Dissertation Fellowship

Funder: Science History Institute, Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry

Focus: History of chemistry, chemical engineering, and modern life sciences

Eligibility

• Open to graduate students whose doctoral dissertation proposals have been accepted by their university departments
• Candidates may apply for both curatorial and dissertation fellowships
• Applicants may opt to be considered for short-term fellowships and distinguished fellowships
• May not hold multiple fellowships in the same academic year
• Prior year fellowships do not affect eligibility for future awards

Collections Focus

The Institute's primary collections focus on:

• History of chemistry, chemical engineering, and modern life sciences
• Materials ranging from 15th century to present
• 7,000+ rare books, archival holdings, images, memorabilia, oral histories, scientific instruments, artifacts, and fine art
• 100,000+ modern primary-source volumes and journals
• Special strengths: Corporate records (Dow Chemical, Rohm & Haas, Aldrich Chemical, Beckman Coulter), scientific organizations, immigration and exile, food science, information science, materials science, modern bioscience and medicine, women in science, alchemy, fine art, color, and science education

Selection Criteria

• Scholarly Achievement and Potential: Clarity, insightfulness, and originality of scholarly project as shown in cover letter, research proposal, reference letters, and publication record
• Collections Usage: Extent to which project draws upon the Institute's collections (rare books, archives, modern materials, museum artifacts)
• Feasibility: Ability to realize stated goals by end of fellowship

Application Process

1. Use online application form on the Institute website

2. Submit the following documents:
- Cover Letter (maximum 2 pages): Introduce yourself and your project(s); explain why the Science History Institute is a suitable host institution
- Research Proposal (maximum 4 pages): Include:
- Detailed description of research project
- Scholarly rationale
- Research objectives during fellowship
- Account of how research would draw upon Institute's collections
- Abstract (up to 150 words)
- CV (maximum 4 pages)
- One piece of sample work (e.g., dissertation chapter, published paper, or master's thesis), preferably not more than 10,000 words
- Personal statement (up to 150 words)
- Contact details of two referees unaffiliated with the Science History Institute

3. Timeline:
- Application deadline: January 15
- Referee letter deadline: January 31
- Review committee meeting: March
- Candidate notification: April 15

4. Confirmation emails sent at:
- Application materials upload confirmation (usually immediate)
- Two reference letters upload confirmation
- Outcome notification

5. Selection: Independent review committee of international leading scholars selects fellows. Committee may recommend short-term fellowships to dissertation candidates.