The Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies is pleased to announce that Kyle Estes has been awarded the 2026-2027 Research Grant for Emerging Scholars.
The research grants of up to $6,000 support early-career scholars in any field of Baltic Studies. Proposals are evaluated according to the scholarly potential of the applicant and the quality and scholarly importance of the proposed work, especially to the development of Baltic Studies. Funds may be used for travel, duplication, materials, equipment, or other needs as specified.
The 2026 applications were evaluated by the AABS 2025-2026 Grants and Awards Committee consisting of AABS VP for Professional Development Dr. Kaarel Piirimäe, AABS President Dr. Jörg Hackmann, and AABS Director-at-Large Dr. Dovilė Budrytė. Learn about the other 2026-2027 recipients here.
Dr. Kyle Estes is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Law at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, USA. Among other topics, his research focuses on national identity, ethnic politics, and post-conflict governance in the former Soviet Union. Estes is currently conducting comparative research for a book project on the link between ethnic and distributive politics in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Latvia. His peer-reviewed articles can be found in journals such as Ethnopolitics, Europe-Asia Studies, Journal of Baltic Studies, and Problems of Post-Communism.