NYU Humanities Fellows
Introduction
Since 2007 the NYU Center for the Humanities has overseen a Fellowship program for faculty and doctoral students. This program provides a fertile setting for Fellows from different departments and schools to advance a current project while engaging in conversation, direct exchange, and robust debate across disciplinary lines. The Center also provides additional support for the Doctoral Student Fellows in the form of bi-weekly workshops on writing and professional development.
The Center is now extending this opportunity to undergraduates. Each year, a cohort of twelve undergraduate Humanities Fellows will be selected from across the university to explore the boundaries and assumptions of their chosen disciplines as they conduct humanistic inquiry through multiple lenses. Professional development workshops will further prepare them for graduate school or employment. The Center is offering a pilot program of the fellowship in the 2022-23 academic year.
Program Structure
NYU Sophomores and Juniors from across the university are invited to apply for a fellowship. (For the pilot, we invite Juniors and Seniors to apply for fellowships in the spring 2023 semester.) The application asks applicants to demonstrate their interest in the humanities and indicate what they believe they can contribute to the cohort. Twelve Humanities Fellows will be selected by a faculty committee based on criteria that include academic excellence and a demonstrated diversity of interests, background and experience.
Humanities Fellows will meet on a bi-weekly basis throughout the academic year for organized discussion on various topics and methodologies, and in field trips and meetings with curators, publishers, activists, artists, and other professionals in areas linked to the humanities. The program, led by the Director of the Center for the Humanities, is not meant to replace support provided by schools/units, but supplements and deepens students’ engagement with the humanities by providing a forum for cross-disciplinary discussion and debate.
Program Funding
The program provides each undergraduate Humanities Fellow with a scholarship of $300 per semester. Each fellow may also apply for funds (up to $500) to cover expenses relating to their research or academic projects, especially those related to team-based, interdisciplinary, public-facing, or community-engaged projects. Applicants should note that there may be tax implications for any funds received from the program.
Call for Participants: Pilot Program (Spring 2023)
What is the Undergraduate Humanities Fellowship Program?
The undergraduate Humanities Fellowship Program is a mentoring program for NYU Juniors and Seniors working in the humanities. The selected Humanities Fellows explore academic topics and other interests (arts, politics, work) in conversation with students from other disciplines. Humanities Fellows meet bi-weekly during the spring semester to engage in structured discussion on issues chosen by the students, and on topical debates. Students participate in organized field trips and meetings with working professionals in the humanities such as curators, activists and artists and other group activities based on their interests. The program is led by University Professor Ulrich Baer, Faculty Director of the Center for the Humanities. The cohort of selected fellows meet every two weeks for two hours; meetings take place on Fridays, from 2:30-4:30 pm.
Who is eligible to apply?
NYU Juniors and Seniors from all disciplines and from across the university are invited to apply to the program for a spring 2023 fellowship. Applicants need not be majoring in a humanities discipline, but should indicate how they engage with the humanities in their program of study. Applicants need to be in residence in NYC for the duration of the fellowship.
What funding is provided?
Each Undergraduate Humanities Fellow receives a stipend of $300. Fellows may also apply for funds (up to $500) to cover expenses supporting their research or other academic work, especially work related to team-based, interdisciplinary, public-facing, or community-engaged projects.
What is the application process?
Applicants are asked to complete an application form and provide the following:
- An unofficial transcript; indication of your school/major/concentration.
- A brief personal statement responding to the following questions (max 250 words for each):
- Why do you want to be a Humanities Fellow? Include a summary of past academic or other activities in the humanities, your current interests, and how your personal background, experience or identity can contribute to the cohort.
- Exposure to a wide range of perspectives is essential to the fellowships goal of collaboration and knowledge sharing. What might your perspective bring to the program?
- Please articulate a research question that you are interested in exploring with the cohort.
- A brief statement of support from an instructor, advisor, or other NYU professional with whom you have worked.
The application deadline is midnight December 4, 2022.