Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
CASBS is the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, a residential fellowship program for accomplished social and behavioral scientists. Fellows spend an academic year in residence at the Center, supported by a stipend that supplements, rather than replaces, their regular salary. This guide pulls the eligibility rules, the money, the residency obligations and the application steps into one place. Everything below is as described on the official CASBS pages on 2026-10-29; programs change, so confirm current terms on the official site before applying.
What CASBS is and who runs it
The Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) was founded in 1954 “to advance knowledge for the maximum benefit of individuals and society,” as described on the official home page on 2026-10-29. It is hosted at Stanford University and brings multidisciplinary groups of social and behavioral scientists together for residential fellowship years.
The program is a research-fellowship model: a funded year away from teaching and committee duties, in a cohort of scholars from different fields. For the general concept, see CASRAI’s entry on the research fellowship.
CASBS fellowship eligibility
Per the CASBS fellowship application guidelines and selection process page on 2026-10-29:
- The ideal candidate is described as “a highly accomplished academic or thinker (relative to career stage).”
- Candidates hold a PhD, a professional degree, or an equivalent reputation, and are at least three to four years past the doctorate.
- CASBS states that it does not offer post-doctoral fellowships. Early-career researchers looking for that stage should see postdoctoral fellowship instead.
- Applicants need clear English and must be able to be in residence for the full year.
- Recently tenured scholars are encouraged to apply. For background on that career stage, see CASRAI’s guide to academic tenure.
CASBS fellowship stipend and residency rules
These are the terms that most affect whether a fellowship year is workable, drawn from the official guidelines and FAQ pages as described on 2026-10-29.
What the stipend covers
- The stipend supplements sabbatical pay or base salary. It cannot exceed one-half of base salary.
- The cap is “currently set at $83,000, but may increase slightly.”
- Stipends are generally contingent on matching funds, typically from the fellow’s home institution or another source.
- Only first-time fellows receive a stipend: “Returning CASBS fellows are expected to fund themselves.”
- Non-local first-time fellows receive a small housing subsidy and a relocation subsidy. Relocation support extends to a spouse or partner and to dependent children under 18 who live with the fellow six or more months a year.
- Staff support at the Center is reserved for fellows.
What residency asks of you
- Fellows live within fifteen miles of the Center. Finding housing is the fellow’s responsibility.
- No concurrent teaching appointment is allowed, and fellows are asked to limit travel.
- Fellows are expected at lunch three to four days a week and at weekly seminars.
- The residency runs from opening day in September through late May, with the option to stay to the end of June. A nine-month year is preferred; a single semester is permitted only in special cases.
Application steps
Applications are submitted through an online portal linked from the official fellowship application pages. The FAQ page lists the materials as of 2026-10-29:
- Two reference letters.
- A curriculum vitae of no more than three pages.
- A project statement.
- A statement of fit with a partner program, if applicable.
Questions go to the fellowship contact address given on the official site, [email protected].
Typical timeline phases
The selection page describes the sequence rather than a fixed calendar. Calendar dates change with each cycle, so treat the phases below as the pattern and check the current cycle on the official site.
- Application window. Applicants prepare materials and submit through the portal. For the 2027-28 cycle, the official pages stated that applications ran through October 30, 2026.
- Committee review. A committee of past fellows reviews the best-rated applications and also considers the composition of the cohort. Priority goes to first-time fellows.
- Decisions. For the 2027-28 cycle, decisions were stated as coming by mid-February 2027.
- Residency. The fellowship year begins in September and runs through late May.
Common mistakes
Each of these follows from the rules above.
- Applying as a postdoc. The Center says it does not offer post-doctoral fellowships and expects candidates to be several years past the doctorate.
- Planning on a full stipend with no matching funds. The stipend is capped at half of base salary and generally depends on matching funds, so settle sabbatical or home-institution support first.
- Assuming a second year is funded. Returning fellows are expected to fund themselves.
- Keeping a teaching post. No concurrent teaching appointment is allowed during residency.
- Leaving housing to the end. Housing is the fellow’s responsibility, and fellows must live within fifteen miles of the Center.
Related programs
CASBS is one route to a funded research year. These CASRAI pages cover related fellowship concepts and programs:
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Research fellowship | The general funding model CASBS is an example of |
| Postdoctoral fellowship | The early-career stage CASBS does not serve |
| NSF postdoctoral fellowship | A federal postdoctoral program |
FAQ
What does CASBS stand for?
CASBS stands for the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, a Stanford-hosted center founded in 1954 that runs a residential fellowship for social and behavioral scientists.
Is the CASBS fellowship a postdoc?
No. The official pages say CASBS does not offer post-doctoral fellowships and describe candidates as accomplished scholars at least three to four years past the doctorate.
How much is the CASBS fellowship stipend?
The stipend supplements other salary and cannot exceed half of base salary, with a cap described as currently $83,000, as stated on 2026-10-29. It is generally contingent on matching funds and goes to first-time fellows only.
Do CASBS fellows have to live near Stanford?
Yes. Fellows live within fifteen miles of the Center and arrange their own housing; non-local first-time fellows receive a small housing subsidy.
How long is the residency?
From opening day in September through late May, with the option to stay to the end of June. A nine-month year is preferred, and a single semester is allowed only in special cases.
Sources
- CASBS home page, casbs.stanford.edu, checked 2026-10-29.
- CASBS, Fellowship application guidelines and selection process, checked 2026-10-29.
- CASBS, Frequently asked questions about CASBS fellowships, checked 2026-10-29.
