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Research Fellowships

Research Fellowships provide support for individual scholars to conduct research and engage in scholarly activities. This page includes brief lists of fellowships relevant to faculty and graduate students in the liberal arts and human sciences, as well as a presentation and tips on writing and seeking fellowships.

The information on this page is provided by Tom Ewing, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Questions about any of the fellowships listed here should be directed to the program officers from the relevant funding agencies.


Workshop: Tuesday, Sept. 5

Time: 10:00 a.m. 

Location: Zoom, registration required

Contact: etewing@vt.edu

Past workshops and resources from them are linked here.

This workshop will provide guidance on preparing applications for the National Endowment for the Humanities competition, Dangers and Opportunities of Technology, with a deadline of October 11, 2023. Two types of grants are available from the program: individual researchers (up to $75,000) and collaborative teams (up to $150,000). The workshop will review the guidelines, discuss projects funded in the first round, and provide guidance on developing proposals for this year or future competitions.


Fellowships for Faculty

Include full time research fellowships as well as short term residential and travel fellowships. 

Fellowships for Graduate Students

Include grants for a full academic year, travel or short-term funding, and partial support.  

Guides to Writing Fellowship Proposals:

Tips on writing fellowships:
Write persuasively, clearly, and intelligently
Make sure to capture reviewers’ attention immediately
Define the project’s purpose and goals
Explain the significance of the project
Address educated generalists and specialists in the field
Define an ambitious but realistic work plan
Proclaim the uniqueness of your project
Address all the required elements and the review criteria specified in guidelines
Highlight your scholarly accomplishments
Outline, write, revise, solicit reviews, revise again

Tips on fellowship planning:
Keep a list of potential fellowships updated and confirmed
Start the application process early
Identify potential letter writers
Consult with mentors about trajectory
Start by seeking smaller travel / short term funding
Consult with department chair about schedule and assignments
Apply for multiple fellowships
Don’t get discouraged
If rejected, as for reviews and feedback
Take reviews seriously and revise proposals
Integrate proposal writing with other kinds of writings (P&T statement, book prospectus, introduction)
Combine fellowships with university funding resources

Tom Ewing, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Virginia Tech