FELLOWSHIP AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

The following section includes descriptions of fellowships, internships and other programs available at the Institution. Please take note of specialized fellowships and their respective places of contact.

As part of its mandate for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge," including the diverse ideas, skills, and cultures of our nation, the Smithsonian Institution pursues policies of equal opportunity and cultural diversity. Smithsonian fellowships and internships are awarded on the basis of these policies. Applicants are evaluated on their academic standing, scholarly qualifications, experiences, the quality of the research project or study proposed and its suitability to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and programs.

Scholars and students with outside sources of funding are also encouraged to utilize the Institution's resources and facilities. The Office of Research Training and Services can facilitate visiting appointments in such cases provided that the investigator obtains approval from the staff member with whom he/she would consult.

FELLOWSHIPS

Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution provide students and scholars with opportunities to pursue independent research projects in association with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff.

Office of Research Training and Services

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (application)

Persons interested in conducting research at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (see separate listing) should apply to that unit directly.

Graduate Student Fellowships - These fellowships allow students to conduct research for ten-week periods in association with Smithsonian research staff members. Applicants must be formally enrolled in a graduate program of study, must have completed at least one semester, and must not yet have been advanced to candidacy in a doctoral program.

Predoctoral Fellowships - These fellowships allow students to conduct research for periods of three to twelve months. Applicants must have completed coursework and preliminary examinations for the doctoral degree, and must be engaged in dissertation research. In addition, candidates must have the approval of their universities to conduct their doctoral research at the Smithsonian.

Postdoctoral and Senior Fellowships - Postdoctoral Fellowships of three to twelve months are available for scholars who have held the doctoral degree or equivalent for fewer than seven years as of the application deadline. Senior Fellowships of three to twelve months are available for scholars who have held the doctoral degree or equivalent for more than seven years as of the application deadline. Applications for senior fellowships may be made up to eighteen months in advance. Stipends for senior fellowships are the same as for the postdoctoral program, but the Smithsonian's stipend may be matched by other sources of funding such as a sabbatical salary.

Stipends
Senior and Postdoctoral - $40,000 per year
Earth and Planetary Sciences Senior and Postdoctoral - $45,000 per year
Predoctoral - $25,000 per year
Graduate Students - $5,500
Deadline: January 15th (postmark) for awards to begin on or after June 1st

For more information see the previous section 'Information for Applying to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program.'

Smithsonian Postgraduate Fellowships in Conservation of Museum Collections Program (application)

These fellowships are offered to recent graduates of masters programs in art conservation or the equivalent or conservation scientists, including those at the postdoctoral level, who wish to conduct research and gain further training in Smithsonian conservation laboratories for a period of one year. Additional facilities may be available to museum or archives fellows for analytical work at the Museum Conservation Institute (MCI).

Term(s): The fellowship begins in the fall of 2008.
Stipend: A stipend of $30,000 is being offered plus allowances.
Deadline(s): January 15, 2008
Contact:

Office of Research Training and Services
Smithsonian Institution
470 L'Enfant Plaza SW Suite 7102
MRC 902 PO Box 37012
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Phone: 202-633-7070
Email: siofg@si.edu
http://www.si.edu/ofg/Applications/CFELL/CFELLapp.htm

Latino Studies Fellowship Program (application)

The Latino Studies Fellowship Program provides opportunities to US Latino/a predoctoral students and postdoctoral and senior scholars to pursue research topics that relate to Latino art, culture, and history. Interdisciplinary subjects are encouraged and can be undertaken at more than one of the Smithsonian museums and/or research units, and advised by one or more of the Smithsonian research staff members.

This program differs from the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program. It is intended to broaden and increase the body of Latino related research that is being conducted at the Smithsonian Institution. While not a condition of the award, fellows are invited to pursue a portion of their project in the field: at other museums or research facilities, as well as in communities where primary data can be collected. A research and travel allowance will be made available to cover additional costs of spending up to one third of the fellowship tenure away from the Smithsonian, if appropriate and necessary, but not at the fellow's home institution.

Term: Fellowships are available for 3 to 12 months.


Stipend: Senior and Postdoctoral - $40,000 per year Predoctoral - $25,000 per year
Deadline: January 15th (postmark) for awards to begin on or after June 1st

Applicants are urged to apply concurrently to all other SI programs for which they may be eligible.

Minority Visiting Students

Through the Minority Student Awards Program the Office of Research Training and Services offers internships and visiting student awards to increase participation of U.S. minority groups who are underrepresented in Smithsonian scholarly programs, in the disciplines of research conducted at the Institution, and in the museum field. Visiting Student Awards are available for currently enrolled advanced graduate students. Visiting Students pursue independently designed research projects in association with Smithsonian staff. Students should contact the Office of Research Training and Services for application information.

