CMU Libraries Special Collections Short-Term Research Fellowships
Who is eligible to apply?
The fellowships are open to graduate students, faculty, independent scholars, artists, writers, digital humanists, designers, and other practitioners whose projects make substantive use of the collections. Applicants from any discipline are welcome to apply.
What kinds of projects are supported?
We support original research and creative work that engages meaningfully with materials held by the Posner Center for Special Collections and/or the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. Projects may be scholarly, artistic, bibliographical, historical, design-based, or interdisciplinary in nature.
Do I need to be affiliated with a university?
No. Independent scholars, artists, writers, and practitioners are encouraged to apply.
Must my project focus exclusively on Carnegie Mellon's collections?
No. However, the collections must be central to the proposed project. The strongest applications demonstrate why the project can only—or most effectively—be undertaken using materials held by the Posner Center and/or the Hunt Institute.
What collections are available to fellows?
Fellows have access to the holdings of both the Posner Center for Special Collections and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. These include rare books, manuscripts, archival materials, botanical art, early scientific instruments, calculating machines, and collections related to the history of science, technology, artificial intelligence, printing, and book history. Fellows are encouraged to consult materials across both repositories.
How long is the residency?
Fellowships support a residency of two to four weeks. Applicants should propose a residency length appropriate to their project.
When can fellows take up residence?
For the 2026–2027 fellowship cycle, fellows may schedule their residency at any time between June 2027 and January 2028. Award dates cannot be deferred beyond this period. Scheduling will be arranged in consultation with the fellow and is subject to staff availability, collection access, and any scheduling conflicts.
Is the residency required to be continuous?
In most cases, yes. Fellows are expected to complete their residency during a single visit. Applicants with unusual circumstances are encouraged to contact the program team before applying.
What financial support is provided?
Each fellowship includes a stipend of $3,500. Fellows are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel, lodging, meals, and other expenses.
Are fellowship stipends taxable?
Fellowship stipends may be subject to federal, state, and/or local income tax depending on your individual circumstances. Carnegie Mellon University is required to report stipend payments to the IRS, and fellows are responsible for determining their own tax obligations and for any filing or payment requirements that apply to them. Fellows should plan accordingly. CMU cannot provide tax advice.
Does Carnegie Mellon provide housing?
No. Fellows are responsible for securing their own accommodations in Pittsburgh.
May I apply if I have previously received a fellowship from Carnegie Mellon University Libraries?
Yes. Previous fellows may apply, though preference may be given to applicants who have not previously received support from the program.
Are international applicants eligible?
No. For the 2026–2027 application cycle, these fellowships are open to U.S.-based applicants only. We are unfortunately unable to consider applications from individuals who require visa sponsorship to participate in a short-term residency at Carnegie Mellon University.
What are the expected outcomes of the fellowship?
Fellows are only expected to pursue work informed by the collections; however, they are encouraged to share the results of their research with the CMU community when appropriate. Such contributions may take the form of a public lecture, a written Q&A, a workshop, exhibition, publication, digital project, creative work, etc. Fellows are expected to acknowledge their fellowship in any resulting publications or media.
How are applications evaluated?
Applications are evaluated on the quality and originality of the proposed project, the significance of the collections to the project, the feasibility of the proposed work, and the potential contribution to scholarship, creative practice, or public understanding.
May I contact staff before applying?
Applicants with specific questions about the fellowship program may contact libraryfellowships@cmu.edu. Curatorial staff are unable to discuss, evaluate, or provide feedback on proposed projects prior to submission.
How do I learn more about the collections?
Applicants are encouraged to explore the online catalog, digital collections, and collection descriptions available through Carnegie Mellon University Libraries. Both the Hunt Institute library collection and Posner Center collections can be searched via CMU Libraries online catalog: https://library.cmu.edu/. Go to “Advanced Search” and select “Special Collections” to narrow results.
For Hunt Institute applicants, additional collections are not searchable via CMU Libraries online catalog. To search the Hunt Institute’s archives and art collections, please visit the department pages at huntbotanical.org.