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.

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 USD 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.

Benefits

Under the leadership of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, the National Fellowship Program:

• Funds up to eight National Fellows per year to support one year of dissertation research and writing.
• Awards each Fellow a stipend of USD 25,000
• Pairs each Fellow with a renowned senior scholar in his or her field. These senior scholars serve as mentors, suggesting relevant literature to frame the Fellows’ work, offering a critique of the Fellows’ writings, and providing general advice on research.
• Provides Fellows with training in public engagement, from crafting op-eds and posting blogs to expressing their ideas through techniques employed by the digital humanities.
• Hosts two annual conferences that frame the year of Fellowship, one in the fall and the second in the spring. Both conferences are held at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation and provide an opportunity for Fellows to present their scholarship and receive feedback. All mentors attend the spring conference and comment on the Fellows’ work.