Term: 10 weeks
Deadline(s): February 1 for Summer (to begin after June 1) and for Fall (to begin after October 1) and October 1 for Spring (to begin after January 1)
Stipend: $500 per week

Molecular Evolution Fellowships (application)

Postdoctoral Fellowships in Molecular Evolution are available to support research that uses the resources and research opportunities offered at the Laboratory of Analytical Biology of the National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.) or the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Panama).

Stipend: $40,000 for one year (12 months) to $80,000 for two years (24 months)
Deadline: January 15th (postmark) for awards to begin on or after June 1st


Native American Community Scholar's Awards (application)

The Office of Research Training and Services offers awards to Native Americans who are formally or informally related to a Native American community to undertake individually designed research projects related to Native American topics and using Native American resources at the Smithsonian.

Stipends: $150 per day for up to 21 days, a travel allowance and a small research allowance
Deadlines: February 1st (to start after June 1st)
October 1st (to start after January 1st)

Native American Visiting Student Awards (application)

Appointments are available for currently enrolled advanced Native American graduate students who are formally or informally related to a Native American community. Visiting Students pursue independent research in association with Smithsonian staff.

Stipends: $150 per day for up to 21 days and $400 per week for 3 to 10 weeks, a travel allowance and a small research allowance
Deadlines: February 1st (to start after June 1st)
October 1st (to start after January 1st)
For more information and/or applications for the above programs contact: 

Office of Research Training and Services
Smithsonian Institution
470 L'Enfant Plaza SW Suite 7102
MRC 902 P.O. Box 37012
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Phone: 202-633-7070
Email: siofg@si.edu
http:// www.si.edu/research+study

OTHER FELLOWSHIPS

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (CH)

Kell Muñoz Fellowship

To promote diversity throughout the professional Museum community, CH-NDM is offering a ten-month fellowship to a graduate student in the United States. The fellowship provides an opportunity to work in the Museum’s award-winning Education Department. Placement in the Education Department allows the Fellow to experience the interdisciplinary exchange between various departments including Communications, Development, and Exhibitions. The Fellow will work on specific projects and assist the Program Coordinator for Adult Audiences as needed.

Candidates should have a commitment to working in Museums. Candidates with experience or training in arts administration, art history, education, communications, design or architecture are eligible to apply. Candidates should be familiar with office procedures. Computer skills are essential.

The Fellowship provides a stipend of $10,000 for ten months. Fellows work 25 hours a week between September and June. Responsibilities will include some nights and weekends. Housing and transportation are not provided.
Kell Muñoz Fellowship Application deadline is August 1 of each year.

Eligibility: Open to graduate students of Latino/Hispanic descent: Currently enrolled in a degree-granting post-graduate program or have graduated from a post-graduate program in the six months prior to the start date or have evidence that they have been accepted into a degree-granting post-graduate program within six months.
For more information and application procedures:

Contact:

Internship Coordinator
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
2 East 90th Street
New York, NY 10128

ndm.si.edu/EDUCATION/index.html

Horticulture Services Division (HSD)

The Enid A. Haupt Fellowship in Horticulture

This fellowship, made possible by a generous endowment from philanthropist Enid A. Haupt, is designed to encourage the study of, and professions in, the field of horticulture. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program seeking (or have received) their Master's or Ph.D. in horticulture, botany, garden history, landscape architecture, or a related field. Applicants whose native language is not English are expected to have the ability to write and converse fluently in English. This fellowship is full-time, in residence, and available for 12 to 24 months. The candidate is eligible for stipend and research allowances. Tenure will begin between September 1st and December 1st.

Deadline: March 1st (postmark)

Contact:

Enid A. Haupt Fellowship
Smithsonian Horticulture Services Division
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Phone: (202) 633-2220
Fax: (202) 633-5697

Application deadline is March 1, and successful applicants will be notified by August.

National Air and Space Museum (NASM)

Guggenheim Fellowship

The Guggenheim Fellowship is a competitive three- to twelve-month in-residence fellowship for pre- or postdoctoral research in aviation and space history. Predoctoral applicants should have completed preliminary course work and examinations and be engaged in dissertation research. Postdoctoral applicants should have received their Ph.D. within the past seven years. A stipend of $25,000 for predoctoral candidates and $40,000 for postdoctoral candidates will be awarded, with limited additional funds for travel and miscellaneous expenses.

