UCLA Library Special Collections Research Fellowships 2027

UCLA Library Special Collections Fellowships 2027 - Apply Now

Facts checked: against the official notice at ucla.libwizard.com on 13 November 2026.

Quick Summary

Applications for UCLA Library Special Collections Research Fellowships 2027 close on December 1, 2026 for short on-site research stays in Los Angeles. The programme is open to United States citizens and permanent residents, including scholars, graduate students, artists and activists working with primary sources. Submit your application through the official fellowship application portal.

LSC Research Fellowships 2027: Overview

UCLA Library Special Collections (LSC) offers its Research Fellowships for 2027 to support in-person work with its primary-source holdings.

The programme funds short residencies where the collections themselves are central to the project, not background reading. It includes three named awards with different support levels and stay lengths, detailed in the benefits table below. Indian students and other applicants based outside the United States should read the citizenship rule in the eligibility section before preparing materials.

Why on-site use matters

• Your proposal must show why LSC materials are essential and cannot be replaced by digitised or published sources.
• Plan as a working visit to consult physical holdings, with a defined output format stated in your proposal.

LSC Research Fellowships 2027 Fellowship Benefits

The 2027 round offers three short-term awards that differ in support level, stay length and number of fellows.

The James and Sylvia Thayer Short-Term Research Fellowships and the Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Research Fellowship both support stays of 1-3 months, with support of $3,000 for Thayer (multiple awards) and $5,000 for Karmiole (one award), as per the official notification. The Barbara Rootenberg Short-term Research Fellowship in History of Medicine and Life Sciences supports a shorter 2-6 week stay with $1,000 for one fellow.

How to read the options

• Thayer suits flexible projects needing several weeks to three months; more than one researcher will be selected.
• Karmiole is the single largest award for a longer stay.
• Rootenberg is theme-specific: your project should clearly connect to history of medicine and life sciences and justify the shorter format.

LSC Research Fellowships 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Only United States citizens and permanent residents with the legal right to work in the U.S. can apply, as per the official notification.

• Eligibility is limited to United States citizens and permanent residents with the legal right to work in the U.S.
• Applicants may apply to multiple fellowships, but each application requires a separate application form
• Fellowships must be completed within the awarded calendar year, and fellows will be asked to create or participate in an outreach deliverable
• Fellowships are not limited to scholarly research: LSC encourages applications from artists, activists and individuals using primary source materials

LSC states that fellowships are not limited to scholarly research. Applications are welcome from artists, activists and others whose work depends on primary-source materials, including graduate students and independent researchers within the citizenship rule. Fellows must complete the stay within the awarded calendar year and create or take part in an outreach deliverable linked to their LSC research.

Indian citizens studying or living in India are not eligible unless they hold U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency with the right to work. Refer to the official notification for how citizenship and work authorisation will be verified.

LSC Research Fellowships 2027 Important Dates and Deadline

All three 2027 fellowships share the single closing date shown in the table below.

There are no separate tracks or extended windows by award; one submission timeline covers Thayer, Karmiole and Rootenberg. Because only the closing date is announced, use the official website to confirm the form is for the 2027 cycle and to note when you arranged your reference contact. Refer to the official notification for any update on decision or residency timing.

How to Apply for LSC Research Fellowships 2027

Applications must be submitted online through the official fellowship portal.

Start at the portal to select the correct 2027 fellowship form, then prepare the exact items LSC asks for before you type any answers.

1. Go to the official fellowship portal and open the Apply LSC Fellowship form.
2. Identify which award fits your topic and stay: Thayer, Karmiole, or Rootenberg in history of medicine and life sciences.
3. Draft your abbreviated CV within the page limit set in the documents checklist.
4. Draft your project proposal within its page limit, covering title and project format, general description, and why LSC materials are essential.
5. Arrange one reference who can speak on your work and the proposed project and keep their contact information ready.
6. Complete one full application form for each fellowship you seek; a combined or copied submission across awards is not accepted.
7. Submit the form(s) by the closing date and save the confirmation for your records.

LSC Research Fellowships 2027 Documents Required

Applicants must provide a short CV, a short project proposal and contact information for one reference, as shown in the checklist below.

• An abbreviated CV (under two pages)
• A project proposal that is under two pages and includes the title and project format, general description, and explanation of how LSC materials are essential
• Contact information for one reference who can speak on the applicant's work and proposed project

The CV should focus on work relevant to the proposed project rather than a full employment history, given the strict brevity LSC requires. The proposal needs four things in very little space: a clear title, the intended format of the output, what you will do, and why specific LSC holdings make the visit necessary. Name collections, boxes, or record groups where possible instead of writing only about the general topic.

Making the reference count

• Choose someone who has seen the kind of work you propose, whether scholarship, art practice, or community archiving.
• Brief them on your LSC collection targets so they can comment on feasibility, not only on ability.
• Confirm their current email and phone, since LSC will use the contact you supply.

LSC Research Fellowships 2027 Important Links

All forms and updates for this fellowship are handled only through the official UCLA portal linked below.

Use the apply link to open the current 2027 form and to verify fellowship names and requirements directly from UCLA Library Special Collections. Do not use third-party summaries or cached forms, as multiple awards have similar names but different conditions. For any correction after submission, refer to the official notification and the contact given on the portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for UCLA Library Special Collections Research Fellowships 2027?

The last date to apply is December 1, 2026.

Who is eligible to apply for the UCLA Library Special Collections Research Fellowships?

Only United States citizens and permanent residents with the legal right to work in the U.S. can apply, including scholars, graduate students, artists and activists planning on-site work with primary sources.

What is the fellowship amount and duration for UCLA Library Special Collections Research Fellowships 2027?

The James and Sylvia Thayer Short-Term Research Fellowships offer $3,000 for 1-3 months, the Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Research Fellowship offers $5,000 for 1-3 months, and the Barbara Rootenberg Fellowship in History of Medicine and Life Sciences offers $1,000 for 2-6 weeks.

How do I apply and what documents are required?

You need to fill a separate application form for each fellowship and provide an abbreviated CV under two pages, a project proposal under two pages covering title, format, description and need for LSC materials, and contact details of one reference.

Can I apply for more than one UCLA Library Special Collections fellowship?

Yes, you may seek more than one fellowship, but a separate application form is needed for each one.

By when must the fellowship be completed?

The fellowship work must be finished within the awarded calendar year, and fellows will be asked to create or take part in an outreach deliverable.