The Emory Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life (MARIAL) is accepting applications for research fellowships for 2008-2009. The interdiscplinary MARIAL Center supports research on family and community rituals in American middle-class life, including birthdays, Christmas and other religious holidays, funerals, weddings, and civic celebrations like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and July 4th.

We prefer ethnographic work (descriptive and participatory), but will consider survey research. The research can target specific questions about social change and ritual celebrations, such as the emergence of divorce rituals, or the way in which immigrant families adopt U.S. holidays and become Americanized. Other ideas include the shift over time from civic ritual to more privatized forms of domestic ritual, or the influence of commercial and business interests on holidays. We seek interesting and provocative research.

We will award up to three, two-year research fellowships at $15,000 per year. Researcher must be associated with a college or university in the Southeast, but does not have to be affiliated with Emory University. Funded research must produce papers and a monograph. MARIAL supports students from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, family studies, women's studies, and psychology. Applicants must have a Ph.D. and a track record of successful and published research on family life.

To apply, send the following:

• an updated CV;
• a cover letter describing past research experience;
• a list of publications;
• a description of the proposed research project including topic, hypothesis and research methods.

Please arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent by July 1, 2008.

Submit application and supporting materials to:

Bradd Shore, Director

The MARIAL Center

Emory University

1256 Briarcliff Road, Suite 413E

Atlanta, GA 30306

Application deadline: July 1, 2008

For more information, contact Bradd Shore at 404-727-4200, or via email at antbs@emory.edu