Doctoral Researchers Can Now Apply to Work Inside the Smithsonian. Applications for the Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship 2026 are open. The Smithsonian Institution holds 155 million objects.
Specimens collected by Lewis and Clark. Moon rocks from Apollo missions. The original Star-Spangled Banner. Fossil records spanning hundreds of millions of years. Art collections covering nearly every culture and century. Archives that most researchers spend careers trying to access remotely.
The Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship puts doctoral candidates inside those collections for up to a year, with a 5,000 in research funding to support the work.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship |
| Host | Smithsonian Institution, USA |
| Eligible Applicants | Advanced doctoral candidates at Big Ten universities |
| Duration | 3 to 12 months |
| Annual Stipend | $45,000 (prorated for shorter appointments) |
| Research Allowance | Up to $5,000 per year |
| Citizenship | Open to US and non-US citizens |
| Deadline | 15 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Application System | Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) |
Who This Fellowship Is For
This isn’t an open call for all doctoral students. The eligibility criteria are specific and they matter.
To apply, candidates must be currently enrolled at a participating Big Ten Academic Alliance institution. By the time the fellowship begins, they must have:
- Completed all required doctoral coursework
- Been formally admitted to doctoral candidacy
- Satisfied every degree requirement except the dissertation itself
In other words this fellowship is designed for researchers who are already deep into their doctoral work, not students in the early stages of a program. The Smithsonian is looking for candidates who have a dissertation underway and can demonstrate exactly how access to Smithsonian collections, expertise, or facilities will advance it.
Both US citizens and non-US citizens are eligible to apply. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate fluent written and spoken English proficiency. All application materials must be submitted in English.
Participating Universities
Current participating institutions include:
- University of Illinois
- Indiana University
- University of Iowa
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- University of Oregon
- University of Washington
- Michigan State University
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Northwestern University
- Ohio State University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Pennsylvania State University
- Purdue University
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of Southern California
- University of Chicago (affiliate)
Research Areas the Fellowship Covers
Proposed research must be conducted at the Smithsonian and fall within one of the following disciplines:
- Animal behavior, ecology and environmental science (including tropical environments)
- Anthropology, covering archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and physical anthropology
- Earth sciences and paleobiology
- Evolutionary and systematic biology
- Folklife
- History of science and technology
- History of art, with emphasis on American art, contemporary art, African art, Asian art, and twentieth-century American crafts and decorative arts
- Materials research
- Molecular biology
- Social and cultural history of the United States
If your dissertation sits outside these areas, this fellowship isn’t the right fit. If it sits within them, the next question is whether you can make a compelling case for why the Smithsonian specifically is where the work needs to happen.
The Financial Package
The stipend is 11,250.
On top of that, fellows receive up to $5,000 per year as a research allowance, covering eligible research-related expenses during the appointment.
For doctoral candidates at the dissertation stage, that combination — stipend plus dedicated research funding — removes two of the practical barriers that typically slow dissertation completion: financial pressure and lack of resources to pursue the research itself.
Application Process
Applications go through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) online system. The written component is where most applications succeed or fall short.
A competitive submission answers five questions clearly:
- What is the research question, and why does it matter?
- How does this work advance the dissertation specifically?
- Why is the Smithsonian the right place to conduct this research?
- Which collections, resources, or expertise does the project require?
- What will the applicant accomplish during the fellowship period?
Review the official SIFP program guidelines before starting. All materials must be submitted in English regardless of the applicant’s home institution or country of origin.
Key Dates and How to Apply for Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship
Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
The application process in five steps:
- Confirm your university’s current participation in the Big Ten Academic Alliance
- Identify and contact a suitable Smithsonian adviser whose expertise aligns with your dissertation
- Develop a research proposal that clearly connects your dissertation to specific Smithsonian resources
- Complete the online application through the SIFP portal
- Submit before the October 15 deadline
Campus contacts at participating universities can provide additional guidance. The official program information and application portal are available at: fellowships.si.edu/opportunity/big-ten-academic-alliance-smithsonian-fellowship