Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship

Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship 2026 in the USA

The Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship 2026 is an excellent research opportunity for advanced doctoral candidates enrolled at participating universities of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. The fellowship allows doctoral researchers to conduct dissertation-related research at the Smithsonian Institution while working with an appropriate Smithsonian adviser.

The programme is designed for doctoral candidates who have completed their required coursework, have been admitted to doctoral candidacy, and have fulfilled all doctoral requirements except the completion of their dissertation. Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens can apply, provided they meet the university and doctoral-stage requirements.

Selected fellows receive a $45,000 annual stipend along with a research allowance of up to $5,000 per year. Fellowship appointments can last between 3 and 12 months, with stipends prorated for periods shorter than one year.

Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship 2026 Overview

Category	Details
Fellowship Name	Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship
Host Country	USA
Host Institution	Smithsonian Institution
Degree Level	PhD / Doctoral
Fellowship Type	Research Fellowship
Duration	3 to 12 months
Annual Stipend	$45,000
Research Allowance	Up to $5,000 per year
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Eligible Applicants	Doctoral Candidates
Citizenship	U.S. and Non-U.S. Citizens
Application Language	English
Application Deadline	15 October 2026

The fellowship is administered through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). Applicants are expected to propose research that can be conducted using Smithsonian resources, collections, facilities, or research expertise.

What Does the Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship Cover?

The fellowship provides financial and academic support to selected doctoral researchers.

Benefits include:

• $45,000 annual stipend
• Up to $5,000 annual research allowance
• Fellowship appointments of 3 to 12 months
• Prorated stipend for appointments shorter than one year
• Access to Smithsonian collections and research resources
• Opportunity to work with Smithsonian researchers and advisers
• Research environment supporting dissertation development
• Opportunity to conduct research in the United States

The research allowance is intended to support eligible expenses connected to the fellow's proposed scholarly work.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is specifically designed for doctoral candidates currently enrolled at eligible Big Ten Academic Alliance member universities.

Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled at a participating Big Ten Academic Alliance university.
• Have completed all required coursework.
• Have been admitted to doctoral candidacy.
• Have satisfied all doctoral requirements except completion of the dissertation.
• Be able to conduct the proposed research in an appropriate Smithsonian research area.
• Submit all application materials in English.
• Be able to write and communicate fluently in English if English is not their native language.

The programme is open to both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. However, international applicants must still meet the requirement of being enrolled at an eligible Big Ten Academic Alliance institution.

Big Ten Academic Alliance Eligibility

Only students currently enrolled at a Big Ten Academic Alliance member university are eligible for this particular fellowship.

Participating institutions include universities such as:

• University of Illinois
• Indiana University
• University of Iowa
• University of Maryland
• University of Michigan
• Michigan State University
• University of Minnesota
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Northwestern University
• Ohio State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Purdue University
• Rutgers University
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Oregon
• University of Washington
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Southern California

The University of Chicago participates as an affiliate of the alliance. Applicants should verify their university's current participation before preparing an application.

What Research Areas Are Eligible?

The Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship supports research connected to disciplines actively pursued at the Smithsonian Institution.

Eligible areas include:

• Animal behavior
• Ecology
• Environmental science
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Cultural anthropology
• Linguistics
• Physical anthropology
• Earth sciences
• Paleobiology
• Evolutionary biology
• Systematic biology
• Folklife
• History of science and technology
• History of art
• Materials research
• Molecular biology
• Social and cultural history of the United States

Applicants should select a research topic that can make meaningful use of Smithsonian expertise, collections, or facilities.

Dissertation Research Opportunity

A major purpose of the fellowship is to help advanced doctoral candidates strengthen their dissertation research.

Applicants should demonstrate how the proposed research:

• Connects directly to their dissertation
• Can benefit from Smithsonian resources
• Requires access to Smithsonian collections or facilities
• Fits the expertise of a potential Smithsonian adviser
• Will contribute to the completion or development of their doctoral thesis

The research proposal should therefore establish a clear relationship between the candidate's doctoral work and the Smithsonian research environment.

Finding a Smithsonian Adviser

Applicants are expected to identify an appropriate Smithsonian adviser whose research expertise matches their proposed project.

Candidates should explore Smithsonian researchers, curators, scientists, and specialists working in their field. The selected adviser should ideally have expertise relevant to the applicant's dissertation topic and be able to support the proposed research.

Finding a suitable adviser is an important part of developing a strong fellowship application.

Required Application Materials

Applicants must prepare the required documents through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program application system.

