Sawyer Seminar Dissertation Research Fellowship 2026-27

The Townsend Center for the Humanities invites applications for a Dissertation Research Fellowship for academic year 2026-27, in connection with a year-long Sawyer Seminar entitled “Neutrality: The Problems and Challenges of the Public University,” funded by the Mellon Foundation. 

The primary responsibility of the Fellow is to actively participate in Sawyer Seminar meetings and related activities throughout the academic year. In addition, the Fellow assists with organizational and administrative duties in support of the seminar.

Eligibility

The fellowship is open to graduate students at UC Berkeley who have advanced to candidacy for the PhD degree by the time of application. Priority will be given to applicants pursuing dissertation projects that engage with some aspect of the seminar theme or a related topic, and which involve humanities-related material or questions. Applicants must be available to attend in-person seminar meetings throughout 2026-27.

Grant Provision

The Dissertation Research Fellow receives a $35,000 stipend and payment of in-state tuition for academic year 2026-27. The Fellow may not hold a teaching appointment during the fellowship period. 
 

Deadline

 

About the Sawyer Seminar

Over the course of the 2026-27 academic year, the Sawyer Seminar convenes a series of eight research seminar meetings and a number of public events. Seminar members consist largely of UC Berkeley faculty members, with several faculty members from other public Bay Area institutions. Invited speakers participate in selected seminar meetings and events.

As part of the seminar's work, members collaboratively plan the curriculum for a weeklong Faculty Leadership Institute to be held in summer 2027, open to faculty who hold leadership positions in California's public higher education system.

Application Information

To apply, submit the Sawyer Seminar Dissertation Research Fellowship 2026-27 application.

Applications are submitted online through Submittable. For technical assistance, please visit the Submittable help page.


Required application materials:

  • Cover letter describing the dissertation project and how it engages with the seminar theme or a related topic (300 word limit)
  • CV
  • Detailed description of the dissertation project (1,500 word limit)
  • One letter of recommendation, from the dissertation chair

For inquiries about the Sawyer Seminar Dissertation Research Fellowship, please contact townsend_fellowships@berkeley.edu.

Sawyer Seminar Dissertation Research Fellowship 2026-27