PROGRAM SUMMARY
The NYU Center for the Humanities offers Research Fellowships to full-time faculty at NYU in the humanities and art disciplines, including but not limited to history, art history, music, philosophy, cultural studies, literary and language studies, religious studies, drama and performance studies, cinema studies, and gender studies. Designed as a year of intensive scholarship aided by discussion, dialogue, and regular exchange with colleagues from around the University, the Faculty Fellowship brings together a group of distinguished, established, and emerging scholars selected in a rigorous review process.
Faculty Fellows meet weekly for a seminar to present research, debate ideas, and learn from colleagues. They participate in Center events of their choosing where they often also contribute as moderators and interlocutors. Please note that Fellows must be in residence at New York University (Washington Square Campus) for the full academic year of their fellowship.
ELIGIBILITY
All full-time faculty on continuing contracts at NYU in the humanities and art disciplines are eligible to apply. Applicants may not have had an NYU-supported leave in the year preceding the Fellowship year. More than one applicant from the same department may apply. Faculty members who have been Faculty Fellows in previous years may apply again after eight years.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact the Center directly.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
There are two main requirements expected of faculty participating in this program:
Weekly Seminars: Attendance at the weekly seminar (held Tuesdays, 12–2 pm) is mandatory for all Faculty Fellows. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss Fellows’ research projects and explore cross-disciplinary issues in the humanities. Fellows must be in residence at NYU (Washington Square campus) for the full academic year of their fellowship.
Course Release: The expectation is that each Faculty Fellow’s teaching load will be reduced by two courses during the Fellowship year to permit intensive focus on their research. The Center provides funding toward teaching replacement costs for up to two courses, as needed (pending budget approval). Funds can be used only to cover replacement teaching in the Fellow’s department during the year of the Fellowship. Fellows will receive their regular salary and benefits through their school; the Center is not able to pay Faculty Fellows directly.
Fellows, in consultation with their department chair, may choose to reduce their teaching load by one course each semester or by two courses in either the fall or spring semester; however, regulations on reduced teaching vary across the University. Fellows’ remaining course schedule will be arranged by their departments.
Faculty members must consult with their department chair regarding their intent to apply and agree on a course-release arrangement that will minimize the impact on undergraduate teaching. As part of the application, chairs are asked to submit a brief letter confirming the department’s support for the proposed arrangement, including the teaching assignments and administrative responsibilities from which the applicant would be released.
Submission of the department chair letter with the application confirms the chair’s and applicant’s understanding of and agreement to these course-release arrangements. The chair’s letter is administrative in purpose and is separate from the external scholarly reference described below.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Applicant Information
Applicants are asked to provide personal information, including full title, department, contact information, and year of last sabbatical. Applicants will also be asked whether they intend to take sabbatical during their fellowship year. (NB: applicants intending to take sabbatical during their fellowship year should consult with their department chair as this may affect their regular pay and the terms of their course release.)
Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
In no more than five pages, please indicate education and positions held, publications and major presentations, honors and awards.
2. Research Experience & Project
Applicants will be asked to include the title of the proposed project in addition to the documents listed below.
Project Description (PDF)
In no more than two pages the applicant should describe the research project to be undertaken during the fellowship year, goals to be accomplished, the project’s significance within the field, and its capacity to bridge disciplinary boundaries.
Published Work (PDF)
Please submit one sample of a published work such as an article, book chapter, or significant conference paper (sample not to exceed 50 pages). The submission of books, very long articles, or entire dissertations is discouraged.
3. Required Letters
Each applicant must arrange for two letters to be submitted: one department chair letter (or dean’s letter, for applicants from Gallatin or Liberal Studies) confirming the proposed course-release arrangements, and one external referee letter providing a scholarly assessment of the applicant and proposed project.
Both letters are due on the same day as the application deadline. Applicants should confirm that both letter writers have received the invitation to submit a letter and have submitted their letters by the deadline.
Department Chair Letter (Word Document or PDF)
The chair’s letter should confirm the department’s support for the proposed course-release arrangement. It should specify the proposed course release and resulting course assignment and describe how the department will address the impact, if any, on the department’s undergraduate program. The chair is not being asked to provide a scholarly evaluation of the applicant or proposed research project. Applicants from the Gallatin School and Liberal Studies should submit a letter from the dean.
External Referee Letter (Word Document or PDF)
Applicants should obtain one scholarly reference letter from a senior colleague outside NYU in a relevant field. Referees should be asked to comment on the potential of the project to have a significant impact on the field, the capacity of the project and the applicant to engage scholars in other disciplines, and the standing of the scholar in their field. References should not be requested from current or previous collaborators, dissertation advisors, personal friends, or mentors.
SELECTION CRITERIA and REVIEW PROCESS
Successful proposals will clearly define a research problem that can be investigated in a one-year project period; will provide a self-contained account of what will be done, how and why; and will demonstrate the likelihood of a significant contribution to the field. Applicants should demonstrate outstanding scholarly promise and ability to successfully undertake the project. In selecting a cohort of Fellows, the Selection Committee will be particularly interested in identifying scholars who represent a diversity of fields and methodological perspectives, and who have demonstrated the ability to engage with other scholars in interdisciplinary conversations. The creative work of applicants in the arts disciplines must involve substantial historical or humanistic research.
Fellows will be selected by the NYU Center for the Humanities Faculty Fellowship Selection Committee, composed of NYU faculty appointed by the Center. The Committee’s scholarly evaluation is based on the project proposal, C.V., published work, and external referee letter. The department chair letter serves primarily to confirm the proposed course-release arrangements; chairs are welcome to express their support for the applicant, but a scholarly evaluation is not required.
MORE INFORMATION: Questions regarding applications should be addressed to humanities.center@nyu.edu.
Opportunity Deadline:November 23, 2026 11:59pm