Call For Applications
Faculty Research Fellows Program (2026-2027)
Deadline: March 31, 2026

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USC Humanities Collaborative Fellows Program (2026-2027)

Application Deadline: March 31, 2026

Starting in Fall 2026, the Humanities Collaborative will sponsor two internal fellowship programs to support researchers who are producing the most innovative and impactful humanities scholarship at the University of South Carolina. Based on the number and quality of applications, we anticipate selecting five Faculty Research Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year for the following programs:

• Faculty Research Fellowships will provide tenured faculty with dedicated time through one course release to advance their research and writing on a major project.
• First Book Research Fellowships will provide tenure-track faculty with ongoing mentorship and the opportunity to workshop their first book manuscript on campus with colleagues and two invited experts in their field.

Additional Benefits: Research Fellows will attend a monthly colloquium and a mid-year writing retreat. Participants will also have access to meeting space in the Humanities Collaborative’s offices in Gambrell Hall. As part of this commitment, each will be asked to make an intellectual contribution to the Collaborative (such as giving a research presentation, facilitating a book discussion, or organizing a workshop).

Eligibility:

• Applicants should be engaged in a major research project and be able to articulate the work’s relevance to current humanities scholarship.
• Only tenured and tenure-track professors in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are eligible to apply.
• Each Research Fellow is expected to be in residence for the majority of the academic year and commit to consistent participation in the program. Applicants will be asked to disclose previous and anticipated course releases through fellowships, sabbaticals, or other sources.
• No more than one Research Fellow will be selected from each department or program.

Review: Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of faculty from the Humanities Collaborative’s Steering Committee. In evaluating the quality and impact of the submissions, the selection committee will also strive to assemble a cohort from a variety of subject areas and methods in order to generate the cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas, feedback, and encouragement.

DEADLINE: March 31, 2026. Decisions will be announced by the end of April.

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How to Apply

Expand allFaculty Research Fellowship (Associate/Full Professors)

1. Application Form [link forthcoming]
2. A project narrative not to exceed 1,000 words that:
   • describes the research project and its contribution to the field.
   • describes your project’s approach to the humanities and its relevance to current humanities scholarship.
   • details the current status of the project and what you plan to accomplish during the one-year term of the fellowship.
   • describes how your active participation in the fellowship program and your engagement with an interdisciplinary community of scholars will benefit your research plan.
3. Current CV
4. An email from your department chair verifying support for one course release during the fellowship term.

First Book Fellowship (Assistant Professors)

1. Application Form [link forthcoming!]
2. A project narrative not to exceed 1,000 words that:
   • describes the book manuscript and explains how this opportunity can benefit its development.
   • describes the project’s approach to the humanities and its relevance to current humanities scholarship.
   • details the current status of the manuscript and a schedule for completion.
   • provides a tentative list of prospective off-campus invitees to the workshop.
3. Current CV
4. An email from your department chair verifying support for your application.