The Heidelberg Center for American Studies (HCA) invites applications for its annual Spring Academy on American Culture, Economics, Geography, History, Literature, Politics, and Religion to be held from March 24-28, 2025.

The HCA Spring Academy provides 20 international Ph.D. students with the opportunity to present and thoroughly discuss their ongoing Ph.D. projects. The conference offers a forum for Ph.D. candidates in which they can present their research candidly and receive valuable feedback

We encourage applications that range broadly across the arts, humanities, and social sciences and pursue an interdisciplinary approach. Participants can present thesis projects on any subject relating to the study of the United States of America. Possible topics include American identity, issues of ethnicity, gender, transatlantic relations, U.S. domestic and foreign policy, economics, and various aspects of American history, literature, religion, geography, law, musicology, and culture. We also welcome proposals focused on the North American continent at large, i.e. Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Participants are requested to prepare a 20-minute presentation of their research project, which will be followed by a 40-minute discussion.

The Spring Academy aims to create a congenial atmosphere for scholarly exchange in order to inspire future collaborations and foster networking opportunities for participants.

The Heidelberg Center for American Studies is prepared to provide accommodation during the conference week.

Thanks to a small travel fund, the Spring Academy can subsidize travel expenses for participants registered and residing in developing and soft-currency countries. Applicants for the travel fund must document the necessity for financial aid and explain how they plan to cover any potentially remaining expenses. Additionally, a letter of recommendation from their doctoral advisor is required.


DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: November 1, 2024

SELECTIONS WILL BE MADE BY: January 2025

PLEASE USE OUR ONLINE APPLICATION FORM: https://www.hca.uni-heidelberg.de/spring/applicationspring_en.html

The HCA Spring Academy would not be possible without the generous support from John Deere.