The Field Museum offers a limited number of fellowships to graduate students engaged in dissertation research associated with the museum. These fellowships provide a stipend and limited funds for research and travel. We typically award two fellowships each year, both in the amount of $32,000.
Applications open on January 29, 2024 and close on March 1, 2024 at 11:59pm Central Standard Time. Appointments last one-year and begin with the academic year.
Eligibility Requirements
Fellows must also have completed their preliminary examinations. Previous fellowship recipients are not eligible for a second scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD program, live in the Chicagoland region, and be formally involved with the Museum. That is, one of these scientific sponsors (Museum scientists) must serve as member or chair on the applicant’s academic committee, and their research should rely heavily upon our collections, facilities and/or expertise. Every application must also be endorsed by the Field Museum sponsor (committee member and/or advisor of student). Please note that a given Field Museum scientist can support only one Graduate Student Fellowship application per cycle. Please contact your potential sponsor to develop your application.
Field Museum graduate fellows may not accept teaching assistantships during their fellowship. Graduate fellowships cannot be deferred to a different calendar year.
Fellowship Opportunities
Applicants who meet the aforementioned requirements are eligible for a number of fellowship opportunities.
All Graduate Fellowships are subject to funding availability.
Armour Graduate Fellowship
The Armour Graduate Fellowship is open to any student enrolled in a PhD program who has completed their qualifying exams.
Women in Science Graduate Fellowship
Sponsored by the Field Museum’s Women’s Board, the Women in Science Graduate Fellowship awards a female graduate student who has completed her qualifying exams.
Brown Graduate Fellowship
The Brown Graduate Fellowship is for students enrolled in the Committee on Evolutionary Biology (CEB) training program at the University of Chicago, and this stipend is restricted to US citizens who have completed their qualifying exams.
Application Requirements
Every applicant must submit:
- A one- to two-page description of the proposed research (12-point font with one-inch margins.) This description must include the purpose and significance of the project, its procedures and methods, as well as its relevance to Field Museum’s collections and your overall graduate program. Also include collaboration(s) with Museum scientists and sponsors. Be sure to highlight the significance of the planned project in a way that’s understandable to a broader audience and spark excitement about the project.
- CV (in English) with names and contact information of two references in addition to your Field Museum sponsor.
- Copy of your thesis proposal.
- One letter of reference from a non-Field Museum recommender, sent by them to scholarship@fieldmuseum.org before the deadline.
- From the sponsor: A) An endorsement letter sent by email to scholarship@fieldmuseum.org before the deadline. B) A mentoring statement of no more than one page (12-point font with one-inch margins) emailed with the sponsor letter, outlining planned interactions between the applicant and the Field Museum sponsor. This should outline mutual expectations of your individual roles and describe plans for professional and research skill development activities as applicable.
Contact Us
For more information about graduate student fellowships, or questions about your application, email scholarship@fieldmuseum.org.