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posted by on January 16, 2020
deadline: February 3, 2020

The MCEAS Dissertation Fellowship Program

 

 

Since 1978, some 300 advanced graduate students from universities across North America and Europe have received dissertation fellowships from the McNeil Center. At least eight new fellows will be appointed for the 2020-2021 academic year, most for nine-month terms. Nine-month fellows will receive a stipend of $25,000, office space in the Center's home on the University of Pennsylvania's campus and library, computer, and other privileges at the University. Limited travel funds for research will also available. All fellows are expected to be in residence in Philadelphia during the terms of their appointments in order to participate fully in the Center's programs.

 

Doctoral candidates from any PhD-granting institution who are in the research or writing stage of the dissertation are eligible. As outlined below, some fellowships are targeted at specific areas, but any project dealing with the histories and cultures of North America in the Atlantic world before 1850 will be considered. Proposals dependent on the use of Philadelphia-area archives and libraries are particularly welcome. Applications are encouraged from students of all relevant disciplines, including Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Comparative Literature, Economics, English, Folklore, Gender Studies, History, Latinx Studies, Law, Music, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Political Science, Queer Studies, Religious Studies, Urban Studies, and Women’s Studies.

 

 

Nine-Month or One-Semester Fellowships

Awards may be made in the following categories, depending on the qualifications of the applicants and the availability of funding:

             

--MCEAS Barra Dissertation Fellowships and Advisory Council Fellowships are open to candidates from any discipline working on topic within the McNeil Center's area of interest.

 

--The Richard S. Dunn Fellowship, acknowledges excellence in any aspect of Early American Studies.

 

--Barra Foundation Fellowship  

The Barra Foundation Fellowship supports research related to art or material culture.

 

--Friends of the MCEAS Fellowships        

Friends of the MCEAS Fellowships support research on any relevant topic, with a preference for projects dealing with Philadelphia or the Mid-Atlantic region.

 

--MCEAS Consortium Fellowships are reserved for candidates from research universities that are members of the McNeil Center Consortium. Projects on any topic within the Center's areas of interest are eligible. (For more information about the Consortium, please visit www.mceas.org.)

 

--The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Fellowship in Early American Religious Studies is open to candidates in any discipline researching any aspect of religion in North America and the Atlantic world before 1850.

 

--Marguerite Bartlett Hamer Fellowships are awarded to advanced doctoral candidates from any relevant program at the University of Pennsylvania who meet the same rigorous standards as external candidates.

 

Other Fellowships

             

--The Society of the Cincinnati Fellowship, supports research on the era of the American Revolution.

 

--The Monticello-McNeil Fellowship, co-sponsored by the McNeil Center and the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, facilitates scholarship on Thomas Jefferson and his times. Holders of this fellowship spend a portion of their fellowship term at the ICJS in Charlottesville, Virginia.

 

How to Apply

A single online application suffices for all fellowships. Categories and duration of awards are determined by the selection committee. Applications need to be uploaded at: https://apply.interfolio.com/71856 Categories and duration of awards are determined by the selection committee, but candidates interested in the Monticello-McNeil fellowship should state their interest clearly in their research proposals. The following items must be prepared for uploading as pdf files:

 

--A curriculum vitae;

--A proposal not to exceed 1,500 words, double-spaced, describing the general scope of the project and the specific work proposed for the fellowship term  

--an unpublished writing sample related to the project, double-spaced, limited to 7,500 words exclusive of notes.

--two letters of recommendation should be uploaded through Interfolio or submitted by email to mceas@ccat.sas.upenn.edu Please ask recommenders to address the specifics of this application. Do not send generic letters from placement dossiers.

 

Questions can be directed to:

The McNeil Center for Early American Studies

University of Pennsylvania

3355 Woodland Walk

Philadelphia, PA 19104-4531

 

The deadline for online applications is 3 February 2020.

posted by on November 21, 2019
deadline: January 31, 2020

The American Philosophical Society Library & Museum in Philadelphia invites applications for long and short-term fellowships for scholars engaged in all fields, and especially those working on projects pertaining to the history of science, technology, and medicine; early American history; the digital humanities; and Native American and Indigenous studies.

