The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies awards fellowships on a competitive basis to support significant research and writing about the Holocaust. We welcome proposals from scholars in all academic disciplines, including but not limited to history, political science, literature, Jewish studies, philosophy, religion, sociology, anthropology, comparative genocide studies, and law.

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIPS

The Mandel Center awards fellowships-in-residence to candidates working on their dissertations (ABD), postdoctoral researchers, and senior scholars. Awards are granted on a competitive basis. Because a principal focus of the program is to ensure the development of a new generation of Holocaust scholars, we especially encourage scholars early in their careers to apply. Applicants must be affiliated with an academic and/or research institution when applying for a fellowship. We will also consider immediate post-docs and faculty between appointments. Proposals from applicants conducting research outside the discipline of history or on Mandel Center strategic priorities are especially encouraged, including literature and the Holocaust; projects utilizing the ITS collection; Jewish and especially Sephardic experiences of persecution; the Holocaust as it occurred in the Soviet Union, and the Holocaust as it occurred in North Africa.   

The specific fellowship and the length of the award are at the Mandel Center’s discretion. Individual awards generally range up to eight consecutive months of residency; a minimum of three consecutive months is required. No exceptions are allowed. Fellowships of five months or longer have proven most effective.

Stipends range up to $3,500 per month for the purpose of defraying local housing and other miscellaneous living expenses and are subject to US tax law. Residents of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area receive a reduced stipend of $1,750 per month. Awards include a stipend to offset the cost of direct travel to and from Washington, DC. Residents of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area do not receive a travel stipend. The funds provided through this award may be subject to US federal and/or state tax. Please be advised the Mandel Center cannot provide individual tax advice.

The Mandel Center is able to provide visa assistance to fellows and their dependents, if necessary. Fellows are responsible for securing their own housing accommodations and health insurance. We do not provide support allowances for accompanying family members.

Fellowship winners will have access to flexible work space stations, computer, telephone, facsimile machine, and photocopier. We encourage cost-sharing by home institutions or other relevant organizations to extend the residency of the applicant at the Mandel Center or to make possible additional research at other institutions in the Unites States and abroad.

Fellowships may start as early as August 1, 2016 and must be completed no later than December 31, 2017. 

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

All applications must be submitted in English via an online application process. All applications must consist of the following:

• An online application form (link provided above) 
   
• A project proposal, in PDF format, not to exceed five single-spaced pages
   
• A curriculum vitae summary, in PDF format, not to exceed four single-spaced pages
   
• Two signed letters of recommendation that speak to the significance of the proposed project and the applicant’s ability to carry it out. Members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council’s Academic Committee may not write letters of recommendation.  Only two letters will be considered. Any additional letters will not be included in the applicant’s file. Letters of recommendation must be received before November 30, 2015, and come directly from the references, not from the applicant. Directions on how to submit letters of recommendation can be found within the online application form. 

Successful project proposals should highlight the resources available at the Museum that scholars will need to access in order to support their research. An addendum listing these resources may be attached in addition to the five-page project proposal. Important resources may also be referenced in the body of the project proposal. To search the Museum’s holdings, visit http://collections.ushmm.org/search/. 

Decisions will be announced in late April 2016.

CONTACT

Please direct inquiries to:

Jo-Ellyn Decker, Program Manager
Visiting Scholar Programs

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW

Washington, DC 20024-2126

Tel: 202.314.7829

Fax: 202.479.9726

vscholars@ushmm.org