Program Opportunities

The Center for African Studies hosts a Visiting Scholar in Residence during the fall semesters to give our students a chance to explore global issues from a fresh perspective. They’ll learn about Africa’s unique culture, global politics, economics, health, and environmental issues., while gaining valuable insights that enhance their studies.

Founded in 1878 by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne University places a premium on vibrant and high-caliber scholarly research. This commitment is enhanced when scholars engage with one another from various disciplinary, cultural, social and ideological perspectives. Such engagement serves to benefit both the scholar, who is able to access the many resources available on campus, and the University community, which comes to share in the scholar's insights.

Duquesne's Center for African Studies offers the opportunity for such engagement through its Scholar-in-Residence program. The goals of the program are (i) to support scholars in African Studies as they pursue new or ongoing research projects that result in presentations or publications, and (ii) to encourage scholars to contribute fresh and innovative perspectives that maintain the intellectual vitality of the Center and the University.

This program is primarily intended for scholars who already have funding from their home institutions (e.g., in the form of a sabbatical leave), a foundation, or a government, and who seek supplemental funding and academic institutional support to fulfill their scholarly agenda. The program particularly seeks to support faculty members as they work to complete research projects for publication.

Eligibility 

The Scholar-in-Residence program is open to scholars who hold terminal degrees in any discipline. The research proposed must be in the field of African Studies, broadly understood. Scholars from, and research on, sub-Saharan Africa may be given priority.

Term 

Scholars may be supported for either one or two semesters.

Benefits and Responsibilities

Scholars are provided with a computer and office space in the Center for African Studies, in an academic department appropriate to their research project, or in the library. They enjoy full access to the scholarly resources of the University community. Scholars agree to give at least one public lecture during their time on campus and to make themselves available for formal and informal conversation with faculty and students. By prior agreement, scholars may also teach a graduate or advanced undergraduate seminar. Scholars supported for two semesters may be asked to undertake additional responsibilities.

Scholars must acknowledge the support of Duquesne University and its Center for African Studies in any publication or presentation of the research they undertake during the period of the award.

Finances

Scholars receive stipends of $14,000 per semester. Employee benefits are not provided. In addition, scholars may be reimbursed up to $4,000 per semester for relocation and living expenses and up to $3,000 per semester for professional travel and other expenses related to their research projects. Housing on campus at a reduced rate is sometimes available.

Visa Status

• Scholars may be nominated or apply directly. In either case, a complete application must include:
• Scholar-in-Residence Application Form
• Curriculum vitae
• Letter from the applicant (i) describing the proposed research topic, (ii) explaining the nature and significance of the project, (iii) detailing its impact on scholarship in the applicant's field of study, and (iv) offering a detailed plan for completing the research and publishing the results
• Letter of recommendation from a department head, dean or other administrator at the applicant's current institution who is knowledgeable about her/his research
• Names and current contact information for two additional references
• Letter verifying the applicant's primary source of funding for the period in question
  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications may be submitted at any time, either in hard copy (to Selection Committee, Center for African Studies, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA) or electronically as a single .pdf file (to africanstudiesFREEDUQUESNE).

Evaluation

Applications will be reviewed by members of the Advisory Board of the Center for African Studies who will evaluate the scholarly merit and feasibility of the research project proposed and its relevance both to the goals of this program and to the Mission of Duquesne University (see http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement).

 Justin Raycraft is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Lethbridge where he leads the Applied Research in Environmental Anthropology (AREA) Lab. He received his PhD from McGill University and was a visiting postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University’s Program on Science, Technology, and Society. His ethnographic research focuses on conservation institutions, human-wildlife interactions, and the political ecology of protected areas in Tanzania. He is the author of the book Conservation in Common (University of Georgia Press, 2025) that explores the potential for a Wildlife Management Area on the Maasai Steppe to support local agropastoral livelihoods. He has published numerous articles in top-flight journals including Biological Conservation, People and Nature, Conservation Biology, and the Journal of Environmental Management. Justin is also an Associate Editor of the journal Conservation Science and Practice and a member of the University of Alberta’s Research Ethics Board.