The APS Library & Museum’s collections make it among the premier institutions for documenting and exhibiting the history of the American Revolution and founding, the history of science from Newton to NASA, Native American languages and culture, and the development of American anthropology. The Library & Museum houses over 13 million manuscripts; 350,000 volumes of printed materials and bound periodicals; 250,000 images, fine art, and other objects; thousands of maps and prints; and more than 3,500 hours of audio recordings of Native American languages.

Comprehensive, searchable guides and finding aids to our collections are available online at www.amphilsoc.org/library and http://amphilsoc.pastperfectonline.com/.

 

Applications are now open for the following positions:

·         Long-term fellowship opportunities (deadline: Friday, January 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST).

·         Short-term fellowship opportunities (deadline: Friday, March 6, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST).

 

Applicants whose research subjects overlap any other APS Library & Museum fellowship programs may also submit applications to other pertinent programs, though only one fellowship can be awarded to an individual. The strongest applications will demonstrate a clear need to consult materials housed in the APS Library & Museum and will list which collections will be used during the fellowship term.

See individual fellowship descriptions below for more information and instructions on how to apply. For a complete listing of all APS grant and fellowship opportunities, visit www.amphilsoc.org/grants/fellowships.

 

 

 

Long-Term Fellowships

 

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Predoctoral Fellowship

This 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation.

·         Applicants will receive a stipend of $25,000, plus travel and research funds, to support twelve months of work in Native American and Indigenous Studies or allied fields.

·         Applications are open to scholars working on projects in Native American and Indigenous Studies and related fields and in all periods of time. Preference will be given to those who have experience working with Native communities.

·         The successful applicant will be based at the Library & Museum’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) (https://amphilsoc.org/cnair), which aims to promote greater collaboration between scholars, archives, and indigenous communities.

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/69434.

 

 

 

Friends of the American Philosophical Society Predoctoral Fellowship in Early American History (to 1840) 

This 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation.

·         Applicants will receive a stipend of $25,000 to support twelve months of work on topics pertaining to early American history (to 1840). 

·         The successful applicant will receive an appointment as a Research Associate at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies, which will provide library and computer privileges at the University of Pennsylvania to those who agree to participate regularly in the McNeil Center’s seminars and other programming (www.mceas.org).

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/69501.

 

 

 

John C. Slater Predoctoral Fellowship in the History of Science

This 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation.

·         Applicants will receive a stipend of $25,000 to support twelve months of work on topics pertaining to the history of science, broadly defined.

·         Applicants’ research must pertain to topics in the history of science or related fields.

·         The successful applicant will be affiliated with the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine (www.chstm.org).

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/69497.

 

 

 

Short-Term Fellowships

Applications for the following short-term fellowship opportunities may be submitted no later than Friday, March 6, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

 

Library & Museum Resident Short-Term Research Fellowship

The APS’s short-term fellowships provide 1- to 3- months of support for researchers in residence who are using Library & Museum collections. Fellowships are open to researchers working in all fields who show a demonstrated need to use the Library & Museum’s collections for their project.

A stipend of $3,000 per month is awarded to all successful applicants for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months. Approximately 25-30 short-term fellowships are awarded each year.

 

Applicants may be: 

·         Holders of the Ph.D. or its equivalent.

·         Ph.D. candidates who have passed their preliminary examinations and are working on their dissertation research.

·         Degreed independent scholars (without current academic affiliation).

·         U.S. citizens or foreign nationals. Candidates who live 75 or more miles from Philadelphia receive some preference.

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/69510.

 

 

 

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Digital Knowledge Sharing Fellowship

These fellowships complement the collaborative work undertaken by the Library & Museum’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) to support university- and community-based scholars working on digital projects that connect archives and Indigenous communities.

·         DKS fellowships are open to scholars at all stages of their careers, especially Native American scholars in training, tribal college and university faculty members, and other scholars working closely with Native communities.

·         Successful applicants will receive a stipend of $3,000 plus the costs associated with visiting the APS in Philadelphia to attend a summer workshop with other DKS fellows. 

·         Applicants may use materials hosted at the APS Library & Museum as well as those held at other archives and libraries.

These funding opportunities are supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI). Selected fellows will be associated with the APS Library & Museum’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) (www.amphilsoc.org/CNAIR).

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/69465.

 

 

 

Digital Humanities Fellowship 

These fellowships, for up to 2 months, are open to scholars at all stages of their careers, including graduate students, who are developing digital projects that: 1) utilize the APS Library & Museum collections, open datasets, or other APS holdings to advance a digital component of an independent research project, or, 2) seek to apply existing tools and expertise to digital projects developed in collaboration with the Library & Museum’s Center for Digital Scholarship.

