GSAS Summer Research Fellowship

Deadline to apply: February 23, 2024

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Summer Fellowships provide support for master's and doctoral students who wish to devote the summer to improving their professional credentials beyond the normal expectations of their program, which could include but are not limited to preparing proposals to apply for prestigious fellowships, articles for publication, conference papers, training, and workshops. Students are not allowed to hold a Summer Fellowship more than two out of five years.

Award Information

*NOTE: Fordham University's current travel policy is to sponsor travel arrangements within the United States and, with a dean's permission, essential travel to some international destinations. However, given the changing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants should note that applicable university policies may change before the scheduled start of a fellowship. Applications should present alternatives, especially for international travel, in case University policy changes.

For updated stipend rates, please see Stipends and Scholarships.

Eligibility

Doctoral students and master's students in good standing with satisfactory academic progress according to the guidelines established by GSAS and who will have completed at least two semesters of full-time graduate study (minimum of 18 credits) in the GSAS by the time the Fellowship begins are eligible to apply for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Summer Fellowship. Recipients must devote full-time work to the proposed project during the summer. Funds must be used to assist in the student's progression toward completion of degree.

Application Instructions

  1. Prepare your curriculum vitae and your project narrative with bibliography: Files should be submitted electronically as PDF files by attaching them with the online application form, and should begin with the student's name followed by CV, Narrative, Rec., Doc., Budget, Travel or Dissertation Application (e.g. Smith_CV_Travel14F)
  2. Ask for a Mentor’s or Advisor’s letter of recommendation (via email): Please ask your mentor or adviser to discuss how this summer fellowship will enhance your professional socialization. The student should arrange for the mentor or adviser to submit a letter of recommendation electronically directly to the Department or Program by the deadline date.
  3. Fill out the online application form and attach your curriculum vitae and your project narrative.

Project Narrative

The narrative should not exceed four double-spaced pages (minimum 12 pt. font). It should explain the objectives, methods and original contribution of the project in succinct, jargon-free language. (Remember that your proposal will be reviewed by faculty members outside of your disciplinary area.)

For the Humanities, the following questions and directives adapted from a National Endowment for the Humanities document may be useful to prepare the project narrative:

What are the basic ideas, problems, or questions examined by the study? Explain the planned approach or line of thought. If the area is a new area of research, explain the reasons for working in it.

  • What will be accomplished during the award period? Supply a brief work plan.
  • How will the project complement, challenge, or expand relevant studies in the field? Explain what makes the study distinctive.
  • What contribution will the project make?
  • What is your competence in the languages or specific technical skills needed for the study (if any)
  • Where will you conduct the study and what materials will you use? Describe access to laboratories, archives, collections, or institutions with the necessary resources.
  • Who is the intended audience for the results of the study?
  • What are the intended results of the project? Indicate plans for articles, conference papers, books, etc.

For the Sciences and Social Sciences, the following research plan outline is appropriate:

  • Abstract Paragraph
  • Specific Aims (What do you intend to accomplish?) Specifically describe what you will accomplish during the Fellowship period, and relate this to Aims of the broader project. Please be focused and clear and include the intended outcomes:
    • Background and Significance (Why is this work important to the field?)
    • Define the problem. Explain what gaps in current knowledge would be filled by your research. Describe explicitly your hypothesis and how it will be tested. Relate this section to the Specific Aims.
    • Research Design and Methods (How are you going to do the work?)
    • Define your approach. Describe experimental design and procedures to be used to accomplish the Specific Aims. Be succinct, but present enough detail to show that you are capable of handling the methodology.
    • Timetable
    • References or Bibliography

Review and Selection Process

The members of the Distinguished Fellowships Committee will read each application and will make its recommendations to the Dean. Applicants will receive notification through email approving or denying their applications approximately two months after the application deadline (see your department for deadline).

Please Note: Due to limited summer funding, students are allowed to hold only two Summer Fellowships in a five-year period.