Deadline: February 1, 2020
Applications are open for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellowship Program 2020. The National Fellowship Program supports outstanding scholars at top institutions across the country who are completing dissertations in American history, politics, public policy and foreign relations.
National Fellows have the opportunity to connect with and be a part of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation’s interdisciplinary community of world-class Scholars and Fellows at the University of Virginia. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation encourages applicants from a broad range of disciplines, including, but not limited to, history, political science, policy studies, law, political economy, communications and media, and sociology.
Fellowship Details
Each Fellow is required to participate in two conferences, one in the fall and one in the spring. The conferences provide a forum for presenting research and findings to the scholarly community at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation and the University of Virginia. The spring conference in particular provides an opportunity to receive feedback from mentors who are also in attendance. Expenses for both conferences are paid for by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation.
Residence at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation is encouraged but not required for all Fellows, with the exception of the Louis Galambos National Fellowship (which requires residence at the Hagley Library during the academic year). With the exception of the Louis Galambos National Fellow, Fellows who choose to be in residence will receive an additional stipend of $1,500 in lieu of costs associated with Fellows’ travel and lodging for the spring and fall conferences.
All Fellows, regardless of residency, are expected to participate in and contribute to the interdisciplinary community of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation.
Fellowship
National Fellows will receive:
- One year of support for dissertation research and writing
- A stipend of $25,000
- Mentoring from a renowned senior scholar in the field
- Invitations to two annual conferences, one in the fall and the second in the spring
Eligibility
- An applicant must be a Ph.D. candidate who is expecting to complete his or her dissertation by the conclusion of the Fellowship year. This is not a post-doctoral fellowship.
- Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
Judging Criteria
Applicants will be judged on the quality of their scholarship and on their potential to shed new light upon contemporary developments in American politics, foreign policy, and America and the World.
Application
The application consists of the following materials and must conform with the stated word or page limits:
- Applicant information sheet
- Project description (1,200 words) – describe your dissertation or book, state the thesis, explain how it contributes to or revises existing scholarship, and how or why you decided on this particular topic
- Op-ed or blog post (750 words) – a published or sample op-ed (like those featured in the New York Times) or a published or sample blog post (like those appearing on Slate.com) that applies a major finding from your research to a current public policy problem
- Bibliography (3 pages)
- Curriculum vitae (2 pages)
- Writing sample (40 pages maximum) – selected sample should consist of one chapter from your dissertation with a one-page introduction that situates the chapter in the broader project OR an accepted/published journal article
- Two letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your advisor). Letters of recommendation are initiated through the application process or may be sent to the Selection Board at [email protected].
For more information, visit Jefferson Scholars Foundation.
