Job Description

Please note: Wilson Library is currently planning for the multi-year Wilson Library Improvement Project, which will disrupt access to special collections materials beginning in 2024. Fellowship recipients should plan to complete their research in the collections by July 31, 2024.

Wilson Special Collection Library Rare Book Collection Fellowships

The Rare Book Collection Fellowships support scholarly research that makes significant use of the rich and deep rare book resources available in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s special collections.

Three types of awards are available:

• The Marjorie Bond Research Fellowship
  • For the broader community of doctoral students and candidates, faculty, and independent scholars whose research projects draw deeply and substantively on the Wilson Library’s Rare Book Collection
  • Supports a one-month residency which must be completed by July 31, 2024
  • Total award is $3,000
• The Hanes Graduate Fellowship
  • For UNC Chapel Hill master’s and doctoral students working on a thesis or dissertation that significantly relies upon Rare Book Collection materials
  • Supports a one-month residency which must be completed by July 31, 2024
  • Total award is $3,000
• The McLendon-Thomas Award
  • For the broader community of master’s and doctoral students whose research projects focus on the history of medicine and draw deeply and substantively on the Wilson Library’s Rare Book Collection
  • Supports a one-month residency which must be completed by July 31, 2024
  • Total award is $3,000

Fellowship awards will be disbursed after the completion of a fellowship residency. It is strongly recommended that fellows arrive with the funds necessary to support their research residency.

Timeline

• December 1: Applications open for electronic submissions via Interfolio
• January 31: Application materials received by midnight ET will be given priority. We will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis past this date
• Submission deadlines:
  • March 15: deadline to submit applications for students and candidates enrolled at universities outside of UNC-Chapel Hill
  • May 1: deadline to submit applications for UNC-Chapel Hill students and candidates
• Acceptance deadlines:
  • Preliminary acceptance of award must occur within 7 calendar days of the email’s receipt
  • Accepting applicants must return all required documentation and biographical information 14 calendar days of the email’s receipt
  • Research cannot begin until the completion of a background check
• July 31, 2024: Research residencies must be completed
  • Research reports are due one month after completing the research residency

To view other funded research opportunities at Wilson Library, please consult our Fellowship page

Qualifications

Fellowship Eligibility

The Bond Fellowship

• Scholarly researchers
  • Doctoral student or candidate
  • Faculty
  • Independent scholar
• Have or be actively pursuing the terminal degree in your discipline

The Hanes Fellowship

• Full-time master's or doctoral students
• Enrolled in a graduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill
• Currently working on a thesis or dissertation project

The McLendon-Thomas Award

• Full-time master’s or doctoral students
• Enrolled in a graduate program
• Currently working on a thesis or dissertation project on the history of medicine

Agree to

• Submit a research proposal and research plan that draws deeply and substantively on the Rare Book Collection
• Commit to a full-time research residency at Wilson Library for the duration of the award
  • Research cannot begin until the completion of a background check
  • The residency must be completed by July 31, 2024
• Participate in the intellectual life of the Library and the fellowship program, which includes:
  • A public presentation of research findings and experiences
  • The submission of a brief research report
  • For the McLendon-Thomas Award, a presentation at the Bullitt History of Medicine Club lecture series

Application Instructions

Application materials will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by midnight ET on January 31 will be given priority. We will continue to accept applications until May 1 for UNC-Chapel Hill students and candidates and March 15 for students and candidates enrolled at other universities.

The following supporting materials must be included:

• Research Proposal A brief narrative (no more than 1200 words) that describes your proposed research and its intellectual significance
• Research Plan A substantive preliminary list of Wilson Library Rare Book Collection materials that you will consult during your residency. Include brief annotations concerning the relevancy of each collection
• Curriculum vitae
• Two confidential letters of recommendation For graduate students, one letter must be from your academic advisor
• For graduate students, a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies confirming your current academic status

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Merit of the proposal

• Applicant’s qualifications and letters of recommendations

• Demonstrated need to access in person the holdings of the Wilson Special Collections Library

Questions about the fellowships or the application process should be directed to Matt Turi via wilsonlibrary@unc.edu

For technical assistance with this application system, please contact Interfolio at help@interfolio.com or call (877) 997-8807.