Successful applicants will receive a stipend of $3,000 for a minimum of one month and a maximum of two months.

Recent examples of collaborative projects have focused on the Center’s Open Data Initiative and have explored datasets created from Benjamin Franklin’s postal records, indenture records for servants and redemptioners coming through the port of Philadelphia during the 1770s, and a network visualization of correspondence networks of women scientists found in the APS’s collections.

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/69515.

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Applicants: Please use Interfolio's help desk for any issues pertaining to the online application process.

 

Contact regarding the Fellowship program and the American Philosophical Society Library & Museum may be directed to Adrianna Link, Ph.D., Head of Scholarly Programs, at alink@amphilsoc.org or by phone at 215-440-3415.

posted by on November 21, 2019
deadline: January 30, 2020

OVERVIEW:
The Price Lab announces a new program of mid-doctoral fellowships in digital humanities. Intended for students who have completed their coursework and are entering their 3rd or 4th year of study in a humanities doctoral program at Penn, these fellowships will place a one-year “pause” on the normal sequence of advancement within the student’s department while extending the standard level of doctoral funding (stipend + benefits) for an extra year. During the fellowship year, recipients will be relieved of any teaching, TAing, exams, or other normal responsibilities within their department, instead devoting the time to activities and research with the Price Lab aimed at helping them gain skills and experience in technologically innovative research. Upon return to the department, they will resume the normal support arrangement in GAS without any loss of regular graduate funding. If for example a student spends year 4 as a fully funded mid-doc fellow at the Price Lab, they will still have two years remaining of the standard 5-year funding package when the fellowship year is over. And after those two further years, they will still be eligible without prejudice for final-year completion fellowships.

ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FELLOWS:
For 2020-21 we are offering three fellowships. Each fellow will be attached to a specific project team, and will work with that team for the equivalent of approximately 15-20 hours a week for 10 weeks, either in the summer, during the academic year, or some combination of both. Depending on the fellow’s interests and skills, the project they work on may be managed by the Price Lab and its DH Specialists, or based in the Penn Museum’s new Department of Digital Records, Archives, and Publications or at the Kislak Center.

One aim of the program is to foster projects in the public humanities that make humanities research and/or Penn’s unique collections accessible to non-specialists and promote public understanding of and appreciation for the humanities. We will be especially interested in candidates whose own research connects with one of these public-facing projects. Our hope is that their work on the project -- which might continue in some form after the fellowship year -- serves to strengthen their scholarly profile and position them for successful launch of a professional career. All mid-doctoral fellows will participate in the Price Lab DH research seminar throughout the academic year. They will also take part in two week-long Price-Lab supported “project sprints,” one in the fall and one in the spring. These periods of intense, supported work will enable fellows to make rapid progress on individual projects of their own design. Fellows may also take the opportunity to design digital assignments and/or facilitate workshops in the Price Lab and the Penn Libraries.

NOMINATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS:
Current second- and third-year doctoral students in humanities departments are eligible to apply. Interested students should send a CV and a letter of application of no more than 1000 words describing their interest in the fellowship and any previous experience with digital humanities to: Stewart Varner, Managing Director of the Price Lab (svarner@upenn.edu). Along with their application, students will need to solicit a letter from their advisor attesting to their suitability for Price Lab support, and a brief letter from the graduate chair of their department verifying their academic good standing and completion of coursework. Both of these letters should also be sent directly to Stewart Varner (svarner@upenn.edu). The strongest candidates will be those who have demonstrated an interest in some area of digital humanities and are developing a dissertation proposal that lends itself convincingly to the use of digital research methods. The application deadline is January 30th. We encourage prospective candidates to speak with their advisors and graduate chairs well in advance of this deadline; they should also feel free to contact the Price Lab to tell us about their interests in DH and/or to obtain additional information about the fellowships or the selection process. Fellowship offers will be made by mid-March. We hope to assemble a diverse cohort of fellows who come to digital humanities research from a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and disciplinary homes.

posted by on September 26, 2019
deadline: January 15, 2020

The American Antiquarian Society offers both short-term and long-term research fellowships, tenable for periods of one to twelve months during the period June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

 

Short-term research fellowships are tenable for periods of one to two months' residence at the Society, with a monthly stipend of $1850. The application deadline for these fellowships is January 15, 2020

 

Long-term fellowships, supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, support periods of four to twelve months' residence at the Society. The application deadline for these fellowships is January 15, 2020

 

The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) is the leading archive in the United States for research in pre-twentieth-century U.S. history, literature, and culture. In addition to unsurpassed resources focused on the history and culture of the United States, AAS holds rich collections of materials dealing with Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. AAS collections focus on all aspects of American life from contact to 1900, and provide rich source material for projects across the spectrum of early American studies. We invite you to discover these resources as a visiting academic research fellow.

  

Further information about the fellowships, along with application materials, is available on the AAS website,  http://www.americanantiquarian.org/fellowships.htm

 

Questions should be directed to cmrell@mwa.org

posted by on September 13, 2019
deadline: January 13, 2020

Boren Graduate Fellowship

Boren Fellowships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide funding for US graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to US interests.  Boren Fellowships provide funding for overseas language study, academic study, research, an academic internship, or a combination of the above (though all proposals must include a significant language component).  Boren Fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

http://www.borenawards.org/boren_fellowship/basics.html

Penn Deadline: January 13, 2020

 

Penn’s Application Process

  • Submit your application materials directly through the Boren Fellowship website by January 13, 2020.  CURF is then responsible for the final submission of your application. 

 

Contact Information

Lauren Orr
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships 
The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk 
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6224
lorr@upenn.edu
Please call 215-746-6488 to schedule an appointment

posted by on September 13, 2019
deadline: December 17, 2019

Through its program of Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Predoctoral fellowships provide three years of support for individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree.

http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/index.htm

Deadline: December 17, 2019 5pm EST

 

Penn’s Application Process

  • While the Ford Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

 

Contact Information

Dr. Wallace Genser
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships 
The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk 
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6224
genser@upenn.edu
Please call 215-746-6488 to schedule an appointment

posted by on September 13, 2019
deadline: December 10, 2019

Through its program of Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Dissertation fellowships provide one year of support for individuals working to complete a dissertation leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. The Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship is intended to support the final year of writing and defense of the dissertation.

http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/index.htm

Deadline: December 10, 2019 5pm EST

 

Penn’s Application Process

  • While the Ford Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

 

Contact Information

Dr. Wallace Genser
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships 
The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk 
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6224
genser@upenn.edu
Please call 215-746-6488 to schedule an appointment

posted by on September 13, 2019
deadline: December 2, 2019

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund was established by the Will of Dolores Zohrab Liebmann and is administered by JPMorgan, Trustee.  Mrs. Liebmann was the daughter of a prominent Armenian intellectual, writer and statesman and was married to one of the owners of a successful American business.  She supported students and educational and charitable organizations during her lifetime.  Mrs. Liebmann's primary concern, as expressed in her Will, was to attract and support students with outstanding character and ability who hold promise for achievement and distinction in their chosen fields of study.  The trustees welcome applications from students of all national origins who are United States citizens. 

 

Eligibility:

Fellowships are available to students who are currently enrolled in and pursuing a graduate degree at a designated institution of higher learning located in the United States of America.Undergraduate students are no longer qualified candidates.

The program of study being pursued by the candidate may include any recognized field of study in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences (including law, medicine, engineering, architecture or other formal professional training).The selection committee has a strong preference for supporting scholarly endeavors.

The candidate must have received a baccalaureate degree at the time of application and have an outstanding undergraduate record.

The candidate must demonstrate a need for financial assistance. 

The candidate must be a citizen of the United States of America.

The candidate may be of any national descent or background.

 

Fellowship Details

The amount of each Fellowship will cover actual tuition costs plus an $18,000 annual stipend to be allocated towards room, board, and ordinary living expenses, as well as any income taxes thereon.

The recipient of a Fellowship shall be known as a Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellow.

Fellowships are awarded annually. Each Fellow MUST APPLY FOR A RENEWAL of his or her fellowship by March 30 of the following year in accordance with the terms in effect at the time the fellowship is awarded. (No reminder will be sent by the Fund or by the University of Pennsylvania). Fellowships will be limited to a maximum of three years.

Awarded fellowships may not be deferred.

