Ponlok Chomnes Research Fellowship Program

Classes meet each Saturday over the course at the CKS Phnom Penh office from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (subject to change). Fellows are required to attend all sessions in person.

• 15-week intensive research course
• Workshops, guest speaker events, and mentorship opportunities
• Field trips to research institutions and libraries
• Parallel CKS Research Capacity Building Workshops
• Opportunities for additional training sessions and workshops by CKS and its partners
• Engagement with peers and experienced researchers, exploring essential aspects of academic research, including research design and planning, literature review and conceptual framework development, research ethics, methodologies, and data analysis

Keo Duong is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Bundeswehr University Munich in Germany, supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. For over a decade, he has worked as a lecturer and has supervised numerous BA and MA theses at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He has published five peer-reviewed papers and a monograph with the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he was awarded the 2022 Voltaire Prize for “Tolerance, International Understanding, and Respect for Difference” by the University of Potsdam, Germany.

Dr. Thun Theara is a research fellow at the University of Hong Kong and has been awarded the 2024-25 Lee Kong Chian NUS-Stanford Distinguished Fellowship on Southeast Asia. He earned his PhD from the National University of Singapore through a joint scholarship program with the Harvard-Yenching Institute (Harvard University) and was awarded the 2019 Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize for the Best PhD Thesis in Social Sciences and Humanities. His research interests include intellectual history, ethnicity, digital humanities, and education and technology. He has published nine peer-reviewed articles and a sole-authored monograph with the University of Hawai’i Press.

• Cambodian Master’s students or recent Master’s graduates in social sciences, arts, or humanities in Cambodia
• Advanced English proficiency (spoken and written) is a must.
• Preference is given to students studying at a Cambodian university.
• Applicants are selected on a competitive basis on the merits of their application.

• Full participation in weekly classes and activities 
• Timely completion of all activities and assignments in accordance with the course syllabus
• Participation in monthly research capacity-building workshops
• Submission of a final paper on your research project, and a corresponding presentation

CKS covers the full cost of tuition and field trips. Limited travel support may be available for students outside Phnom Penh. All other expenses are the fellow’s responsibility.

Application Checklist:

1. Completed Application Form
2. Personal Statement (max 1 page): outlining your interest in the fellowship, relevant academic and research experience, and how these align with the program’s objectives.
3. Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages)
4. Research Topic Description (max 2 pages): summarizing your social science, humanities, or arts research topic of interest and research question(s). While not mandatory, we strongly recommend including a bibliography, research significance, and methodology.
5. Transcripts/Certificates: proving current master’s program enrollment in a social sciences, humanities, or arts discipline.
6. Evidence of English Proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing (e.g., certificate of English courses).
7. Two Letters of Recommendation: from referees who can provide relevant and valuable insights about your candidacy for the program. Please ask your referees to send the letter to [email protected].

Click Here to Apply Online.

Questions? Contact: [email protected].