Deadline: 15-Oct-2025
The Smithsonian is inviting applications for its Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship to identify current students from Big Ten Academic Alliance universities who have been admitted into doctoral candidacy and satisfied all requirements except completion of dissertation.
These doctoral candidates find appropriate advisers at the Smithsonian to conduct research and scholarship that will further the development of their respective theses. The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers in-resident opportunities for independent research and study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and research interests of the Institution and its staff.
Fields: Animal behavior, ecology, and environmental science, including an emphasis on the tropics; Anthropology, including archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and physical anthropology; Astrophysics and astronomy; Earth sciences and paleobiology; Evolutionary & systematic biology; Folklife; History of science and technology; History of art, especially American, contemporary, African, and Asian art, twentieth-century American crafts, and decorative arts; Materials research; Molecular biology; Social and cultural history of the United States.
Fellowship categories are determined by academic level at the time of application. Graduate Student Fellowships are ten weeks long with a stipend of $10,000. Predoctoral Fellowships support doctoral candidates for three to twelve months with a stipend of $45,000 per year. Postdoctoral Fellowships provide $57,000 per year, or $62,000 per year in Earth and Planetary Sciences, and may extend up to twenty-four months. Senior Fellowships also carry a stipend of $57,000 per year. Stipends are prorated for shorter periods. Fellowship periods must begin between June 1, 2026, and May 30, 2027, starting on either the first or third Monday of the month.
In addition to the stipend, fellows may apply for up to $5,000 per year in research allowance to cover expenses such as supplies, equipment, and research-related travel, though graduate student fellowships do not include this allowance. Relocation assistance is also available, but funds for dependents’ travel or living costs cannot be provided. Research allowance awards are based on the applicant’s budget and justification. Smithsonian fellowship stipends are not considered salary or compensation but are intended to support study and research during the appointment.
The fellowship is designed for graduate students, predoctoral candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and senior investigators, enabling them to conduct independent research while working closely with Smithsonian staff who serve as advisors and hosts. Applicants are expected to submit detailed research proposals that clearly explain why the Smithsonian is the appropriate institution for their work. Projects that expand and diversify research within the listed disciplines are strongly encouraged.
Fellows are required to spend the majority of their tenure in residence at the Smithsonian, although fieldwork or research travel may be permitted with prior arrangement. Applicants are encouraged to contact Smithsonian staff in advance to identify potential advisors and confirm the feasibility of their proposed projects. The host unit will align with the applicant’s primary advisor, ensuring appropriate guidance and access to necessary resources.
Application materials include an abstract, a six-page research proposal, a timeline, budget justification (if applicable), bibliography, curriculum vitae, transcripts, and two confidential reference letters. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English, and all documents must be submitted in English. Special attention is given to proposals involving Indigenous communities, where tribal endorsement letters are encouraged.
Selections are made based on the merit of the proposal, the applicant’s research capabilities, the feasibility of the project within the proposed timeframe, and the potential for Smithsonian resources and advisors to contribute to the research. The program also values demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in scholarship. Application closes on 15 October 2025.
For more information, visit Smithsonian.
