The ARES Emerging Experts Fellowship
Overview
Funder: Armament Research Services (ARES)
Application deadline: 15 October
Appointments made: November–December
Term of appointment: 1 year
Location: Remote
Value of appointment: $1,000 USD
The ARES Emerging Experts Fellowship is designed to identify, support, and elevate the next generation of leading researchers in the contemporary arms studies field. This remote fellowship is awarded to early-career individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential to contribute meaningfully to the technical study of arms and munitions, their contemporary use (1800 to present day), and the broader dynamics of armed conflict.
Applicants may be currently undertaking postgraduate study (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant discipline or have completed such study within the past three years. The fellowship supports those who not only meet academic standards, but who stand out through the originality of their work, the clarity of their analytical approach, or the practical relevance of their research to real-world practitioners in the arms studies field.
Fellowship recipients will join a small but select cohort of emerging professionals making tangible contributions to arms and munitions research. Fellows will have opportunities to engage with ARES staff and networks, access internal resources where appropriate, and showcase their expertise through ARES’ established public and professional platforms. Applicants with sufficient capacity (~10 hours per week) may ask to be considered for an ARES Research Assistant position running in tandem with their fellowship.
Fellowships are awarded in November–December each year. Funds may be used anytime in the following eight months to support research activities, including travel, fieldwork, archival access, technical study, or publication costs. Wherever practicable, fellows are expected to produce a publishable output during their term. Additional support may be offered at ARES’s discretion.
Eligibility
The ARES Emerging Experts Fellowship is open to early-career researchers who are currently enrolled in a postgraduate program or who completed such a program within the previous three years. The subject of the applicant’s proposed research must relate to arms and munitions of the contemporary period (1800 to present day).
We are particularly interested in applicants who exhibit a strong aptitude for arms and munitions research and who are seeking to further establish themselves as future leaders in the field. Relevant areas of study include (but are not limited to): arms and munitions history, conflict archaeology, technical arms analysis, security and defence studies, and material culture.
Ideal candidates will have already demonstrated excellence in their research, publication, or analytical work, and show the promise of making lasting contributions to the field.
Fellows are encouraged to produce one or more outputs suitable for dissemination through ARES platforms, such as the ARES website, series of technical and research reports, briefing papers, or peer-reviewed publications. Fellows may also be invited to present their work at ARES events or through its professional networks.
Applicants may be located anywhere, but must be legally able to undertake any research or travel their project may require. Please note that applicants residing in the following countries cannot be accepted: Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Yemen. Additional vetting may apply for residents of certain other jurisdictions.
Application Process
Please email the documents outlined below to: research@armshistory.org, indicating which fellowship you are applying for.
A copy of your completed application form, available for download here;
Cover letter describing your background, the proposed or ongoing research project, specific uses to which you will put the funds, and intended deliverable(s);
Curriculum Vitae (no more than 5 pages) highlighting relevant academic, professional, and personal experience connected to your intended research project; and
Short bibliography (1 page or less) of the most relevant and/or recent secondary works on the topic of your proposal.
If you intend to apply for multiple fellowships, please note that each application should be sent as a separate email with all of the relevant attachments.
Selection Process
The CSAH Advisory Council, in consultation with senior ARES staff, will review applications in October–November and contact the successful recipient by the end of the application year (typically in December).
Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
Relevance and originality of the proposed research – Does the project address significant issues in arms and munitions studies, including underexplored areas or emerging threats? Does it offer a novel approach that contributes to the advancement of the field?
Feasibility and clarity of the research plan – Is the research plan clearly structured, methodologically sound, and achievable within the proposed timeframe and budget? Does it demonstrate a solid grasp of relevant sources, materials, or analytical frameworks?
Potential for professional development – Will the fellowship substantively support the applicant’s development as a future leader or specialist in arms and munitions research, technical assessments, or related policy areas?
Quality of writing and presentation – Is the application well-articulated, logically argued, and persuasive in explaining the significance of the research and its expected contribution to the field?
Terms of Appointment
Successful applicants will be expected to provide one or more agreed-upon deliverables within 12 months of being appointed to a fellowship. Ordinarily, these deliverables will include a substantive piece of work (e.g., a research report or journal article) and one or more smaller outputs, such as presentations, blog posts, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc.
Early-career fellows agree to acknowledge the support of CSAH in all publications, presentations, or media appearances resulting from the funded research, using the following standard language: “This research was supported by an Armament Research Services (ARES) Early-career Fellowship awarded by the Centre for the Study of Arms History (CSAH). See: www.armshistory.org” [slight variations on this language may be approved].
Early-career Fellows will be required to provide photos and text relating to their research project for use on the CSAH website. For an example, see: https://www.armshistory.org/justinbaird
Previous Recipients
2024 – Charles Randall (FA-MAS Self-loading Rifles in Vanuatu)
