Applications are open through January 15th, 2026 for Folger Institute Short-Term Fellowships. Particular weight is accorded to the project’s impact, relevance, and approach. Furthermore, the Institute is committed to supporting work across fields of study in the early modern humanities that address inequities or marginalized subjects, and that point to richer and more inclusive histories. Short-term fellowships support scholars whose work would benefit from significant primary research for one, two, or three months, with a monthly stipend of $ 5,000 per onsite month and $ 4,000 per virtual month.

Presentation

Each year the Folger Institute awards research fellowships to create a high-powered, multidisciplinary community of inquiry. This community of researchers may come from different fields, and their projects may find different kinds of expression. But our researchers share cognate interests in the history and literature, art and performance, philosophy, religion, and politics of the early modern world. 

Employment conditions

Short-term fellowships support scholars whose work would benefit from significant primary research for one, two, or three months, with a monthly stipend of $ 5,000 per onsite month and $ 4,000 per virtual month. These fellowships are designed to support a concentrated period of full-time work on research projects that draw on the strengths of the Folger’s collections and programs.

For the 2026-27 fellowship year, short-term fellows will have the option to take their fellowship fully onsite, fully virtual, or a combination of the two. Applicants may propose any research schedule that best fits their project’s needs.

Expected profile

Short-term fellowships are open to scholars with a terminal degree as well as ABD PhD candidates, or an international equivalent.

Assessment

To evaluate these applications each year, the Fellowships Program assembles an external committee of respected scholars, aiming for disciplinary, methodological, and geographical diversity. Committee membership changes annually. The committee is charged with evaluating applications based on the proposed topic’s impact, its relevance to the field, the originality and sophistication of the scholar’s approach, the feasibility of the scholar’s research objectives, and their expected use of Folger collections. Particular weight is accorded to the project’s impact, relevance, and approach. Furthermore, the Institute is committed to supporting work across fields of study in the early modern humanities that address inequities or marginalized subjects, and that point to richer and more inclusive histories.

Submission guidelines

The deadline for short-term fellowship applications is January 15, 2026.