A. Verville Fellowship

The Verville Fellowship is a competitive nine- to twelve-month in-residence fellowship intended for the analysis of major trends, developments, and accomplishments in the history of aviation or space studies. The fellowship is open to all interested candidates with demonstrated skills in research and writing. An advanced degree in history, engineering, or related fields is not a requirement. A stipend of $45,000 will be awarded for a 12-month fellowship, with limited additional funds for travel and miscellaneous expenses.

Ramsey Fellowship in Naval Aviation History

The Ramsey Fellowship is a competitive twelve-month, in-residence fellowship in “U.S. Naval Flight History,” including Navy and Marine Corps aviation, the history of rocketry, missile and space activities in U.S. naval service, biographical studies of naval aviators, and multinational comparative studies that include the United States. The fellowship is open to all interested candidates with demonstrated skills in research and writing. An advanced degree is not a requirement. A stipend of $45,000 will be awarded for a 12-month fellowship, with limited additional funds for travel and miscellaneous
expenses.

Application packages will be mailed around November 15 and are also available on the Museum website at: http://www.nasm.edu/nasm/joinnasm/fellow/fellow.htm.

The Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History

The Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History is a competitive twelve-month fellowship open to senior scholars with distinguished records of publication who are working on, or anticipate working on, books in aerospace history. Support is available for replacement of salary and benefits up to a maximum of $100,000 a year. The next available slot is for 2008-2009.

Postdoctoral Earth and Planetary Sciences Fellowship

The National Air and Space Museum has established the Postdoctoral Earth and Planetary Sciences Fellowship to support scientific research in this area. Scientists in the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies concentrate on geologic and geophysical research of the Earth and other terrestrial planets, using remote sensing data obtained from Earth-orbiting and interplanetary spacecraft.

Appointments can be made for one or more years. Stipends are compatible with NRC postdoctoral fellowships in the applicant's field.

In years that the fellowship is offered, announcements will be made in the American Geophysical Union's professional publication EOS.

Submit to:

    Ms. Collette Williams, Fellowship Coordinator
    National Air and Space Museum
    Smithsonian Institution
    MRC 312 PO Box 37012
    Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
    Email: williamsce@nasm.si.edu


National Museum of American History (NMAH)

Lemelson Center Fellowships

The Lemelson Center Fellows Program supports projects that present creative approaches to the study of invention and innovation in American society. These include, but are not limited to, historical research and documentation projects, resulting in publications, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and multimedia products. The fellowship program provides access to the Smithsonian's vast artifact and archival collections, as well as the expertise of the institution's research staff.

The Center offers fellowships to scholars and professionals who are pre- or postdoctoral candidates or who have completed advanced professional training.

Fellowships are awarded for a maximum of ten weeks and carry a prorated stipend. Fellows are expected to reside in the Washington, D.C. area, to participate in the Center's activities, and to make presentations on their work to colleagues at the museum.

Researchers are strongly encouraged to consult with the fellowship coordinator prior to submitting a proposal.
The Lemelson Center was established at the National Museum of American History in 1995 through a gift from Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson. Jerome Lemelson (1923-1997) earned more than 550 patents for a range of inventions relating to robotics and machine vision and to the VCR, camcorder, fax machine, and cordless telephone.

The Center's mission is to document, interpret, and disseminate information about invention and innovation, to encourage inventive creativity in young people, and to foster an appreciation for the central role invention and innovation play in the history of the United States.

Term(s): Up to ten weeks
Stipend: Offered at pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and senior levels. Prorated for length of term.
Deadline(s): January 15
Contact:

Maggie Dennis, Historian
Lemelson Center
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 604 P.O. Box 37012
National Museum of American History, Rm. 1016
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Phone: (202) 633-3441
Fax: (202) 357-4517
Email: dennism@si.edu
www.invention.smithsonian.org/resources/research_fellowships.aspx


National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

Conservation Department Program

The Conservation Department of the National Museum of the American Indian offers 1-2 year Fellowships funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Experience gained in the internship is relevant to the care, preservation, and conservation of the museum's collection.

Education level: Post-graduate student or recent graduate of a conservation training program.
Areas of study: Organic and inorganic materials, archaeology and ethnographic collections, objects and textiles.
Location: The internship is located at the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland.

1-2 Year Fellowships:

Education level: Currently enrolled in a conservation training program or recent graduate.
Areas of study: Organic and inorganic materials, archaeology and ethnographic collections, objects and textiles.
Positions: 2
Stipend: Yes
Deadline: March 15th for Fellowship to commence the following Fall
Term: 1-2 years

Year long fellowships:

Education level: Post-graduate student in conservation.
Areas of study: Organic and inorganic materials, archaeology and ethnographic collections
Positions: Two
Stipend: Yes
Deadline: Contact the Head of the Conservation Department
Term: Approximately one year.

