UCLA Library Special Collections (LSC) Research Fellowships 2027

UCLA Library Special Collections offers funding for on-site research with its archives and rare materials. Graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and independent researchers can apply. Artists and activists can apply too. Complete applications are due on 1 December 2026.

Program Snapshot

• Host Organization: UCLA Library Special Collections
• Funding: One-time awards of $1,000 to $5,000, paid as reimbursements
• Duration: Two weeks to three months, depending on the fellowship
• Location: On site at UCLA, Los Angeles
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents with U.S. work rights
• Deadline: 1 December 2026

Focus Areas

• Research using UCLA’s special collections
• Collections representing marginalized and stigmatized groups
• History of medicine and the life sciences
• Projects in scholarship, art, and activism

About the Fellowship

The awards help cover travel and other research costs for projects that need on-site work. LSC prioritizes discrete projects, publications, and research using collections about marginalized and stigmatized groups. It welcomes artists, activists, and others who use primary sources. Fellows must finish their research within the awarded calendar year. They also create or join an outreach activity about their project.

Three fellowships are available:

• Thayer Short-Term Fellowships: Multiple awards of $3,000 for research lasting one to three months. UCLA graduate students receive preference.
• Karmiole Fellowship: One $5,000 award for visiting scholars and graduate students. Research lasts one to three months. The fellow meets the donor.
• Rootenberg Fellowship: One $1,000 award for two to six weeks of research in the history of medicine and life sciences.

What Fellows Receive

• Funding of $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the fellowship
• Access to processed collections at UCLA Library Special Collections
• A chance to share their work through public outreach

LSC pays awards as reimbursements after the research visit. Payment can take up to three months. Current or recent UCLA affiliates should expect longer waits.

Who Can Apply

Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents with the legal right to work in the U.S. may apply. Applicants may enter several fellowships, but each needs a separate form.

Required Materials

• A completed fellowship application form
• An abbreviated CV under two pages
• A project proposal under two pages, with title, format, abstract, and an explanation of why LSC materials are essential
• Contact details for one reference

How to Apply

Complete the application form and attach your documents before the deadline. LSC will notify successful applicants in January 2027. Send questions to AskLSC@library.ucla.edu.

Click Here to Apply

Conclusion

These fellowships help researchers and creators dig into UCLA’s archives. Eligible applicants should prepare their proposals and apply before 1 December 2026.

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