Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship 2026

Overview

The Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship brings together advanced doctoral research communities from participating Big Ten universities and the Smithsonian Institution. Selected fellows can conduct research under the guidance of an appropriate Smithsonian adviser to strengthen and advance their doctoral thesis.

Key details of the fellowship include:

• Host Institution: Smithsonian Institution
• Duration: 3 to 12 months
• Stipend: $45,000 per year (prorated for periods shorter than one year)
• Research Allowance: Up to $5,000 per year

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy specific academic status, enrollment, and language requirements:

• Currently enrolled doctoral candidates at participating Big Ten Academic Alliance member universities or affiliates.
• By the time the fellowship appointment begins, applicants must have completed all required coursework, been admitted to doctoral candidacy, and fulfilled all degree requirements except the completion of their dissertation.
• Open to both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must be able to write and converse fluently in English, and all application materials must be presented in English.
• Proposed research must fall within eligible areas such as anthropology, Earth sciences and paleobiology, evolutionary and systematic biology, history of art, materials research, molecular biology, and U.S. social and cultural history.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their materials through the official Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) application system. Prospective applicants should verify their university's participation, consult their campus Big Ten Academic Alliance fellowship contact, identify a suitable Smithsonian adviser, and review the official program guidelines before submitting.

Deadline

Applications for the 2026 competition must be submitted by October 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).