The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers opportunities for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and/or research interests of the Institution and its staff. Fellowships are offered to graduate students, predoctoral students, and postdoctoral and senior researchers to conduct independent research and to utilize the resources of the Institution with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff serving as advisors and hosts. These fellowships are offered through the Smithsonian’s Office of Academic Appointments and Internships, and are administered under the charter of the Institution, 20 U.S. Code section 41 et seq.
Benefits
| Fellowship Category | Stipend | Research Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Senior & Postdoctoral* | $57,000 per year | up to $5,000 |
| *Earth and Planetary Sciences Senior and Postdoctoral – | $62,000 per year | up to $5,000 |
| Predoctoral | $45,000 per year | up to $5,000 |
| Ten-Week Graduate Student | $10,000 | N/A |
Requirements
Determination of the fellowship category for which to apply should be based on the anticipated academic level at the time the fellowship would begin:
- Senior Fellowships – Applicants must have held a Ph.D. or equivalent for at least 7 years. Applicants who have received the Ph.D. or equivalent before June 1, 2018 are eligible to apply for senior fellowships.*
- Postdoctoral Fellowships – for scholars up to seven years beyond the Ph.D.*
- Predoctoral Fellowships – for doctoral candidates to conduct dissertation research. Students enrolled in a university as candidates for the Ph.D. or equivalent are eligible for predoctoral fellowships. By the time the appointment begins, the university must approve the undertaking of dissertation research at the Smithsonian Institution and certify that requirements for the doctorate, other than the dissertation, have been met.
- Ten-Week Graduate Student Fellowships – for graduate students to conduct independent research usually before having been advanced to candidacy if in a Ph.D. program. When they apply, students must be formally enrolled in a graduate program of study at a degree-granting institution and must have completed at least one full-time semester or its equivalent.
* If you have taken a “leave of absence” from research and wish to apply under the postdoctoral fellowship application instead of senior fellowship application which makes you 7 or more years out from receiving your Ph.D., please provide a justification in the additional information section at the end of the application.
Selection Process
Term
- Senior Fellowships – Term: 3 to 12 months
- Postdoctoral Fellowships – Term: 3 to 12 months**
- Predoctoral Fellowships – Term: 3 to 12 months
- Ten-Week Graduate Student Fellowships – Term: 10 weeks
- Fellowship tenures must begin between June 1, 2025 and May 30, 2026.
- ** Postdoctoral applicants in Science may apply for up to 24 months.
Method of Application
Click Here to Apply
For More Information,
Application Deadline: October 15, 2024.