A Fellowship may be canceled at any time if a Fellow engages in misconduct affecting the Fund, breaches any of these rules, or provides false information to the Fund either directly or indirectly.  The Fund is the sole arbiter of this term and the University of Pennsylvania takes no stance and will provide no mediation.

 

Penn Application Instructions:

This internal Penn application requires 2 letters of recommendation from professors who have taught or worked closely with you.  Please visit the Letter of Recommendation Request form as soon as possible so as to give your recommenders ample time to submit letters of recommendation before the December 1 Penn Deadline. Penn will require a letter from the Dean of your Graduate School or your Department Chair if you are nominated.

 

Please combine the following into one PDF:

1. A completed version of this document. For now you may omit the financial aid information and tax returns.

2. Most current CV

3. All undergraduate and graduate transcripts

4. Copy of graduate exam scores, or a statement explaining why these were not needed.

5. A Statement of Purpose up to three pages long (double spaced) which considers the relationship between your graduate level study and your intended personal and/or professional goals. Your Statement of Purpose must include a 10-15 line abstract at the top (included in the three pages) that explains, in LAYMAN’S  terms, the essence of your proposed topic of study or dissertation, the methodology of its treatment and its anticipated impact on your field of study.

Once that is prepared, visit the Penn Internal Fellowships Application to submit your application.

 

Please note that official transcripts, official copies of test scores, FAFSA, School Financial Aid Summary and tax returns (along with a letter from the Dean of your Graduate School or your Department Chair) will only be required if you are chosen as one of the three institutional nominees.

 

Contact Information

Dr. Aaron Olson

 

For more information or to apply, see Penn's Dolores Zorab Liebmann Fellowship page.

posted by on September 13, 2019
deadline: November 19, 2019

Critical Language Scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and building relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning.

For more information, see their website, or for Penn-related questions, see Penn's local CLS website.

Deadline: November 19, 2019 (by 8:00pm EST)

 

Penn’s Application Process

 

  • While the Critical Language Scholarship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to interested graduate students.  Undergraduate students are encouraged to contact Kristyn Palmiotto in Penn Abroad (krpalm@upenn.edu). 
posted by on September 5, 2019
deadline: November 5, 2019

Overview

The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) offers nine to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on non-US topics. Seventy fellowships are awarded annually. Fellowship amounts vary depending on the research plan, with a per-fellowship average of $23,000. The fellowship includes participation in an SSRC-funded interdisciplinary workshop upon the completion of IDRF-funded research.

Eligibility

The program is open to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences—regardless of citizenship—enrolled in PhD programs in the United States. Applicants to the 2020 IDRF competition must complete all PhD requirements except on-site research by the time the fellowship begins or by December 2020, whichever comes first.

The program invites proposals for dissertation research conducted, in whole or in part, outside the United States, on non-US topics. It will consider applications for dissertation research grounded in a single site, informed by broader cross-regional and interdisciplinary perspectives, as well as applications for multi-sited, comparative, and transregional research. Proposals that identify the United States as a case for comparative inquiry are welcome; however, proposals that focus predominantly or exclusively on the United States are not eligible. 

Applicants from select disciplines within the humanities (Art History, Architectural History, Classics, Drama/Theater, Film Studies, Literature, Musicology, Performance Studies, Philosophy, Political Theory, and Religion) may request three or more months of funding for international on-site dissertation research in combination with site-specific research in the United States, for a total of nine to twelve months of funding. All other applicants (for instance, those in Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, and Sociology, among others) must request nine to twelve months of on-site, site-specific dissertation research with a minimum of six months of research outside of the United States. Research within the United States must be site-specific (e.g., at a particular archive) and cannot be at the applicant’s home institution unless that institution has necessary site-specific research holdings. Please note that the IDRF program supports research only and may not be used for dissertation write-up.

Applicants who have completed significant funded dissertation research in one country by the start of their proposed IDRF research may be ineligible to apply to the IDRF to extend research time in the same country. Eligibility will be at the discretion of the IDRF program, depending on completed research time and funding. The IDRF program expects fellows to remain at their research site(s) for the full nine- to twelve-month funding period. The IDRF program will not support study at foreign universities, conference participation, or dissertation write-up. The program does not accept applications from PhD programs in law, business, medicine, nursing, or journalism, nor does it accept applications in doctoral programs that do not lead to a PhD.

For more information, visit the Social Science Research Council's landing page for the fellowship.