About the LMSP Pre & Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships support independent scholars with opportunities to conduct research at various Smithsonian museums and research centers. Projects should relate to the U.S. Latino experience, ensuring that the contributions of the Latino community in the arts, history, national culture, and scientific achievement are explored, presented, celebrated and preserved. Recipients may be in residence at the Smithsonian Institution, where they pursue research projects, complete their dissertations, or expand research for publication. Fellows will make use of Smithsonian collections and will work closely with Smithsonian scholars. 

Meet our 2022-2023 predoctoral fellows!

Who Should Apply

Applicants must be graduate students enrolled in accredited U.S. colleges and universities at the time of application. If applying for the postdoctoral fellowship, the focus must connect to the Latino community in the United States. Applicants should be conducting work on the U.S. Latino experience. 

Predoctoral fellowships are for Ph.D. candidates with active enrollment at a university to conduct dissertation research. By the time the appointment begins, the participant’s university must approve the undertaking of dissertation research at the Smithsonian Institution and certify that requirements for the doctorate, other than the dissertation, have been met. 

Postdoctoral fellowships are for scholars up to seven years beyond the Ph.D.*  

*Note: If you have taken a “leave of absence” from research and wish to apply under the postdoctoral fellowship application instead of the senior fellowship application, which makes you seven or more years out from receiving your Ph.D., please provide a justification in the additional information section at the end of the application. 

Stipend: 

  • Predoctoral Fellows: - $45,000 per year for 12 months, plus up to $5,000 research allowance. 
  • Postdoctoral Fellows: - $57,000 per year for 12 months, plus up to $5,000 research allowance. 

Application Process

Suggested steps to follow before submitting your application: 

1. Please refer to the Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study (SORS) to look for Smithsonian museums and centers that cover your research areas.  

2. Research and contact potential advisors/co-advisors, including those listed as research staff. Also listed are affiliated staff that can serve as co-advisors.  

3. Determine the feasibility of the proposed research project and the availability of relevant resources such as staff, collections, archives and library materials. 

4. Determine the tenure dates to propose (anytime between 3 to 12 months). 

5. Develop your research project to prepare for submission 

6. After a Smithsonian researcher has agreed to support your proposal, submit your application through SOLAA (see below). 

All Applications are submitted through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA)

  • EXTENDED DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 16, 2023, 11:59 pm EST. 
  • Notification date is April 2024. 
  • Fellowship tenures must begin between June 1, 2024 and May 30, 2025. 

For more detailed information , visit the LMSP Fellowship Reference Guide.

Resources

Before applying, review the FAQ from the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships.  

Carefully review the Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study (SORS) Introduction to learn more about individual museums and research centers, active Smithsonian scholars, and available collections. 

Please visit the Smithsonian Profiles portal lists staff and research areas that can help identify advisors.  

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) is a similar fellowship opportunity to consider and the website has more helpful information on proposal materials.