+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

Nine-Month Dissertation Fellowships

Science History Institute

These fellowships are open to graduate students whose PhD dissertation proposals have been accepted by their respective university departments by the application deadline. Dissertation Fellowships are intended to support nine months of full-time research and writing that will make use of our collections. Fellows will participate in Beckman Center scholarly programs, including the Works in Progress writing group and Fellows’ Talks lecture series. Applicants may be citizens of any country. The stipend is US$27,500, with an additional available reimbursement of up to US$2,500 for health insurance.

Dissertation Fellowship Application

Before you begin, please have the following items ready:

research project title with 150-word abstract
research proposal (up to four pages)
cover letter (up to two pages)
CV (up to four pages)
one piece of sample work (e.g., a published paper, dissertation chapter, master’s thesis) preferably of not more than 10,000 words
personal statement (up to 150 words)
contact details of two referees—unaffiliated with the Science History Institute—who have agreed to submit recommendation letters

Please read our Application Guide and FAQ carefully before applying.

Application Deadline: January 15, 2026
Recommendation Letter Deadline: January 31, 2026

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1️⃣ Clear, Explicit Use of SHI’s Collections (Most Important Predictor)

This is the #1 make-or-break factor.

Strong applications identify:

Specific archives, manuscripts, company records, lab notebooks

Oral histories in SHI’s collection

Rare books or instrument collections

How these materials are essential to the project

Why SHI is the only or best place to conduct the research

Predictor: Direct, detailed engagement with SHI materials.

2️⃣ Strong Original Contribution to the History of Science / Chemistry / Medicine

Successful proposals articulate:

A clear historiographical gap

New interpretations, theories, or methodological approaches

How the project advances historical understanding

Relevance to broader themes (industry, environment, regulation, society, culture)

Predictor: Reviewers must see clear scholarly impact.

3️⃣ Focused, Well-Defined Research Questions

Competitive proposals clearly define:

Central research questions

Scope and boundaries

Chapter or project structure

Why the project matters academically or publicly

Vague or overly broad proposals score poorly.

4️⃣ Feasible Plan of Work for the Fellowship Period

SHI values realistic expectations.

Strong applications provide:

A timeline for archival work

Specific deliverables (chapter draft, article, exhibit plan)

Explanation of how time at SHI advances the project

Awareness of what is achievable in 1–3 months or in a full year

Predictor: Feasibility is essential.

5️⃣ Strong Writing, Clarity, and Intellectual Coherence

Successful applicants demonstrate:

Clear, compelling writing

Ability to express complex ideas accessibly

Strong organization and narrative logic

Predictor: Elegant, coherent writing separates top applications.

6️⃣ Fit With SHI’s Strengths: Chemistry, Materials, Industry, Environment, Pharmaceuticals

Projects that align with SHI’s core collections and research strengths score best:

Chemical industry (dyes, plastics, petrochemicals)

Pharmaceuticals & drug development

Materials science

Environmental toxicology and regulation

Biotechnology and labs

History of industrial science

Predictor: Strong topical alignment improves competitiveness.

7️⃣ Track Record or Promising Scholarly Potential

For postdocs or senior scholars:

Publications

Prior archival research

Clear scholarly trajectory

For dissertation fellows or early scholars:

Strong writing sample

Advisor/mentor endorsement

Clear dissertation progress

Predictor: Evidence the applicant can produce publishable work.

8️⃣ Engagement With Public History (Optional but Valued)

SHI appreciates projects that can reach public audiences:

Potential exhibits

Public storytelling

Digital history methods

Community-engaged history

Policy-relevant historical insight

Not mandatory, but strengthens applications.

🚫 Common Pitfalls in Unsuccessful Applications

Pitfall	Why It Hurts the Proposal
No specific mention of SHI collections	#1 reason for rejection
Project mostly scientific, not historical	Outside mission
Proposal is extremely broad or unfocused	Feasibility concerns
Weak historiographical justification	Low scholarly impact
No clear work plan or deliverables	Reviewers can’t assess feasibility
Minimal familiarity with history of science field	Weak grounding
Poor or unclear writing	Difficult to evaluate intellectual merit

Specialties

Data Science

Eligibility Requirements

The nine-month Dissertation Fellowship is open to graduate students whose PhD dissertation proposals have been accepted by their respective university departments by the application deadline (January 15, 2026). Applicants may be citizens of any country.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Science History Institute

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 315 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 215.925.2222 info@sciencehistory.org

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity