Submit Entries for Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers in-residence research and study opportunities for graduate students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scholars whose work aligns with Smithsonian collections, facilities, research programmes, or institutional expertise. Fellowship awards range from $10,000 for 10-week graduate fellowships to $60,000 per year for postdoctoral and senior fellowships, with additional research support available for eligible categories.

About the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program supports independent research and scholarly study conducted at Smithsonian facilities in the United States.

The programme is designed for researchers whose projects can benefit from access to:

• Smithsonian collections
• Research facilities
• Libraries and archives
• Scientific resources
• Museum collections
• Smithsonian researchers and specialists
• Institutional expertise

The programme encourages both disciplinary and interdisciplinary research that contributes to the Smithsonian’s educational, scientific, cultural, and research mission.

Research Areas Supported

The fellowship programme covers a broad range of academic and research disciplines.

Potential areas include:

• Animal behaviour
• Ecology
• Environmental science
• Anthropology
• Astrophysics
• Earth sciences
• Evolutionary biology
• Folklife
• History of science and technology
• Art history
• Materials research
• Molecular biology
• Social and cultural history of the United States
• Other fields connected to Smithsonian collections, facilities, or research interests

Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed research and the resources or expertise available through the Smithsonian.

Fellowship Categories

The Smithsonian Institution offers fellowships at four academic and career levels.

Ten-Week Graduate Student Fellowships

These fellowships are intended for graduate students, including master’s students, enrolled at a degree-granting institution.

Key details include:

• Duration: 10 weeks
• Stipend: $10,000
• Location: Smithsonian facilities
• Purpose: Independent research or study connected to Smithsonian resources and expertise

This category is suitable for graduate students seeking concentrated research experience using Smithsonian collections, facilities, or institutional knowledge.

Predoctoral Fellowships

Predoctoral Fellowships support doctoral candidates who have completed all requirements for their degree except the dissertation.

Funding includes:

• Stipend: $45,000 per year
• Research expenses: Up to $5,000
• Duration: 3 to 12 months
• Location: Smithsonian facilities

These fellowships are particularly suitable for doctoral researchers undertaking dissertation-related research requiring access to Smithsonian resources.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Postdoctoral Fellowships support scholars who are within five years of receiving their Ph.D.

Funding includes:

• Stipend: $60,000 per year
• Research expenses: Up to $5,000
• Duration: 3 to 12 months
• Science applicants: May be eligible for fellowships of up to 24 months

For researchers in Earth and Planetary Sciences, the annual stipend is $65,000.

Postdoctoral applicants who have taken a leave of absence from research may also be considered if they provide an appropriate justification.

Senior Fellowships

Senior Fellowships are intended for established scholars who received their Ph.D. at least five years before the application deadline.

Funding includes:

• Stipend: $60,000 per year
• Research expenses: Up to $5,000
• Duration: 3 to 12 months
• Location: Smithsonian facilities

The fellowship enables experienced researchers to undertake advanced independent research using Smithsonian collections, facilities, and scholarly networks.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility depends on the fellowship category and the applicant’s academic or professional status.

Graduate Students

Applicants must be graduate students, including master’s students, enrolled in a degree-granting institution and applying for a research or study project appropriate for the Smithsonian.

Predoctoral Researchers

Applicants must be doctoral candidates who have completed all degree requirements other than the dissertation.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Applicants must generally be scholars who received their Ph.D. within the previous five years.

Applicants who have taken a research leave may also be considered for postdoctoral funding if they provide an appropriate explanation.

Senior Researchers

Senior Fellowship applicants must have received their Ph.D. at least five years before the application deadline.

Fellowship Funding at a Glance

• Graduate Student Fellowship: $10,000 for 10 weeks
• Predoctoral Fellowship: $45,000 per year + up to $5,000 research expenses
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: $60,000 per year + up to $5,000 research expenses
• Earth and Planetary Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship: $65,000 per year
• Senior Fellowship: $60,000 per year + up to $5,000 research expenses
• Postdoctoral Science duration: Up to 24 months in eligible cases
• Other fellowship duration: Generally 3–12 months

All fellowships are conducted in residence at Smithsonian facilities.

What Research Does the Programme Support?

A strong fellowship project should have a clear scholarly purpose and demonstrate why the Smithsonian is an appropriate place to conduct the research.

