Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) 2021

Smithsonian Institution, USA invites application for Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) 2021 from graduates, postgraduates, doctoral students and senior investigators. The fellowship is aimed to promote independent research and study in multiple subjects of interdisciplinary nature. Selected candidates will receive stipends of up to USD 50,400 per year along with research allowances of up to USD 4,000 per year.

Smithsonian Institution's Office of Fellowships and Internships, USA is offering this fellowship.

To be eligible, an applicant must:

• Have excellent written and communication skills in English
• Be formally enrolled into a full-time graduate study and have completed at least one semester or its equivalent or the graduate program within the past four months before the fellowship appointment begins (for Graduate Student Fellowship)
• Be enrolled as a PhD candidate or equivalent (for Predoctoral Fellowship)
• Have completed a doctoral degree by the time of commencement of fellowship (for Postdoctoral Fellowship)
• Hold a PhD degree or equivalent for at least 7 years (for Senior Fellowship)

• The senior fellowship award is tenable for three to twenty-four months that includes -
  • A stipend of USD 50,400 per annum 
  • A research allowance  of up to USD 4,000
• The postdoctoral fellowship award is tenable for three to twenty-four months that includes -
  • A stipend of USD 50,400 per annum 
  • A research allowance of up to USD 4,000
• The pre-doctoral fellowship award is tenable for three to twelve months that includes -
  • A stipend of USD 36,000 per annum
  • A research allowance of up to USD 4,000
• The graduate student fellowship award is tenable for ten weeks that includes - 
  • A stipend of USD 7,500

Eligible candidates can apply for the fellowship online through following steps -

Step 1: Visit the online Smithsonian Online Academic Appointments (SOLAA). 
Step 2: Click on "Create an account".
Step 3: Fill in all required details and create the account. 
Step 4: Log in using the registered email address and password.
Step 5: Click on "Start your application" and proceed with the application process. 
Step 6: Fill in all required details and upload supporting documents.
Step 7: Finally, submit the application. 

• An abstract of not more than one page
• Research proposal of maximum 6 pages 
• Time-table to be uploaded in "Other" in application system
• Budget and justification 
• Bibliography
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts
• Two references from appropriate persons

Note: The documents uploaded should be of .bmp, .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .pfd, .png, .rtf, .tif, .tiff, .xls and .xlsx type with maximum size limit of 3 MB.

Selections will be made on the basis of the following factors -

• Research proposal
• Applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed research
• The likelihood that the research could be completed in the requested time
• The extent to which the Smithsonian, through its research staff members and resources, could contribute to the proposed research

Application deadline: 1st November 2020

• The selected fellows will get access to Smithsonian Institution Libraries with privileges such as borrowing library material, document delivery, interlibrary loans, intralibrary loans, reference assistance and database searching. 
• The number of fellowships completely depends upon the availability of fund.
• No contractor or employee of Smithsonian Institution may hold a Smithsonian fellowship during his/her service or contract tenure.
• No funds will be provided for the living and travel expenses of dependents by the Office of Fellowships & Internships.
• The fellowship tenure must begin between 1 June 2020 and 1 March 2021.

To know more, click here.