
• 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 securedby August 2022.
• It is not necessary to submit a proposed budget in the first round of the process.

The application portal will open in December 2019. 

The deadline for applying is January 15, 2020.

The selection process

The CAS Board of Directors will in February determine which of the submitted proposals will proceed to the next round. At that point, applicants will be asked to draw up a full project outline, which will be reviewed by international experts. The full project outline must also include a list of Norwegian and international scholars interested in participating in the project. 

The final selection of the three projects will be announced in September. CAS will assist project leaders during the two-year planning phase leading up to the year at the centre.

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