Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program: Senior Fellowships Grant

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program: Senior Fellowships Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Smithsonian Institution (SI)
Amount: Up to US $62,000
Last Updated: July 27, 2025

Summary

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program: Senior Fellowships provides opportunities for independent research related to Smithsonian collections and facilities. Targeted at graduate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral researchers, these fellowships support various fields such as anthropology, environmental science, and art history. Senior postdoctoral candidates, holding a Ph.D. for at least seven years, can apply for stipends of $57,000 per year and research allowances up to $5,000, making it an excellent opportunity for seasoned researchers.

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: Senior Fellowships Senior postdoctoral positions are available to those who have held a Ph.D. for at least seven years or equivalent. Duration: 3-24 monthsStipend: $57,000 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. applicants who have held a Ph.D. or equivalent for at least 5 years.Applicants who have received the Ph.D. or equivalent before June 1, 2020 are eligible to apply for senior fellowships.If you have taken a “leave of absence” from research and wish to apply under the postdoctoral fellowship application instead of senior fellowship application, which makes you 5 or more years out from receiving your Ph.D., please provide a justification in the additional information section at the end of the application.

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