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Beckman Center Fellowships - Distinguished Fellowships (4 months)

Science History Institute

Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Annual
Tracked since
April 2026

From the program guidelines: “The [Beckman Center](https://www.sciencehistory.org/research/research-centers/beckman-center/) at the Science History Institute offers fellowships on an annual cycle for scholars whose research would benefit from the use of our collections.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

  • Established scholars who are able to spend a semester or equivalent period in residence at the Institute
  • Open to distinguished scholars whose research in the history of chemical or molecular science, broadly construed, would benefit from access to our collections.
  • Eligibility extends to academics at the rank of senior lecturer or above, established scholars in independent research libraries or museums, and independent scholars with a commensurate record of scholarly achievement

Geography

  • Within 20 miles of Philadelphia

Other requirements

  • Distinguished Fellowships
  • These fellowships must be taken up for a continuous four-month period between July and the following June
  • Applicants may be citizens of any country
  • All of our fellowships are residential

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: You may not apply for multiple kinds of fellowships at the same time; the online form will allow you to note which type of fellowship you are applying for

Overview

NOTE: The first full proposal deadline above is the application deadline, and the second full proposal deadline is the recommendation letter deadline.

Fellowships and Travel Grants

With around 20 scholars in residence each year, the Science History Institute is home to the largest private fellowship program in the historical study of science, medicine, and technology in the United States.

Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry

The Beckman Center at the Science History Institute offers fellowships on an annual cycle for scholars whose research would benefit from the use of our collections. While in residence, fellows are expected to participate in regular informal writing groups, give at least one lecture, and more generally contribute to the vitality of our fellowship community.

Distinguished Fellowships (4 months)

These four-month fellowships are open to established scholars who are able to spend a semester or equivalent period in residence at the Institute. Distinguished Fellows work closely with the Institute’s collections on an independent research project addressing the history of chemical or molecular science, broadly construed. They also participate in Beckman Center scholarly programs and contribute to the fellowship community in a mentorship capacity. For this fellowship, eligibility extends to tenured professors and academics at the rank of senior lecturer or above, established scholars in independent research libraries or museums, and independent scholars with a commensurate record of scholarly achievement. The stipend is US$20,000, paid in monthly installments. Candidates should apply via the short-term fellowship application and may opt for their project to be considered within both categories.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Distinguished Fellowships:
* Open to distinguished scholars whose research in the history of chemical or molecular science, broadly construed, would benefit from access to our collections.
* Eligibility extends to academics at the rank of senior lecturer or above, established scholars in independent research libraries or museums, and independent scholars with a commensurate record of scholarly achievement.
* These fellowships must be taken up for a continuous four-month period between July and the following June.
* Applicants may be citizens of any country.
* All of our fellowships are residential.
* This means that you need to live within 20 miles of Philadelphia and be present at the Institute for regular meetings, events, and research.
* Extended periods of absence are only permissible for medical emergencies or other special circumstances to be approved in advance.

Ineligibility

* You may not apply for multiple kinds of fellowships at the same time; the online form will allow you to note which type of fellowship you are applying for.

What Science History Institute actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2021 — the most recent filing with itemized grants

Grants in 2021
1
Total given
$198K
Median grant
$198K
  • By dollars: Pennsylvania 100%. Top recipient cities: Philadelphia, PA.

Example grants

  • Science History Institute Support Company · Philadelphia, PA

    General assistance

    $198K

IRS Form 990, 2021. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Humanities
  • Science research

Categories

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