12-month pre-graduate program internship

The conservation department also offers a 12-month pre-graduate program internship to individuals committed to pursuing a graduate level degree in conservation. Experience gained in the internship is relevant to the care, preservation, and conservation of the museum's collection.

Education level: Post-baccalaureate degree required. Pre-requisites for admission to the graduate program such as inorganic and organic chemistry highly recommended.
Areas of study: Organic and inorganic materials, archaeology and ethnographic collections, objects and textiles.
Positions: One
Stipend: Yes
Deadline: Contact the Head of the Conservation Department
Term: 12-months

Contact:

Marian Kaminitz
Head of the Conservation Department
NMAI Cultural Resources Center
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD 20746
Phone: 301/238-6624 x6322
Email: kaminitzm@si.edu


Native Arts Program

The Visiting Artist component of the Native Arts Program enables Native artists to conduct research in NMAI collections and other museums and cultural institutions on the East Coast. The two- to three-week program gives individual artists time to explore, evaluate, and document art and Native cultural material held by museums in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Additionally, artists can survey local art scenes, explore networking opportunities, discuss or demonstrate their artwork, and have it featured on NMAI’s website. The knowledge gained during the research is shared through a community-based project and documented in a comprehensive report by the artist. (Note: If the artist is unable to travel to the East Coast, a two- to thee-day research program at a local museum or cultural center can also be requested in the artist’s proposal.)

Term(s): Native artists from the Western Hemisphere and Hawai’i who are recognized by their community, have at least ten years of experience, and can demonstrate significant artistic accomplishments are welcome to apply. Artists working in any media (visual arts, media arts, performance arts, literature, etc.) will be considered. Program staff will provide all selected artists with a one-page evaluation that must be completed and returned within two weeks of project completion. The evaluation should describe significant highlights, concerns, or suggestions regarding their experience. In addition to the evaluation, artists must conduct a community-based project within six months of the research period and submit a one-page written report (which may include slides, photos, or video) describing the outcome of the project.

Stipend: $6,000
Deadline(s): First Monday in May of each year.

Contact:

Outreach Specialist
Cultural Resources Center
4220 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, MD 20746
Phone: (301) 238-1540
Fax: (301) 238-3200
Email: nap@si.edu
http:// www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=collaboration&second=native


National Museum of Natural History (NMNH)

American Indian Program

The research collections housed in the National Museum of Natural History offer enormous opportunities for research to students of Native American history and culture. The American Indian Program was established in 1986 to encourage participation of Native Americans in Smithsonian activities and to support collection research, exhibitions, and public programming as they relate to Native peoples. The program is particularly interested in collaborative projects with Indian-controlled museums, colleges, and other cultural and educational institutions but welcomes inquiries about research, exhibitions, and other outreach activities from all interested parties. The Program Director has supervised a number of graduate students in various fields. Internships and research grants are available from the Office of Research Training and Services and from the American Indian Program for work at the Museum under the direction of the Program Director.

Areas of study: American Indian history and culture as represented in the museum's collections and archives.
Stipend: The program awards stipends to researchers working on projects sponsored by the American Indian Program and under the supervision of the Program Director.
Term: Open
Deadline: None

Contact:

JoAllyn Archambault
Department of Anthropology
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C. 20560-0112
Phone: (202) 357-4760
Email: archambj@si.edu


Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida Fellowship

The Smithsonian Marine Station is located in Fort Pierce on the east coast of central Florida. It is situated in a biographical transitional zone where there is access to both tropical and temperate biota, and the Gulf Stream is easily accessible with its abundance of long-distance larvae and rich plankton. A diverse fauna is found in the variety of habitats from the mangroves, sea grass beds, and mud flats of the Indian River Lagoon to the sandy beaches and worm reefs of the oceanic coast and the various substrata of the offshore continental shelf including conquinoid limestone ledges, oculinid coral reefs, and shell hash plains.

Research – Marine scientists of various units within the Smithsonian conduct research that emphasizes studies of life histories, systematics, and ecology of selected marine organisms of the Indian River Lagoon and nearby continental shelf. Ongoing research programs include the systematics, ecology, and functional morphology of algae; life histories of meiofaunal organisms, sipunculans, polychaetes, and gastropods; ecology of foraminiferans; systematics, reproduction, and ecology of several groups of echinoderms and crustacean; studies of nutrient recycling, and invertebrate parasite-host interactions. A resident science program concentrates on chemical ecology, assessment of marine ecosystems, and life histories of marine invertebrates.