Depending on the application requirements, candidates should be prepared to provide materials such as:

• Research proposal
• Research abstract
• Curriculum vitae
• Academic information
• Dissertation information
• Details of proposed research
• Information about the Smithsonian adviser
• Supporting documents required by the SIFP application system

All application materials must be presented in English. Applicants should carefully follow the current official application instructions before submitting their documents.

Research Proposal

The research proposal is one of the most important parts of the fellowship application.

Applicants should clearly explain:

• Their dissertation topic
• Main research questions
• Research objectives
• Proposed methodology
• Importance of the research
• Relationship between the fellowship and dissertation
• Smithsonian resources required
• Why the Smithsonian is an appropriate research environment
• Expected outcomes during the fellowship

A strong proposal should show that the applicant has a clear research plan and understands how Smithsonian resources can contribute to the project.

How to Apply for Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship 2026

Applicants should first confirm that they are currently enrolled at an eligible Big Ten Academic Alliance university and have reached the required doctoral stage.

Next, candidates should identify a suitable Smithsonian adviser and develop a detailed dissertation-related research proposal. The proposal should explain the research objectives and demonstrate why the Smithsonian is an appropriate place to conduct the work.

After preparing the required application materials in English, applicants must submit their application through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) application system.

The application should be completed before the official deadline of 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.

Application Process

Check university eligibility: Confirm that you are currently enrolled at a participating Big Ten Academic Alliance university.

Confirm doctoral status: Make sure you have completed your coursework, been admitted to doctoral candidacy, and fulfilled all requirements except the dissertation.

Choose a research topic: Develop a dissertation-related project that fits one of the Smithsonian's eligible research areas.

Find a Smithsonian adviser: Identify a Smithsonian researcher, curator or specialist whose expertise matches your proposed research.

Prepare your proposal: Clearly explain your research questions, objectives, methodology and connection to the Smithsonian.

Prepare supporting documents: Complete the required application materials and ensure all documents are submitted in English.

Submit online: Apply through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program before the 15 October 2026 deadline.

Fellowship Duration

The Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship supports appointments lasting between:

3 to 12 months

Applicants can select a fellowship period that suits their research requirements. For appointments shorter than 12 months, the annual stipend is prorated according to the actual fellowship duration.

Fellowship Stipend

Selected fellows receive:

$45,000 per year

The stipend is prorated for fellowship appointments lasting less than one year.

In addition, fellows can receive:

Up to $5,000 per year research allowance

This additional funding can support eligible research expenses related to the proposed scholarly work.

Is the Fellowship Fully Funded?

The Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship is listed as a fully funded fellowship opportunity because it provides substantial financial support through the annual stipend and research allowance.

However, applicants should review the official programme guidelines carefully to understand exactly which expenses are covered by the fellowship and which costs may remain their responsibility.

Why Apply for the Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship?

The fellowship provides advanced doctoral researchers with an opportunity to work in one of the world's major research and cultural institutions.

Key advantages include:

• $45,000 annual stipend
• Up to $5,000 research allowance
• 3-12 month research appointment
• Access to Smithsonian collections
• Access to specialized research facilities
• Opportunity to work with Smithsonian experts
• Support for dissertation-related research
• Open to U.S. and non-U.S. citizens
• International academic research environment
• Opportunity to strengthen doctoral research

The combination of financial support and access to Smithsonian expertise makes this fellowship particularly valuable for eligible doctoral candidates.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the Big Ten Smithsonian Fellowship 2026 is:

15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

All applications must be submitted through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program application system by the stated deadline.

Applicants should begin preparing their research proposal and identifying a suitable Smithsonian adviser well before the deadline.

Important Points for Applicants

This fellowship is not open to all PhD students worldwide. The most important eligibility condition is current enrollment at a participating Big Ten Academic Alliance university.

Applicants must also already be at an advanced doctoral stage. They need to have completed their coursework, entered doctoral candidacy, and satisfied all doctoral requirements except the dissertation.

Another important consideration is the research environment. The proposed project should have a clear reason for being conducted at the Smithsonian and should make meaningful use of its collections, facilities or research expertise.

Final Thoughts

The Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship 2026 is a strong research opportunity for advanced doctoral candidates who want to conduct dissertation-related research at the Smithsonian Institution.

The fellowship offers a $45,000 annual stipend and up to $5,000 in research funding, with appointments lasting from 3 to 12 months. It also provides fellows with access to Smithsonian research resources, collections, and academic expertise.

Because eligibility is restricted to students enrolled at participating Big Ten Academic Alliance universities, applicants should confirm their institutional eligibility before investing time in the application.

With the deadline set for 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM ET, eligible doctoral candidates should begin developing their research proposal, identifying a suitable Smithsonian adviser, and preparing their application materials as early as possible. Apply Now