Applications invited

Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme

Studienstiftung – Leo Baeck Institute London

Aim of the Programme 

The international Leo Baeck Fellowship Programme awards fellowships to doctoral students who carry out research into the history and culture of Central European Jewry. We welcome projects on any period or field (including literature, philosophy, history, musicology), and any region (such as Europe, Israel, the Americas), as long as they relate to German-speaking Jewry. In addition to financial support for one year, the programme provides opportunities to exchange ideas with peers from around the world. It is open to doctoral candidates of any nationality, studying at any university. All fellows remain at their home institution, but come together for two workshops in the course of the fellowship, which are jointly organised by the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the Leo Baeck Institute London.
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Requirements 

• University degree(s) with outstanding marks 
• Date of latest degree not before February 2018 
• Formal qualification for doctoral studies / acceptance on a doctoral programme at a recognised university 
• Research project focussing on the history and culture of Central European Jewry

Call for Applications – Graduate Research Fellowships at the Center for Jewish History

The application deadline for Graduate Research Fellowships starting in September 2022 is February 4, 2022.

The Center for Jewish History offers ten-month fellowships to doctoral candidates to support original research using the collections of the Center’s Partners – American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. Preference is given to those candidates who draw on the archival and library resources of more than one Partner institution. Fellowships must run for 10 months, starting September 2022, and applicants should have completed all requirements (i.e., coursework, exams, dissertation proposal) for the doctoral degree except for the dissertation. Fellows are encouraged to spend two days per week in residence in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room using the archival and library resources, if possible; however, we also encourage applications from applicants who will operate on a hybrid model (e.g., spend two months at the Center and work remotely for the remainder of the fellowship period if the majority of collection material is already digitized). Fellows must also participate in the Center for Jewish History Fellowship Seminar Program, attend monthly meetings of the fellowship program cohort, deliver a minimum of one lecture based on research conducted at Center, and submit a report upon completion of the fellowship describing their experience as a Center fellow.

A total of five fellowships are available for the 2022-23 year: two Lapidus Fellowships, one Rifkind Fellowship, and two Dr. Sophie Bookhalter Fellowships. These fellowships carry stipends ranging from of $20,000 through $30,000 for a period of 10 months.

Preference for the two Lapidus Fellowships, with a stipend of $30,000, will be given to those whose research intends to include one or more of the collection materials donated to the Center or our in-house Partner the American Jewish Historical Society by Sidney Lapidus. The Sidney Lapidus collections are comprised of books, pamphlets, and broadsides relating broadly to the social conditions, intellectual life, and gradual emancipation of the Jews of Europe (primarily Western) from the 17th through the 19th century, as well as the social and legal status of Jews in the United States from the formative years of the Republic through the following century. The Lapidus collections are accessible in our catalog at www.cjh.org. If you have any questions regarding the collection materials donated by Sidney Lapidus, please reach out to lgilbert@cjh.org.

Please specify in your application if you are applying for the Lapidus Fellowship.

Eligibility

• The fellowships are open to qualified doctoral candidates from accredited domestic and international institutions.
• Hybrid and fully remote fellowships will be considered, depending on the availability of digitized collection materials.
• Applicants should have completed all requirements (i.e., coursework, exams, dissertation proposal) for the doctoral degree except for the dissertation.
• Fellows will be permitted to hold a concurrent fellowship provided that it does not contain any residency requirement or interfere in any way with full participation in the activities described above. Please consult the Center before accepting any additional fellowships, academic or other positions to be held during the term of the Center fellowship.
• For non-U.S. citizens, it is the responsibility of the applicant to have the appropriate visa for acceptance of the award during the ten-month fellowship term. The Center is not a visa-granting institution.

Requirements for Application

• Cover letter stating area of interest, knowledge of relevant languages, and how the project relates to the general mission of the Center for Jewish History
• Curriculum Vitae, including contact information, education, publications, scholarly and/or museum activities, teaching experience, and any other relevant work experience
• Research proposal of no more than four pages double-spaced, including specific reference to the collections at the Center and clearly stated goals for research during the period of the fellowship
• A one-page bibliography of important secondary sources for the project
• Graduate school transcript
• One letter of recommendation from the candidate’s primary advisor. The letter should address the significance of the candidate’s work for their field, as well as the candidate’s ability to fulfill the proposed work. Please ensure that your application indicates the name and contact information of the person writing the letter on your behalf.
• Letter of recommendation should be sent separately, directly by the recommender – preferably by email to fellowships@cjh.org.
• Please submit all application materials electronically as one continuous PDF document (except the letter of recommendation).

The schedule for the application process is as follows:

• All application materials must be received by February 4, 2022 for consideration.
• Announcement of grant recipients by April 2022.
• Commencement of grant period is September 2022 and it runs for ten months.

Applications are to be submitted to:

Julie Kaplan

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011

United States of America

Email: fellowships@cjh.org