Term: Senior Postdoctoral - 3 to 12 months
Postdoctoral - 6 to 24 months
Graduate Student - 10 weeks and 12 weeks
Stipend: Senior Postdoctoral - $40,000 plus allowances
Postdoctoral - $40,000 plus allowances
Graduate Student - $5,500

*Stipend and research allowances are prorated for periods of less than 12 months.

Deadline: Applications are available in October, and the deadline for submission is February 15th (postmark).

Contact:

      Joan Kaminski, Administrative Officer
      Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
      701 Seaway Drive
      Fort Pierce, FL 34949-3140
      Phone: (772) 465-6630 x100
      Fax: (772) 461-8154
      Email: kaminski@si.edu

       

The Smithsonian American Art Museum And Its Renwick Gallery (SAAM)

Fellowship opportunities in American Art

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research

The collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum spans the nation’s artistic heritage, representing outstanding visual accomplishments from the seventeenth century to the present day. Comprising more than 40,000 objects, this unparalleled collection includes special strengths in nineteenth-century landscape painting, American impressionism, twentieth-century realism, New Deal works, photography and graphic art, folk art, Latino art, and African American art. It is housed in a recently renovated National Historic Landmark building, shared by the National Portrait Gallery and the Archives of American Art, where the expansive holdings of the Luce Foundation Center for American Art can be accessed on a daily basis. American craft is featured in the Renwick Gallery, a curatorial department of the Museum located across from the White House in a restored building designed in 1858 by James Renwick. The gallery’s permanent collection includes works in glass, ceramic, wood, fiber, and metal.

Each scholar is provided a carrel in the Fellowship Office located across the street from the Museum. Available research resources there include a 180,000-volume library that specializes in American art, history, and biography; the Archives of American Art; and the graphics collections of SAAM and NPG; as well as a variety of image collections and research databases. Conveniently located in downtown Washington, D.C., the Museum and Fellowship Office are a short walk from other Smithsonian museums and libraries, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the National Gallery of Art. During their stay at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, scholars will be part of one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished fellowship programs in American art, and will have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of lectures, symposiums, and professional workshops. Short research trips are also possible.

A variety of research fellowships are offered, including a number of named fellowships:

The Terra Foundation for American Art Fellowships seek to foster a cross-cultural dialogue about the history of art of the United States. They support work by scholars from abroad who are researching American art or by U.S. scholars, especially those who are investigating international contexts for American art. Postdoctoral and senior Terra fellows are eligible for a substantial stipend supplement to assist with research, relocation, and housing costs.

The Douglass Foundation Fellowship in American Art is given for scholarly research in American art.

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Fellowship is offered to support research in American art and visual culture.

The James Renwick Fellowship in American Craft is available for research in American studio crafts or decorative arts from the nineteenth century to the present.

The Sara Roby Fellowship in Twentieth-Century American Realism is awarded to a scholar whose research topic is in the area of American realism.

The Joshua C. Taylor Fellowship is supported by alumni and friends of the fellowship program.

The Wyeth Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship is awarded for the advancement and completion of a doctoral dissertation that concerns the traditions of American art.

Only one application is necessary; applicants will automatically be considered in all relevant award categories. Applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of the proposed research project, academic standing, scholarly qualifications, and experience. The project’s compatibility with the Museum’s collections, facilities, staff, and programs will also be considered. A committee of curators and historians will review the applications.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their research proposals with potential Smithsonian advisors before submitting applications. For research consultation, contact: Dr. Virginia Mecklenburg at (202) 633-8381 or mecklenburgv@si.edu; or Dr. Cynthia Mills at (202) 633-8354 or millsc@si.edu.

Term: Standard term of residency is twelve months, but shorter terms will be considered.
Stipend: The stipend for a one-year predoctoral fellowship is $25,000, plus research and travel allowances. The stipend for a one-year postdoctoral or senior fellowship is $40,000, plus research and travel allowances. Stipends are prorated for periods of less than twelve months.
Deadline: January 15 is the application deadline for fellowships to begin on or after June 1, 2008.

Contact:

Amelia Goerlitz, Fellowship Program Administrator
Smithsonian American Art Museum
PO Box 37012 MRC 970
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Phone: (202) 633-8353
Fax: (202) 633-8372
Email: SAAMFellowships@si.edu
AmericanArt.si.edu/fellowships

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)

SAO Predoctoral Fellowships

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) announces the availability of predoctoral fellowships which may begin as early as July of each year. Fellowships are designed to allow students from other institutions throughout the world to do all or part of their thesis research at SAO. A wide variety of research projects may be proposed, with over 300 scientific staff available as research advisors, drawing from the six research divisions at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA): Atomic and Molecular Physics, High Energy Astrophysics, Optical and Infrared Astronomy, Radio and Geoastronomy, Solar, Stellar and Planetary Sciences, and Theoretical Astrophysics.

