Faculty Research Fellowships

As part of the ASCEND Initiative, HBCU faculty at partner institutions may apply for summer or one-semester funded fellowships to conduct research at Yale in collaboration with one or more Yale faculty members. Fellows will be appointed to the appropriate academic department, program, institute, or center at Yale; will attend talks and seminars; participate in the vibrant co-curricular programs on campus; have access to the campus collections and libraries; and be in residence at Yale throughout the fellowship.

Read about the fall 2024 and spring 2025 cohorts of faculty research fellows.

Research projects

Projects are welcome from across a broad range of topics, such as academic and applied research projects, community-based research projects, public policy related projects, and arts and performance projects. Projects across all fields are encouraged - arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, professional disciplines, their intersections, and beyond.

Timeline
  • Summer 2025 fellowships: applications will be accepted beginning November 1, 2024 and are due February 1, 2025. Awards will be announced March 31, 2025.
  • Fall 2025 fellowships: applications will be accepted beginning February 1, 2025 and are due March 31, 2025. Awards will be announced May 31, 2025. 
  • Spring 2026 fellowships: applications will be accepted beginning May 1, 2025 and are due August 1, 2025. Awards will be announced October 1, 2025. 
Funding

Summer fellowships are for two months. Fellows will receive a stipend equal to 2/9ths (2 months) of their base HBCU salary, plus a stipend for housing and travel, paid directly to the fellow.

Semester fellowships are for the fall or spring semester (5-month appointments). Fellows will receive a stipend comensurate to their base HBCU salary, and funds for housing and travel. 

Elibibility

Full-time faculty appointed at an HBCU partner institution are eligible to apply for a fellowship. To be eligible to accept a fellowship award, the faculty member’s dean or provost must approve the arrangement.

Expectations for Fellows

This is a residential fellowship and fellows are expected to engage with the vibrant academic life at Yale. Fellows will be invited to university events, lectures, programs, and are expected to spend the majority of the fellowship on campus.

Application Materials

All application materials must be submitted through Interfolio by the deadline specified above.

Applications must include:

1. An application form

2. The applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV)

3. Letter of support from department chair or academic dean. 

4. A research proposal (1500 words, maximum), including:

  • Title of the research project
  • Summary of the project’s goals and scope, describing the research plan, methods, and source materials that will be used to achieve the goals, and how much of the project will be completed during the fellowship.
  • Relevance statement: what benefits or outcomes will this project contribute to the academic field, the community, public policy, or other human interests?
  • Resources: what resources at Yale will you use to pursue this project?
  • Support: what support might you need from Yale to help you accomplish this project?

To submit your application and materials, visit:

Questions? Please reach out to Lakia Scott, Ph.D., Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity.