Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program: Predoctoral Fellowships Grant

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program: Predoctoral Fellowships Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Smithsonian Institution (SI)
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: August 20, 2025

Summary

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers predoctoral fellowships for Ph.D. candidates to conduct research utilizing the Institution's extensive resources. This program supports interdisciplinary studies in various fields, including anthropology, environmental science, and art history. Fellowships last between 3 to 12 months, with a stipend of $45,000 per year and a research allowance of up to $5,000. Applicants must be approved by their universities to perform dissertation research at the Smithsonian.

Overview

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. The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers fellowships for research and study in the following fields and encourages applications of an interdisciplinary nature: Animal behavior, ecology, and environmental science, including an emphasis on the tropicsAnthropology, 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 Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program: Predoctoral Fellowships Pre-doctoral student fellowships are for university students currently enrolled as a candidate for a Ph.D. or equivalent to conduct dissertation research. Before appointment, the university must approve the undertaking of dissertation research at the Smithsonian Institution and certify that the requirements for the dissertation have been met. Duration: 3-12 monthsProgram dates : Fellows must begin within one year from the date of their award letter.Stipend: $45,000 per yearStipends are prorated for periods of less than twelve months.Research Allowance: Up to $5000 per yearIn addition to the stipend, allowances to assist with the fellow’s research related expenses and for temporary relocation to the Smithsonian are possible.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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.Past or current fellowship recipients are eligible to apply for another award.

Ineligibility

No employee or contractor of the Smithsonian Institution may hold a Smithsonian fellowship during the time of his/her employment or contract.A fellowship may not be awarded to any person who has been employed by or under contract to the Institution in the previous year without the prior approval of the Office of Fellowships