Short-Term Research Fellowships

Grace Hartigan in her Essex Street studio

Grace Hartigan in her Essex Street studio photo by Walter Silver (1923-1998)Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection

Applications Open - Apply Now! - Deadline: March 3, 2025

The New York Public Library is pleased to offer Short-Term Research Fellowships to support scholars based outside the New York metropolitan area engaged in graduate-level, post-doctoral, and independent research in the arts and humanities. This fellowship is intended to support projects that would significantly benefit from research drawing on collections accessible at The New York Public Library and conducted onsite at one of our three research centers: The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

Fellowship stipends are $1,000 per week for a minimum of one and maximum of four weeks.

Applicants should articulate the importance of the Library’s holdings to their projects and are encouraged to explore the NYPL Research Catalog, Archives and Manuscripts Portal, and Research Guides for more information on collections and resources accessible at the Schwarzman Building. While these links do not represent the entirety of the Library’s collections, they provide a thorough overview and are a good place to start. Questions regarding collections or additional holdings should be directed to staff in the relevant research division(s). 

For assistance with the application process, email fellowships@nypl.org. Staff cannot provide feedback on individual applications or project proposals.

Key Dates

  • Applications due: March 3, 2025
  • Recommendation letter due: March 17, 2025
  • Applicants notified: May 31, 2025
  • Award period: July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026

Eligibility

International researchers and U.S. citizens and residents based outside of the New York metropolitan area, as defined here, are welcome to apply.

The Library is unable to sponsor visas for Short-Term Research Fellows at this time. Fellows are responsible for ensuring they are compliant with all U.S. tax and visa regulations including obtaining required visas and paying all necessary administrative and visa fees. International fellows at the Library typically enter the United States on J-1 status. B-1 or B-2 status generally is not appropriate for participation in the Library's paid fellowship programs.

Application Instructions:

To apply for a Short-Term Research Fellowship, please visit the NYPL Fellowship Portal, register for an account, and create a user profile (or log in with your existing account). Once in the portal, click on "Fellowships" at the top of the page to view open applications and apply.

A complete application must include the following:

  • Profile and application completed in the NYPL Fellowship Portal
  • Abbreviated CV of no more than two pages
  • Project proposal of no more than 1500 words -- see guidelines below
  • One professional letter of recommendation (accepted until March 17, 2025)

Project Proposal

Successful project proposals will include a thorough explanation of how in-person access to collections accessible at The New York Public Library is essential to the progress and completion of the research project. Proposals should also include:

  • Abstract of the project's major themes, questions, and arguments
  • Significance of the project
  • Specific Library collections and holdings to be consulted during the fellowship
  • Project plan, including a timeline of your work with the Library's collections during the fellowship term and a description of the proposed methodological approach
  • Expected project outcomes
  • Personal statement (350 words max) detailing the impact this fellowship would have on your project and/or career as well as the likelihood of successfully completing your project without this fellowship

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of expert Library staff who will consider the following criteria:

  • Need for research holdings of The New York Public Library
  • Uniqueness of materials and innovative uses of material
  • Quality of the project plan as it relates to the size and scope of materials to be accessed
  • Impact this grant might have on the applicant's project and/or career

American Trust for the British Library (ATBL) Research Fellowship

Beginning in 2025, Short-Term Research Fellows at The New York Public Library will be invited to apply for the ATBL Research Fellowship, a $2,500 USD stipend that supports research projects that make use of collections in any department in the British Library. More information is available on the ATBL website. For questions, please email fellowships@atbl.us or fellowships@nypl.org. 
 

The New York Public Library's Short-Term Research Fellowship Program is generously supported by the Sidney J. Weinberg Jr. Foundation.