Research programs at the CfA include instrumentation, observation, and theory in atomic and molecular physics, geophysics, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Techniques used range from computer simulations through observations in the radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X and gamma-ray bands, to instrument development and laboratory experiments. The CfA has a large and vigorous staff involved in these areas of research. Facilities include the MMT, Magellan, and other optical and infrared telescopes; radio telescopes, especially the Submillimeter Array on Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a large Beowulf cluster and network of workstations; a number of specialized laboratories; an outstanding library system; and access to data from a wide range of space missions, especially the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Applicants should directly contact any Smithsonian scientist in her/his area of interest to discuss possible research topics (a full list of potential advisors is listed at http://www.si.edu/ofg/Units/sorssao.htm). A partial list of available predoctoral project openings is available at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/predoc/researchers.html.

Applicants should directly contact any Smithsonian scientist in her/his area of interest to discuss possible research topics. Applicants must have completed preliminary coursework and examination and be ready to begin dissertation research at the time of the award. Applicants' degrees will be awarded by their home institutions; therefore, they must have the approval of their department head to conduct their thesis research at SAO.

Application forms and more information about current research and facilities may be found on our website at cfa-www.harvard.edu/predoc/

Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship

This four-year postdoctoral research fellowship is available at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), beginning in the summer or autumn of each year. Research programs at the CfA include instrumentation, observation, and theory in atomic and molecular physics, geophysics, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Techniques used range from computer simulations through observations in the radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X and gamma-ray bands, to instrument development and laboratory experiments.

The CfA has a large and vigorous staff involved in these areas of research. Facilities include the MMT, Magellan, and other optical and infrared telescopes; radio telescopes, especially the Submillimeter Array on Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a large Beowulf cluster and network of workstations; a number of specialized laboratories; an outstanding library system; and access to data from a wide range of space missions, especially the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

November 1, 2007 is the deadline for receipt of applications.

Application forms and more information about current research and facilities are available at cfa-www.harvard.edu/clay/

CfA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2008

Postdoctoral research fellowships are available at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), beginning in the summer or autumn of each year. Research programs at the CfA include instrumentation, observation, and theory in atomic and molecular physics, geophysics, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Techniques used range from computer simulations through observations in the radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X and gamma-ray bands, to instrument development and laboratory experiments. The CfA has a large and vigorous staff involved in these areas of research. Facilities include the MMT, Magellan, and other optical and infrared telescopes; radio telescopes, especially the Submillimeter Array on Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a large Beowulf cluster and network of workstations; a number of specialized laboratories; an outstanding library system; and access to data from a wide range of space missions, especially the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

November 1, 2007 is the deadline for receipt of applications.

Application forms and more information about current research and facilities are available at cfa-www.harvard.edu/postdoc/

Visiting Scientist Program

The SAO has a Visiting Scientist Program to expand the scholarly exchange of scientific information in the areas of atomic and molecular physics; infrared, optical, radio, and X-ray astronomy; planetary sciences; geophysics; solar and stellar physics; and theoretical astrophysics. This program annually attracts many international and national visitors. They come for a well-defined scientific purpose, which may be to collaborate with a specific individual, to access unique data, or to use specialized facilities. Visits vary from a few days to several weeks or months, and in some cases up to a year. Stipend support varies with the length of the visit and the amount of support being provided by the visitor's home institution, or by a fellowship such as a Guggenheim, NATO, etc.

More information on this program can be found on our website at: cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/rg/VSProgram.html.


Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies (SCEMS)

Fellowships in Museum Practice

The Smithsonian's Fellowships in Museum Practice (FMP) program is an opportunity for mid- and senior-level museum personnel, researchers and training providers to spend time at the Smithsonian researching a particular topic of interest that is relevant to their work and the museum profession. The goal of the program is foster innovative scholarship and expand the availability of data that has the potential to contribute to improvements in museum operations.

Fellowships are awarded annually for a period of up to 6 months. An award consists of a stipend of $3,000 per month plus round-trip travel expenses between the recipient's home and Washington, D.C.

Application deadline is February 15 for fellowships beginning the following October.

For further information contact the program manager:

Smithsonian Latino Center (SLC)

Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP)

Organized by the Smithsonian Latino Center (SLC), the Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) was established in 1994 to increase the representation, documentation, knowledge and interpretation of Latino art, culture, and history. The program includes a two-week seminar designed to provide participants with the tools to enhance their leadership, research, and creative skills through a series of lectures, workshops and hands-on experiences at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as other research facilities within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  The second half of the program includes a team project which provides practical experience in different areas of museum work such as collecting initiatives, museum-based curriculum development, curatorial work, and on-line education initiatives.  All participants are required to work on a final project and complete all four weeks of the program.

