DescriptionWilson Special Collections Library Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowship Program 

The Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships support research in Southern Studies making significant use of the rich and deep research resources available in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s special collections. The award supports two types of docoral research on the American... South:

Dissertation Prospectus Research


- For early doctoral students to explore Wilson Library's collections to develop their dissertation proposals.

- Supports a one-month research residency which should ideally take place during the summer reserach season: 1 June through 30 September of the year awarded.

- Total award is $3,000



 Dissertation Research


- For doctoral candidates whose dissertation project draws deeply and substantively on the collections in Wilson Library

- Supports a one-month residency which should ideally take place during the Summer Research Season: 1 June through 30 September of the year awarded.

- Award is $3,000



 


- Applications that make use of oral histories are encouraged



Fellowship awards will be disbursed after the completion of a fellowship residency.  It is strongly recommended that fellows arrive with the funds necessary to support their research residency.

Questions about the fellowships or the application process should be directed to the Fellowship Director via wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.

To view other funded research opportunities at Wilson Library, please consult our Fellowships Page.

For technical assistance with this application system, please contact Interfolio at help@interfolio.com or call (877) 997-8807. 
QualificationsFellowship Eligibility

Full-time students


- In good standing, AND

- Enrolled in a doctoral program studying the American South



Agree to:


- Commit to a full-time one-month research residency at Wilson Library which should ideally take place during the Summer Research Season: 1 June through 30 September

- Submit a research proposal and research plan that draws deeply and substantively on the collections of the Wilson Special Collections Library

- Participate in the intellectual life of the Library and the fellowship program, which includes:

- A public presentation of research findings and experiences

- The submission of a brief research report







 
Application InstructionsAll applications and supporting materials must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on January 31 via Interfolio. 

Materials submitted after this date and outside of the application system will not be accepted or reviewed.

The following supporting materials must be included:


- Research Proposal: A brief narrative [no more than 1200 words] that describes your proposed research and its intellectual significance.   

-
Research Plan: A substantive preliminary list of Wilson Library resources that will be consulted during your research residency.  Brief annotations concerning the relevancy of each collection should be included. 



-
Curriculum vitae 



- Two confidential letters of recommendation. One must be from your academic advisor

- A letter from the Director of Graduate Studies confirming your current academic status



Criteria 

Applications will be evaluated based on: 


-
Merit of the proposal



-
Applicant’s qualifications and letters of recommendations 



-
Demonstrated need to access in person the holdings of the Wilson Special Collections Library 




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