Projects may involve:

• Analysis of Smithsonian collections
• Archival research
• Laboratory-based research
• Museum and material studies
• Scientific investigation
• Historical research
• Cultural research
• Environmental research
• Interdisciplinary research
• Development of new approaches using Smithsonian resources

Applicants should explain the relationship between their research objectives and the Smithsonian’s collections, facilities, staff expertise, or research interests.

Why the Smithsonian Fellowship Matters

The Smithsonian Institution maintains extensive collections, research facilities, archives, museums, and scientific resources.

A fellowship can therefore provide researchers with:

• Dedicated research time
• Access to specialised collections
• Use of institutional facilities
• Interaction with Smithsonian researchers
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration
• Exposure to international scholarly networks
• Financial support for research and living expenses
• An opportunity to advance independent research within a major research institution

For researchers whose projects depend on specialised collections or institutional expertise, the in-residence format can be particularly valuable.

How the Fellowship Works

Applicants should approach the fellowship as a research-residency opportunity, rather than simply a financial scholarship.

Step 1: Identify the Research Question

Clearly define the research question, hypothesis, or scholarly objective that the fellowship will address.

Step 2: Identify Relevant Smithsonian Resources

Determine which Smithsonian collections, facilities, archives, laboratories, databases, or researchers are relevant to the proposed work.

Step 3: Select the Appropriate Fellowship Category

Choose between the graduate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, or senior fellowship based on your academic and research status.

Step 4: Develop the Research Plan

Explain:

• What you intend to investigate
• Why the research is important
• What methods you will use
• Which Smithsonian resources you need
• What you expect to accomplish during the residency

Step 5: Demonstrate Institutional Fit

Clearly explain why the Smithsonian is particularly suitable for the proposed research.

This is an important element because the programme specifically supports research connected to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and research interests.

Step 6: Prepare the Application

Applicants should prepare their required academic, professional, and research materials according to the fellowship category and official application requirements.

Step 7: Complete the Application and Submit

Ensure that all required information and supporting materials are provided before the applicable deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by focusing on research quality and Smithsonian relevance.

Important considerations include:

• Clearly define the research problem.
• Explain the significance of the project.
• Identify specific Smithsonian resources relevant to the research.
• Demonstrate that the project is feasible within the proposed fellowship period.
• Explain the expected scholarly contribution.
• Use a focused and realistic research methodology.
• Demonstrate appropriate academic or professional preparation.
• Explain how the Smithsonian environment will improve the research.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting a generic research proposal that could be conducted anywhere.
• Failing to identify relevant Smithsonian collections or facilities.
• Choosing an inappropriate fellowship category.
• Proposing a project that cannot realistically be completed during the fellowship period.
• Providing insufficient explanation of the research methodology.
• Focusing primarily on the financial award rather than the research opportunity.
• Failing to demonstrate the scholarly contribution of the proposed work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program?

It is a fellowship programme providing in-residence research and study opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution for graduate students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and senior researchers.

How much funding is available?

Funding ranges from $10,000 for a 10-week graduate fellowship to $60,000 per year for postdoctoral and senior fellowships. Eligible fellows can also receive up to $5,000 for research expenses. Earth and Planetary Sciences postdoctoral fellows can receive $65,000 per year.

Who can apply for a Ten-Week Graduate Student Fellowship?

Graduate students, including master’s students, enrolled in a degree-granting institution can apply for the 10-week fellowship category, provided their proposed research aligns with Smithsonian resources and interests.

What are the requirements for a Predoctoral Fellowship?

Applicants must be doctoral candidates who have completed all requirements for their degree except the dissertation.

Who qualifies for a Postdoctoral Fellowship?

Postdoctoral applicants generally must have received their Ph.D. within five years of the application deadline. Researchers who have taken a research leave may also be considered with appropriate justification.

How long can a Smithsonian fellowship last?

Predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior fellowships generally last 3 to 12 months. Eligible postdoctoral applicants in Science may apply for periods of up to 24 months. Graduate Student Fellowships last 10 weeks.

Does the research have to use Smithsonian resources?

The programme is intended for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, or research interests of the Institution and its staff. Applicants should therefore establish a clear connection between their project and Smithsonian resources or expertise.

Conclusion

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program provides substantial research support for scholars at different stages of their academic careers. With funding of up to $60,000 per year, additional research expenses, and access to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and expertise, the programme offers a valuable opportunity for researchers whose projects require specialised institutional resources.

Applicants should focus on developing a strong, feasible research proposal with a clear connection to the Smithsonian, select the fellowship category that matches their academic status, and demonstrate how the residency will contribute meaningfully to their research objectives.