Fifteen mid-career museum professionals and graduate students are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants.  Participation is free and includes the cost of round-trip travel to Washington, D.C. and housing accommodations for the duration of the four-week program. 

Contact:
Smithsonian Latino Center
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012, MRC 448
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Phone: (202) 633-1240
Fax: (202) 786-2477
Email: latinoconference@si.edu
WWW: Latino.si.edu


Smithsonian Institution Libraries (SIL)

Smithsonian Institution Libraries Resident Scholar Programs

Accepting Applications for 2008

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries (SIL) offers two programs for scholars to use SIL Special Collections for the calendar year 2008. Each program awards stipends of $2,500 per month for up to six months. Historians, librarians, doctoral students, and post-doctoral scholars are welcome to apply. Scholars must be in residence at the Smithsonian.

Dibner Library Resident Scholars conduct research using rare works from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology. The strengths of the Dibner Library collection are in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, classical natural philosophy, theoretical physics (up to the early twentieth century), experimental physics (especially electricity and magnetism), engineering technology (from the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century), and scientific apparatus and instruments. The rare books, which date from the fifteenth to the twentieth centuries, include significant holdings of works by Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Euclid, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Leonhard Euler, René Descartes, and Pierre Simon, marquis de Laplace, and Aristotle. Scientists represented by significant manuscript papers include Dominique François Arago, Humphry Davy, John William Lubbock, Isaac Newton, Henri Milne-Edwards, Hans Christian Ørsted, Henry Hureau de Sénarmont, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., and Silvanus P. Thompson. This award is supported by The Dibner Fund.

Baird Society Resident Scholars will do research in SIL's special collections located in Washington, DC and New York City. These special collections include printed materials on world's fairs in the Dibner Library (19th and early 20th centuries); manufacturer's commercial trade catalogs in the National Museum of American History Library (285,000 pieces representing 30,000 companies dating from the 19th and 20th centuries) used to study American industrialization, mass production, and consumerism; natural history rare books in the Cullman Library (pre-1840 works on topics such as botany, zoology, travel & exploration, museums & collecting, geology, and anthropology); air and space history in the National Air and Space Museum Library's Ramsey Room (ballooning, rocketry, and aviation, late 18th to early 20th centuries); James Smithson's library in the Cullman Library; and European and American decorative arts, architecture, and design in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Library's Bradley Room (18th to 20th centuries). The grants do not support research in other Smithsonian Libraries, Archives, or Museums. This award is supported by the Spencer Baird Society of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

Deadline for applications: March 1, 2008.

Application materials are available online at www.sil.si.edu

OR

Write: 

Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Resident Scholar Programs
MRC 672 P.O. Box 37012
NMAH 1041
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Phone: (202) 633-3872
Email: SILResidentScholars@si.edu


Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)

Three-year Postdoctoral Fellowships in Tropical Biology

To support research in ecology, anthropology, paleontology, evolutionary biology, molecular phylogenetics, biogeography, animal behavior, soil sciences and physiology of tropical plants and animals. Research should be based at one of STRI facilities, but proposals that include comparative research on other tropical countries will be considered. Deadline - January 15, 2008.

Short-term Fellowships

Primarily for graduate students but awards are made occasionally to undergraduate and postdoctoral candidates. These fellowships enable selected candidates to work in the tropics and explore research possibilities at STRI. The Ernst Mayr Fellowship is awarded to an outstanding short term fellowship candidate on an annual basis. Deadlines: 15 February, May, August, November.

For information and application procedures, write to:

      Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 
      Office of Education 
      Unit 0948 
      APO AA 34002-0948 
      Phone: 507-212-8031 
      Fax: 507-212-8148 
      Email: fellows@tivoli.si.edu
      www.stri.org

Short-term Fellowships for Students in Latin America, especially Central America and Panama
The Adelante Group, an informal association of businessmen from Central America and Panama interested in education and sustainable development in the region, recently donated funds to support short-term (3-4 month) fellowships for independent research projects at STRI. Awards include airfare to and from Panama from country of origin, up to $2000 for research expenses, and a stipend for living expenses. Applicants can be students from any university in Latin America, but preference will be given to those from Central America and Panama. Proposals can be in the areas represented by STRI scientists and research associates, including plant and animal ecology, animal behavior and natural history, archaeology, regional history and anthropology, conservation, marine biology, environmental monitoring and bioinformatics, environmental policy and rural sociology, environmental education, paleontology, soil sciences, plant physiology, molecular evolution, and other areas represented at STRI (see http://www.stri.org/espanol/index.php).

