USA Scholarships
ICJS Short-Term Fellowship 2027 - Monticello
ICJS Short-Term Fellowships at Monticello fund one- to three-month research residencies at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fellows work on Jefferson, Monticello, early American history, or related legacies with access to the Jefferson Library, Monticello staff, University of Virginia libraries, and digital archives such as DAACS and Getting Word. You must stay in residence, join the scholarly community, and present a 60-minute research forum. Stipends run $2,500 per month for fellows whose primary residence is in the United States or Canada and $3,000 per month for other international fellows, with up to $2,000 in pre-approved travel reimbursement and limited housing when available. The 2027 cycle application portal closes 1 October 2026.
What is the ICJS Short-Term Fellowship?
Monticello''s Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies has hosted researchers since 1994, and the short-term fellowship is the sprint version of that tradition. Instead of a year away from your home department, you get one to three months in Charlottesville with the Jefferson Library stacks, archivists who know the plantation records, and the wider University of Virginia ecosystem next door. You are expected to show up in person, talk with staff, and hold a 60-minute forum so your project benefits the community that funds the desk you occupy.
Money follows residency rules that surprise first-time applicants. If your primary home is in the United States or Canada, the published stipend is $2,500 per month paid after the fellowship ends. Everyone else receives $3,000 per month on the same schedule. Travel can be reimbursed up to $2,000 when you pre-clear economy airfare or mileage, and a little housing sometimes opens on site, though you should budget as if you are renting in Charlottesville yourself.
The 2027 cycle opened in summer 2026 with applications due 1 October 2026. Monticello also advertises longer semester and hybrid cohorts now, but the short-term track remains the right fit when you need concentrated archive time rather than a multi-month salary replacement. References must land within a week of the deadline on recent cycles, which makes September the month to nag referees politely.
Your proposal should name specific collections, whether that is a Jefferson manuscript series, an archaeological dataset in DAACS, or oral histories in Getting Word. Generic founding-era ideas without a Monticello hook struggle in committee. If you are comparing fellowships, look at the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship for year-long interdisciplinary work or the Woodrow Wilson Center fellowships for policy-facing research in Washington. ICJS wins when Charlottesville sources are non-negotiable for your chapter or article.
Eligibility
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✓Jefferson or Jefferson-era research projectSuccessful applicants pursue projects tied to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, the founding period of the United States, or related legacies defined broadly. Proposals should explain why ICJS holdings or staff expertise are necessary.
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✓Scholar or advanced researcher statusShort-term awards target faculty, independent scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral candidates with defined projects. You should already hold credentials or publications appropriate to your field.
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✓Open to international applicantsResearchers from any country may apply. Stipend tiers differ for fellows whose primary residence is in the United States or Canada versus other international locations.
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✓Commit to in-person residencyFellows must live in Charlottesville and work on site at ICJS for the awarded period, typically one to three months. Remote-only research is not supported for short-term residencies.
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✓Present a research forumEach fellow delivers a 60-minute forum on the project during the residency. Plan a presentation that engages Monticello staff and visiting scholars, not only a closed-door manuscript session.
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✓Accept stipend and travel rulesStipends are paid after the fellowship ends under published rules, and travel reimbursement requires pre-approval up to $2,000 for economy transportation or mileage. Housing is limited and allocated first come, first served when available.
Benefits
- Fellowship length 1 to 3 months in Charlottesville
- Domestic stipend (US/Canada residence) $2,500 per month
- International stipend (other countries) $3,000 per month
- Travel reimbursement Up to $2,000 pre-approved
- Jefferson Library and ICJS staff access Included
- UVA library privileges Included
- On-site housing Limited, first come first served
- Full-year salary replacement Not covered
Document checklist
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✓ICJS fellowship application formComplete the online application through Monticello's fellowship portal when the 2027 cycle is open. Select the short-term fellowship category that matches your project length.
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✓Curriculum vitaeA current CV listing education, publications, presentations, teaching, and relevant research experience. Reviewers use it to judge whether you can finish the proposed work in one to three months.
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✓Project proposal and outcomes planA concise proposal (often capped around 500 words on recent forms) describing research questions, sources at Monticello or UVA, and expected outputs such as articles, book chapters, or digital products.
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✓Professional biographyA short bio (commonly up to 300 words) suitable for Monticello's website and cohort announcements if you are selected.
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✓Two letters of referenceReferences must arrive within seven calendar days of the portal closing on recent cycles. Choose referees who know your research and can speak to feasibility of the Jefferson-era project.
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✓Travel budget estimate (if requesting reimbursement)Outline expected economy airfare or mileage if you need the up-to-$2,000 travel allowance. Extra expenses such as overnight stops require specific permission under Monticello travel policies.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the ICJS Short-Term Fellowship at Monticello?
It is a research residency at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies supporting projects on Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, and the founding era. Fellows stay one to three months in Charlottesville, use Monticello and University of Virginia resources, and present a 60-minute forum on their work.
How much does the ICJS short-term fellowship pay?
Fellows whose primary residence is in the United States or Canada receive $2,500 per month. Fellows from other countries receive $3,000 per month under published university partner guidelines. Stipends are paid after the fellowship period ends, and travel may be reimbursed up to $2,000 when pre-approved.
When is the ICJS fellowship deadline for 2027?
Monticello announced that applications for the 2027 fellowship program close 1 October 2026. Reference letters typically must arrive within seven calendar days after the portal shuts, so ask recommenders before September ends.
Who can apply for Monticello short-term fellowships?
Scholars and researchers from any country may apply if their project needs ICJS or Jefferson Library resources. Doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and independent scholars with Jefferson-era projects are the core audience.
Do ICJS short-term fellows have to live in Charlottesville?
Yes. Short-term fellowships require physical residency at ICJS so you can work with staff, attend community events, and deliver the mandatory research forum. Hybrid or remote-only arrangements belong to other Monticello cohort models, not the classic short-term residency.
Does Monticello provide housing for ICJS fellows?
Limited housing may be available on a first-come, first-served basis depending on scheduling. Many fellows arrange their own accommodations in Charlottesville and use the stipend plus optional travel support toward costs.
How is the ICJS short-term fellowship different from semester cohorts?
Monticello expanded its fellowship lineup with semester and yearlong hybrid cohorts carrying different stipends and residency rules. Short-term awards still target one- to three-month focused visits with monthly stipends and a single research forum, ideal for book chapters or archive-intensive sprints.
What research topics fit ICJS short-term fellowships?
Projects should connect to Jefferson, Monticello, slavery and freedom at the plantation, early American politics, material culture, archaeology through DAACS, or African American histories documented in Getting Word. The center interprets Jefferson broadly but expects a clear link to its collections or expertise.
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