UVA Jewish Studies offers the following visiting fellowship opportunities:
Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence Program
Call for proposals for the 2027-2028 academic year
The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia's scholar-in-residence fellowship program is a short-term residency open to distinguished national and international applicants, who may be academic scholars or scholars of practice. Recipients will typically spend 3 – 6 weeks at the University of Virginia and are invited to conduct their own research and contribute to the intellectual life of the Jewish Studies Program. This may include:
- a public lecture on their current research.
- a short seminar open to advanced undergraduate and /or graduate students.
- a faculty reading group.
- a one-day conference to be planned in advance.
- guest lectures in Jewish Studies courses.
- meetings with students, faculty, and fellows.
Background
The Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence Program brings one scholar per year to the University of Virginia to strengthen and expand existing areas of expertise and/or introduce new perspectives and foci to Jewish Studies at UVA. The program gives our students and faculty the opportunity to engage with leading scholars in the field of Jewish Studies. It is designed to offer maximum flexibility with its relatively short stay requirement and range of ways that recipients can engage with the UVA Jewish Studies Program.
Eligibility
The residency is open to applicants with a PhD, a robust history of publication, and demonstrated engagement in the field of Jewish studies. Interdisciplinary collaborations with other units at UVA are especially desired but not required.
Budget
Scholars will receive a $10,000 award, as well as travel funds. There will also be a $10,000 budget available if they choose to organize a one-day conference.
Application
To apply, please submit this Google Form. Applications are due no later than October 1, 2026. Finalists will be invited to a Zoom interview.
Distinguished Artist/Writer/Musician-in-Residence Program
Call for proposals for the 2027-2028 academic year
The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia's Distinguished Artist/Writer/Musician-in-Residence Fellowship program is a short-term residency open to distinguished national and international applicants. Recipients will typically spend 3 – 6 weeks at the University of Virginia and are invited to pursue their own creative projects and contribute to the intellectual life of the Jewish Studies Program. This may include:
- a public lecture, reading, exhibit, or performance.
- a one-credit workshop open to all students.
- a faculty reading group.
- a one-day conference or exhibit to be planned in advance.
- guest lectures in Jewish Studies courses.
- meetings with students, faculty, and fellows.
Background
The Distinguished Artist/Writer/Musician Residence Program brings one person per year to the University of Virginia to offer a different kind of learning experience to our students, introduce artistic perspectives (visual, musical, literary, performative) to Jewish Studies, and contribute to our public programming. The residency builds our connections with studio arts, music, performing arts, and creative writing at UVA, and potentially with the Fralin Museum of Art, the Virginia Film Festival, and/or the Virginia Festival of the Book.
Eligibility
The residency is open to junior and senior applicants and designed to offer maximum flexibility. Interdisciplinary collaborations with other units at UVA are especially desired.
Budget
Recipients will receive a $10,000 award, as well as travel funds. There will also be a $10,000 budget available if they choose to organize an exhibit, public performance, literary reading, or musical event.
Application
To apply, please submit this Google Form. Applications are due no later than October 1, 2026. Finalists will be invited to a Zoom interview.
Visiting Ph.D. Student Fellowship
Call for proposals for the Fall 2027 semester.
The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia announces its annual Visiting Ph.D. Student Fellowship Competition for the Fall 2027 semester. Fellowships are intended to allow advanced Ph.D. students from any academic discipline working on topics in Jewish Studies to spend 4–6 weeks, typically, as a visiting graduate fellow at the University of Virginia. During their visit, students will work in their specific areas with Jewish Studies faculty, present their work in-progress at the Jewish Studies graduate colloquium and/or in a public presentation, and be part of a vibrant academic community. Fellows will also have access to the university’s extensive library collection.
About the Fellowship
The fellowship carries an award of $6,000 plus travel expenses to Charlottesville, Virginia. Students are responsible for their own housing, insurance, and meals. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled in a PhD program and doing research in an area related to Jewish Studies.
The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia specializes in a broad range of areas, including Hebrew Bible, Rabbinics, Medieval Jewish and Islamic Thought, Modern Jewish Thought, Modern Jewish History, German Jewish History and Culture, Hasidism and Polish Jewish History, Holocaust Studies, American Jewish Literature, Israel and Palestine Studies, and Contemporary Jewish Culture and Ethnography. For a full list of affiliated faculty and areas of specialization, visit our faculty webpage.
Application
Applications for the Fall 2027 semester are due November 1, 2026. To apply, please fill out this Google Form. You'll be asked to submit a cover letter indicating how you would like to use your visit at the University of Virginia, a current CV, and a description of your doctoral project. We also ask that you email a letter of recommendation from your Ph.D. advisor to jewishstudiesprogram@virginia.edu. Please indicate the anticipated length and dates of your visit. For more information, please email Jennifer Geddes, Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies, at jlg2u@virginia.edu.
If you would like to hear from past visiting fellows about their experiences, you can watch these short interviews on our YouTube channel.
UVA undergraduates can explore special fellowships and opportunities here. Recurring UVA graduate student opportunities can be found here, and we also offer the Herbert Friedman Graduate Fund for Holocaust Studies.