For application instructions, see: http://www.stri.org/espanol/educacion_becas/becas/aplicacion.php

Deadlines for submission are the 15th of February, May, August, and November. Applicants will be notified 6-8 weeks later.

Internships will be considered for applicants with a strong interest in training for independent research. Internships must be planned in correspondence with potential advisors.

For additional information, including help in selection of an advisor and a copy of the application forms in Spanish, contact:

Contact:
Adriana Bilgray
Office of Academic Programs
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa Panama
Phone: (507) 212-8031
Fax: (507) 212-8150
Email: fellows@si.edu

CTFS Research Grants Program

The Research Grants Program of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is intended to provide opportunities for senior researchers, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students to support research associated with the CTFS network of Forest Dynamics Plots. Anyone working directly in a Forest Dynamics Plot (FDP), analyzing data from a plot, or generating complementary data that strengthens FDP research programs is eligible to apply. Projects can be field-oriented, laboratory-based, or analytical, and scientifically, basic or applied in nature. Grants range from $3,000-$15,000, though a small number of post-doctoral grants (up to $40,000) may be given. The CTFS Grants Program will make awards for projects three months to three years in length.

Grant proposals should include a Research Proposal (not to exceed 1500 words), a list of collaborators, curriculum vitae, proposed referees, and a detailed budget.

Contact:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Office of Academic Programs
Unit 0948
APO AA 34002-0948
Phone: (507) 212-8031
Fax: (507) 212-8150
Email: fellows@si.edu
http://www.stri.org/english/education_fellowships/index.php

UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE

Smithsonian Marine Science Network Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The Smithsonian Marine Science Network (MSN) is a unique array of laboratories and research vessels spanning the western Atlantic coastal zone and across the Isthmus of Panama, facilitating long-term interdisciplinary, comparative research between MSN sites. The Network includes SERC (Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland), SMSFP (Marine Station at Ft. Pierce, Florida), Carrie Bow Marine Field Station (CCRE Program-Belize), and STRI (Tropical Research Institute, Panama). The MSN invites Post-Doctoral research proposals that address pressing marine research questions.

Eligibility & Award Amount

Post-Doctoral scientists must collaborate directly with identified Smithsonian marine research scientists as named sponsors/advisors of the fellowship. Stipends are $35,000 per year with additional funds available for group health insurance, travel from place of origin to the Smithsonian host facility, research travel and research supplies, up to a combined $45,000 maximum per year. Awards will be made for a maximum of two years. Proposals must focus on comparative research involving more than one of the Network facilities. Individuals who have been employed or contracted by the Smithsonian Institution within the previous year are not eligible.

Thematic Marine Research Priorities

Systematics and Evolutionary Biology
-Systematics, life history, symbioses, phylogeny, and quantitative distribution of taxa with substantial species richness, ecological influence, or biomass.
-Environmental and synecological causes of morphological variability.
-Molecular-biological approaches in systematic and phylogenetic analysis.

Ecology
-Mechanisms that structure biodiversity and process matter and energy.
-Processes connecting or separating ecosystems, such as oceanographic parameters, nutrient cycling, larval exchange, and sediment flow.

Ecophysiology
-Mechanisms of tolerance and adaptability of 'key' species exposed to stress, such as changes in the physical and chemical environment and community composition, including the effect of symbionts, parasites, and disease agents.

Paleobiology and Geology
-Patterns and processes from the fossil record that provide insight into the ecology, evolution and conservation of modern marine communities.
-Biological, geological, and chemical processes in the formation of coastal geomorphic features.

Conservation and Education
-Consequences of economic development and natural catastrophes, source and impact of pollutants, strategies of conservation.
-Development of illustrated printed and interactive electronic field guides for improved communication among non-systematists and digital ecological data bases for important elements of coastal fauna and flora.

For additional information, application materials and deadlines go to: www.si.edu/marinescience

       


Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study 2007 - 2008

Introduction

Information for Applying to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program, including the fields of research

Fellowship and Internship Opportunities

Museums, Research Institutes, and Research Offices, includes information on staff and their research specialties

Research Assistance Programs

Smithsonian Research Staff and Affiliated Research Staff E-Mail Directory

Office of Research Training and Services Applications

  • Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program
  • Smithsonian Institution Latino Studies Fellowship Program
  • Smithsonian Institution Molecular Evolution Fellowship Program
  • Minority Internship Program
  • James E. Webb Internship Program
  • Native American Awards Program
 

    Search will allow you to search the contents of the Smithsonians' Office of Research Training and Services pages.

    Last update 02-25-08 e-mail: veenbaasp@si.edu