Deadline: June 14, 2024
Applications are open for the National Library Digital Fellowship 2024. The National Library Digital Fellowship is a programme to support research in the emerging field of digital humanities using the collections of the National Library, Singapore and the National Archives of Singapore. They are keen to collaborate with scholars and researchers on projects that apply digital technologies and computational methods to yield fresh insights into the history, arts and culture of Singapore and Southeast Asia.
The award of the Fellowship is for a period of six months. Fellows may not hold a concurrent employment (sabbatical is allowed), fellowship or propose a research area which he/she has already completed for a masters or a doctoral thesis. Awarded Fellows must commence their Fellowship undertaking within 3 months of the award, unless otherwise agreed upon. They welcome applicants to propose projects that make effective and meaningful use of digital tools and methods to demonstrate the possibilities of learning and researching with their collections. This could involve text, visual and/or audio analysis, data visualisation, mapping, digital storytelling and so on.
Applicants are encouraged to propose ways of using both the digital collections and physical collections. Projects could explore and map the connections between collection items and content to reveal new insights on a topic, for example, an event, time period, individual(s) and/or social group(s), in Singapore history. Projects could also enrich information about collection items, e.g. crowdsourced annotation, image processing, and/or enable the community to discover and interact with collection items in new ways.
Research Areas
Areas of research include but are not limited to the following:
- Place histories in Singapore;
- History and networks of early communities in Singapore;
- Analysis of Singapore newspapers;
- Comparative study of early Singapore/Malayan publications, e.g. patterns of language use and/or themes in literature;
- Social history through photographs, oral histories and other relevant collections.
Benefits
- A stipend of S$3,500 per month will be provided to help Fellows meet their living expenses, local transportation and photocopying expenses.
- In addition to the stipend, overseas Fellows will be provided with a one-time relocation package of $1,500, a one-time return airfare of up to $1,500 (reimbursement basis), and monthly accommodation allowance of up to $3,500 (reimbursement basis).
- Fellows will be provided with up to $1,500 (on reimbursement basis) for the purchase of software and content that are directly related to the project and/or used for the duration of the fellowship. The Fellowship does not support the purchase of equipment, for example, computer hardware and electronic devices.
- All Fellows will also be provided with the following:
- A research space at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library including a computer with internet access.
- Access to digitised materials and collection metadata (subject to conditions governing reproduction and use).
- Introductions to library staff who can provide recommendations on relevant collections and resources.
Eligibility
- Open to both local and foreign applicants.
- Applicants may be individuals or collectives (two persons making a joint application). Only one application is accepted per individual/collective.
- The Library welcomes applications from librarians, curators, historians, academics or independent researchers with established records of achievement in their chosen fields of research.
- Applicants should have the requisite digital skills to carry out and complete the project.
Selection Criteria
Fellowship applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Research should be original.
- Research uses the library and archives’ collections.
- Project can be completed within 6 months.
- Applicant possesses high level of competency as indicated by referees, transcripts, research experience and other academic achievements.
- Application should show a good understanding of proposed research topic in the proposal.
- Applicant has the digital skills to carry out and complete the proposed project.
Application
Each application must include:
- A completed application form. In providing information about education, exams and previous experience, photocopies of testimonies and documents are acceptable and must be attached at the time of application. But if you are selected for the award, the original or certified copy bearing the university/company seal must be presented for verification.
- A Curriculum Vitae that includes the following information:
- Details of research awards previously and concurrently held.
- Details of professional seminars/conference papers/public lectures presented.
- A list of major publications.
- Details of past and current involvement on digital humanities projects
- A detailed proposal (not exceeding 10 pages; page count excludes references and annexes).
- References from two academic referees.
- Applicants must nominate a Subject Reviewer of their paper, and contact details of the Reviewer.
- Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be made known within 3 months of the closing date.
Applications should be emailed to [email protected] by 14 June 2024.
Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be made known within 3 months of the closing date.
For more information, visit National Library Digital Fellowship.
