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Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships

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Fellowship awards overview

The Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships support doctoral students and candidates making significant use of the rich and deep resources available in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries’ special collections for research on the American South.
  • For doctoral students and candidates to explore Wilson Library’s collections
  • Supports a one-month residency which must take place during our research season: June 1 of the year awarded to May 31 of the following spring
  • Total award is $3,000
  • Applications that make use of oral histories are encouraged
View past recipients and their research:

Fellowship eligibility

Full-time students
  • In good standing, AND
  • Enrolled in a doctoral program studying the American South
Foreign nationals residing in the United States on an F-1 student visa and enrolled in a doctoral program studying the American South

Agree to:
  • Commit to a full-time research residency at Wilson Library for the duration of the award
    • Research cannot begin until the completion of a background check
    • The residency must be completed during our research season: June 1 of the year awarded to May 31 of the following spring
  • 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 instructions

Application materials will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by midnight ET on January 31 will be given priority. We will continue to accept applications until May 1 for UNC-Chapel Hill students and candidates and March 15 for students and candidates enrolled at other universities.

Submit application materials electronically via Interfolio using the Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships application.

The online applications require the submission of the following supporting materials:
  • 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 you will consult during your residency. Include brief annotations about the relevancy of each collection
  • 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
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
  • 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
See the Wilson Library Research Fellowships Guidelines for more details on applying for a fellowship, accepting a fellowship, and planning your residency.

Timeline

  • December 1: Applications open for electronic submissions via Interfolio
  • January 31: Application materials received by midnight ET will be given priority. We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis past this date
  • Submission deadlines:
    • March 15: deadline to submit applications for students and candidates enrolled at universities outside of UNC-Chapel Hill
    • May 1: deadline to submit applications for UNC-Chapel Hill students and candidates
  • Acceptance deadlines:
    • Preliminary acceptance of award must occur within 7 calendar days of the email’s receipt
    • Accepting applicants must return all required documentation and biographical information 14 calendar days of the email’s receipt
    • Research cannot begin until the completion of a background check
  • June 1: Opening of research season
    • Research reports are due one month after completing the research residency
  • May 31 of following year: Close of research season. Research residencies must be completed

Awarding of funds

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 program or application instructions should be directed to Matt Turi via wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.