Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) 2025-2026

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) offers fully funded in-residence research opportunities at Smithsonian museums, laboratories, archives, and research centers in the United States. Open to graduate students, predoctoral researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and senior academics, the program supports independent research in fields such as anthropology, history, astrophysics, art, environmental science, biology, paleobiology, and more.

Fellows work closely with Smithsonian research staff and gain access to exclusive collections, facilities, field stations, and libraries while pursuing their research goals.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
2. Value: $10,000 – $57,000 per year + Research Allowance (Up to $5,000)
3. Type: Fellowship
4. Sponsor: Smithsonian Institution
5. Host Country: United States
6. Eligible Country: All Countries

Eligibility Criteria for Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) 2025-2026

Applicants are encouraged to propose to conduct research in residence at the Smithsonian in one of its areas of research as outlined in the publication, Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study, for a period of three to twelve months, or ten weeks for the Graduate Student Fellowship. Past or current fellowship recipients are eligible to apply for another award.

No employee or contractor of the Smithsonian Institution may hold a Smithsonian fellowship during the time of his/her employment or contract, nor may an award be offered to any person who has been employed by or under contract to the Institution in the previous year, without the prior approval of the Office of Academic Appointments and Internships (OAAI).

Applicants whose native language is not English are expected to have the ability to write and converse fluently in English. All application materials must be presented in English (foreign transcripts may be translated, see below).

Determination of the fellowship category for which to apply should be based on the anticipated academic level at the time the fellowship would begin:

Graduate Student Fellowships: When they apply, students must be formally enrolled in a graduate program of study at a degree-granting institution. Before the appointment begins, fellows must still be enrolled and must have completed at least one full-time semester or its equivalent. Graduate Student Fellowships are intended for students who have not yet been advanced to candidacy if in a doctoral program.

Predoctoral Fellowships: Students enrolled in a university as candidates for the Ph.D. or equivalent are eligible for predoctoral fellowships. By the time the appointment begins, the university must approve the undertaking of dissertation research at the Smithsonian Institution and certify that requirements for the doctorate, other than the dissertation, have been met.

Postdoctoral Fellowships: The doctoral degree must be completed by the time the fellowship begins.

Senior Fellowships: Applicants must have held a Ph.D. or equivalent for at least 5 years. Applicants who have received a Ph.D. or equivalent before June 1, 2020, are eligible to apply for senior fellowships. If you have taken a “leave of absence” from research and wish to apply under the postdoctoral fellowship application instead of senior fellowship application, you will need to provide a justification in the additional information section at the end of the application.

Benefits of Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) 2025-2026

1. Graduate Student Fellowship: $10,000 for 10 weeks
2. Predoctoral Fellowship: $45,000 per year + up to $5,000 research allowance
3. Postdoctoral & Senior Fellowship: $57,000 per year + up to $5,000 research allowance
4. Access to Smithsonian facilities, archives, laboratories, and expert advisors

How to Apply

Visit https://solaa.si.edu and create an account

Select Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) under Office of Academic Appointments and Internships (OAAI)

Complete the online application and upload:

1. Abstract
2. Research Proposal (max 6 pages)
3. Timeline, Budget (if applicable)
4. CV (max 4 pages)
5. Transcripts

Submit two references via SOLAA

For more details, visit Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) webpage

Application Deadline

October 15, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) 2025-2026